Buddhism

Buddhism arrived in China both by sea and overland from India. The overland route proved the more influential, as Buddhist communities were founded along the ancient trade routes that spanned Asia, linking China with the rest of the world. These were monastic communities where Buddhist texts were translated into Chinese and Buddhist art, initially a blend of Greek and Indian style, became thoroughly sinified.

The Buddhism transmitted to China was predominantly Mahayana, though some Vajrayana teachers and texts also found their way north and east from the Buddhist centers in India. Most important for the transmission of Shingon were Shubhakarasimha (Japanese Zenmui) who arrived in China in 716 and Vajrabhodi (Japanese Kongochi), who came three years later. Shubakarasimbha translated the Dainichi-kyo, one of the two fundamental sutras in Shingon. Vajrabhodi brought the other, the Kongocho-gyo. He is also considered the holder of the Dharma lineage that reaches back through Nagarjuna to Dainichi Nyorai and forward through Hui-kuo to Kobo Daishi and on to the present.