247 B.C.E. King AS ́OKAof India (r. 268–232 B.C.E.) putatively
sends his son, Mahinda, to SRILANKAto introduce
Buddhism to the island. King Devanampiya Tissa of
Sri Lanka converts to Buddhism.
240 B.C.E. Mahinda establishes the Mahavihara (Great
Monastery) in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. Mahinda’s
sister, San ̇ghamitta, establishes the order of NUNS.
25 B.C.E. Famine and schisms in Sri Lanka emphasize the need
for the Buddhist CANONto be committed to writing.
King Vattagamini oversees the recording of the Pali
canon on palm leaves.
ca. 100 C.E. Monks from Sri Lanka first transmit THERAVADABud-
dhism to Burma (MYANMAR) and THAILAND.
ca. 200 Chinese Buddhist missionaries travel to VIETNAM,
establishing MAHAYANAand non-Mahayana schools.
ca. 425 Buddhist scholar BUDDHAGHOSAcollects Sinhalese
COMMENTARIAL LITERATUREand oversees translation of
this work into Pali. With this translation, Sinhalese
scholarship reaches the entire Theravada world.
ca. 500 Indian Mahayana monks establish Buddhist communi-
ties throughout Indonesia on the islands of Java,
Sumatra, and Borneo.
1057 King Anawartha of Pagan in Burma (Myanmar)
conquers neighboring Thaton. Buddhist literature and
arts flourish.
ca. 1153–1186 Reign of Sri Lankan king Parakramabahu I. His rule
reconstitutes the Buddhist SAN ̇GHAexclusively as a
Theravada order. Buddhist architecture and literature
flourishes throughout the Polonnaruva era.
1181 King Jayavarman VII begins his reign in CAMBODIA.
Under his orders the BAYONat Angkor is built.
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