Religious Type in History

Religion plays a large part in the cultures across continental Asia. From simple principles of peace ingrained into societal expectations to national designation, the history of each and every country is shaped by ritual and religious practices in some form. In the present, the three major religions across Asia, outside of ethnic and folk religions, are Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.

Beginning in India, Buddhism made its way East as early as the 4th century CE (Olson, 2005). During the height of the Silk Roads, the spread of Buddhism increased rapidly, with Pure Land Buddhism and other sects of the religion growing popular among East Asian countries.

The spread of Hinduism occurred around the same period. It did not spread as far as Buddhism or Islam, but would still have some movement into central Asia(Klimkeit et al., n.d.). Remnants of Hinduism in other religions, specifically in Buddhism, with the Hindu deities being major characters, would find their way eastwards. 

Islam began its journey in the 8th century (Foltz 1999). Much like the religions before, it spread throughout continential Asia on various trade routes across the Silk Roads. Its journey across Asia would come to a temporary stop in 751, eventually resuming. 

While this exhibit focuses on the architectural features of these three religions, it is important to note that architectural and aesthetic styles of religious buildings vary largely from culture to culture and century to century. The exhibition will focus primarily on the pagodas of Buddhism, the symbolic patterns of Islam and likewise Hinduism.

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