Over the centuries, two main branches of Buddhism emerged: a transmission that traveled to Southeast Asia, and a transmission that evolved in East Asia. A further offshoot of the northern transmission also developed. All three branches began in India, and developed further as they moved across Asia.

All three main branches of Buddhism, Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, center on the idea of finding nirvana. Reaching nirvana is the ultimate goal for all Buddhists. However, these three branches of Buddhism believe in different paths on the way to reaching nirvana.

Compassion is very important in Mahayana Buddhism. This is a key difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists. Whereas Theravada Buddhists strive to become Arhats and gain freedom from the cycle of samsara, Mahayana Buddhists may choose to stay in the cycle of samsara out of compassion for others.

Theravada Buddhism is organized around the notion of breaking the cycle of Samsara (escaping reincarnation). Mahayana Buddhists aim to achieve enlightenment through the teachings of the Buddha, but they ultimately choose to stay in Samsara and reincarnate, out of compassion for others.

The first six important sects in Japan were the Kusha, Sanron, Ritsu, Jojitsu, Kegon, and Hosso. Two of the most noted scholar monks were Kukai (774-835 CE) and Saicho (767-822 CE), who founded two more sects, the Shingon and Tendai respectively, both of which belong to the Mahayana (Great Vehicle) branch of Buddhism.

Buddhism comes from Hinduism and is a Dharmic religion. Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism share the same core beliefs and devotion to the life and teaching of Buddha. The main difference is that Theravada Buddhism is associated with South East Asia and is closer to the original Indian form of Buddhism.

Based on the common view, Kamakura Buddhism refers to the 6 sects consist of the Jodo sect (Honen), the Jodoshin sect (Shinran), the Rinzai sect (Eisai), the Soto sect (Dogen), the Ji sect (Ippen), and the Hokke sect (the Nichiren sect, Nichiren).

Theravada Buddhism Theravada is believed to be the oldest form of Buddhism. The term itself comes into use later, but the Theravada tradition upholds the monastic path and adheres to the oldest surviving recorded sayings of the Buddha, collectively called the Pali canon.

Over the centuries, two main branches of Buddhism emerged: a transmission that traveled to Southeast Asia, and a transmission that evolved in East Asia. A further offshoot of the northern transmission also developed. All three branches began in India, and developed further as they moved across Asia.

Buddhism in Japan Buddhism in Japan has been practiced for more than 5 centuries, and nowadays approximately 34% of the Japanese population identify as Buddhists. The percentage grows to 75% if we consider those who are not part of a religious organization but still follow Buddhist practices.

The three bodies of a Buddha are accepted in Mahayana Buddhism. They are as follows: Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism are broadly covered under Indian History as well as the Art and Culture segment of the IAS Exams. You can find the study materials for both these segment and related articles through the links given below:

It was due to these reasons that the Yamato state of Japan (~250-710 AD) started to construct Buddhist temples at the capital of Nara which led to what is known today as Nara Buddhism in Japan.