A Concise History of Buddhism

This book provides a concise yet wide-ranging introduction to the historical formation and geographical expansion of Buddhism over approximately twenty-five centuries. Beginning with the intellectual, religious, and social context of ancient India, Andrew Skilton explains how the teachings attributed to the Buddha developed into diverse canonical, doctrinal, philosophical, and institutional traditions. The work is particularly valuable for its integration of doctrine and history: the emergence of Buddhist schools, Mahāyāna literature, the bodhisattva ideal, major philosophical systems, and Vajrayāna practice is situated within broader chronological and cultural contexts. Its regional survey further demonstrates how Buddhism adapted to different societies while retaining identifiable continuities with its Indian heritage. Accordingly, the volume serves as an accessible reference for general readers and as a foundational text for students beginning a more specialized study of Buddhist history, doctrine, literature, or regional traditions. Contents Preliminary Sections About the Author The Pronunciation of Sanskrit Preface Part 1: Buddhism in India 1. The Ancient Indian Context: Buddhist Pre-History 2. The Buddha 3. The Buddha’s Teaching 4. The Path to Awakening 5. The Early Saṅgha 6. The Councils 7. Developments in the Saṅgha: Up to the First Century CE 8. The Buddhist Schools 9. The Tripiṭaka: The Mainstream Buddhist Canon 10. The Abhidharma 11. Origins of the Mahāyāna 12. The Mahāyāna Sūtras: New Scriptures 13. The New Spiritual Ideal: The Bodhisattva 14. The Mahāyāna Schools I: The Madhyamaka 15. The Mahāyāna Schools II: The Yogācāra 16. The Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine 17. The Tantra and Vajrayāna Buddhism 18. The End of Buddhism in India Part 2: Buddhism Beyond India 1. Buddhism in Sri Lanka 2. Buddhism in South-East Asia 3. Buddhism in Central Asia and Kashmir 4. Buddhism in China 5. Buddhism in Korea 6. Buddhism in Japan 7. Buddhism in Tibet 8. Buddhism in Mongolia 9. Buddhism in Nepal 10. Buddhism in Persia End Matter Notes Bibliography