The Buddha

Indian philosopher and the founder of Buddhism (623 or 563 BCE – 543 or 483 BCE)

22 dated entries naming The Buddha, drawn from 21 separate years between 566 BCE and 1963 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

Also written as Buddha, Gautama Buddha, Gautama_Buddha, Siddharta Gautama, Siddhartha Gautama, The_Buddha in the source articles; Wikipedia redirects those to the same subject, so their entries are on this page.

JSON Wikipedia article Wikidata Q9441

6th century BC

566 BCEBuddha, the founder of Buddhism. Although it is unknown for certain what his birth year was, 566 BCE is the most commonly given date.source
564 BCESiddhartha Gautama (The Lord Buddha), Religious Leader of Buddhismsource
563 BCE563 BC—Death of Queen Maya, mother of Siddhartha Gautamasource
557 BCESiddharta Gautama, also known as the Buddha (year of birth not precisely known)source
550 BCESiddhartha Gautama founds Buddhism in Northern India after achieving enlightenment after six years of practicing penance and meditation.source
543 BCEGautama Buddha Mahaparinibbana (traditional in Thailand and elsewhere - basis of Thai solar calendar)source
528 BCE528 BC—Gautama Buddha attains Enlightenment, and begins his ministry.source

5th century BC

483 BCEFollowing the death of Gautama Buddha, the relics associated with his cremation were divided amongst royal families and his disciples, then interned in 8 reliquaries. Each reliquary was then encased in its own burial mound, called a stupa (approximate date).source
483 BCEGautama Buddha, Indian prince, founder of Buddhism (b. c. 563 BC)source
480 BCESiddhartha Gautama (suggested), wandering ascetic and religious teacher (d. 400 BC)source

4th century BC

400 BCESiddhārtha Gautama (also known as Buddha), founder of Buddhism (approximate date)source

3rd century BC

248 BCEThe Mauryan king Ashoka is dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism and begins establishing monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha.source

2nd century

104In India, figures of Buddha replace abstract motifs on decorative items.source

4th century

366Buddhist monk Lè Zūn has a vision of "golden rays of light shining down on 1,000 Buddhas", resulting in the creation of the Mogao Caves.source

5th century

402Fa-Hien, Chinese Buddhist monk, makes a pilgrimage to India, initiating Sino-Indian relations. Stirred by his faith to Buddhism, he visits the sites of Siddhartha Gautama's life.source
460The seated Buddha in the Yungang Grottoes, Datong (Shanxi), is made (approximate date).source

6th century

600Chinese-influenced sculptures of Buddha begin to be created in Japan.source

7th century

643A Chinese embassy is sent to the North Indian Empire. They are invited by Emperor Harsha, who holds a Buddhist convocation at the capital Kannauj, which is attended by 20 kings and thousands of pilgrims.source

8th century

713Construction begins on the Leshan Giant Buddha near Leshan, Sichuan Province (China). Upon its completion in 803, it will become the largest stone carved Buddha in the world.source

11th century

1040The Shalu Monastery is founded by the Buddhist monk Chetsun Sherab Jungnay in Tibet.source

19th century

1896December 1 – Archaeologist Alois Anton Führer, Nepalese General Khadga Samsher Rana and an expedition rediscover the great stone pillar of Ashoka at Lumbini, traditionally the spot of the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, after using Faxian's records.source

20th century

1963May 8 – Huế Phật Đản shootings: The Army of the Republic of Vietnam opens fire on Buddhists who defy a ban on the flying of the Buddhist flag on Vesak, the birthday of Gautama Buddha, killing 9. Earlier, President Ngô Đình Diệm allowed the flying of the Vatican flag in honour of his brother, Archbishop Ngô Đình Thục, triggering the Buddhist crisis in South Vietnam.source