Buddhism is a religion that was started in India by Siddartha Gautama known as Buddha. Despite being rich, his goal as a person was to be happy and he believed that material wealth was not the ultimate goal of life. During his time, the caste system was the main way that social classes were divided in India. He wanted to change that. He did not think that people should be judged on how much money or materials that they have. Buddhism is equally open to all and there is nothing in Buddhism that includes judging others based on what they have. Later in his life Siddartha Gautama became an ascetic. He only fulfilled his basic needs like eating, drinking, shelter and wearing clothing. He did this because it was his way of proving that in order to live happily and not suffer all you need is food and water (Gethin, 1998, 88). Buddhism spread from India to Tibet, China and Korea. The introduction of Buddhism into these areas led to a increase in peacefulness because of Buddhism's stress on inner peace and stability.
The expansion of Buddhism brought an increased demand for different materials that were used in Buddhist ceremonies. The trade of silk out of China facilitated the spread of Buddhism. In the first century CE China had a need for Silk and other materials. India had a surplus, so India traded with China. "Key formative influences on the early deveopment of Mahayana and Pure Land movements, which became so much a part of East Asian Civilzation, are to be sought in Buddhism's earlier encounters along the Silk Road"" (Foltz, 9, 2010). When Indians brought these materials to China, they also brought Buddhist ideas with them. These ideas were enticing to Chinese people because they were part of the Han dynasty who went through several wars including the Han Xiongnu War in 133 BC. An Shigao, a Buddhist prince translated different Buddhist writings into Chinese (Saunders, 1923, 157). .
When Indian merchants went into Ceylon which is now Sri Lanka, they brought Buddhist ideas with them.