Buddhism founded by Sakyamuni in northern India around the sixth century B.C. From the first to the third century B.C., Buddhism spread everywhere through the Silk Route by the Indian monks, in the north Mahayana Buddhism went to Tibet, and Central Asia to China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan, in the south Theravada Buddhism went to Sri Lanka, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

In all cases Buddhism integrated with local beliefs to form particular variations of Buddhism in that country or region as seen in the architecture, worshipping practices, and religious sculptures. The spread of Buddhism has influenced the creation of lots of Buddhist art all over the continent of Asia.