How much Buddhist history do you know ?

PremaSagar

How much of the history of Buddhism do you know ?
If you can please state which country you are most knowledgeable in on the history of Buddhism within it's territory.
- Japan
- China
- Vietnam
- Korea
- India
- Burma
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Tibet
- Taiwan
- Laos

federica

This is not a History of Buddhism.
This is an individual history of each country, and how Buddhism has come to, and affected, each one.
The Histopry of Buddhism involves knowing how what we know as Buddhism today, originated.

I know nothing of any of these countries, save to say that in many of them - if not the majority - Buddhism is combined with aspects of local folklore, superstition and associated 'shamanistic' practices (for want of a better description) the result of which leads to very complex, mixed and confusing practises, many of which actually have nothing whatsoever to do with Buddhism at all.

Tosh

I know a little, such as how Buddhism spread through the ancient trade routes, out of India; and how Buddhism is a portable religion; not fixed to an area like many others were at the time; and how monastics had to rely on lay people to help them move because they couldn't handle money; and lots of other little snippets.

And did you know the Buddha figure is a copy of the Greek god Apollo! Straights up; google for it.

It's an area I'd like to learn more about.