Buddhism in China

Buddhism in China

71-metre tall Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Sichuan, China
Total population
c. 470 million or 33.4% (studies in 2023)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Throughout China
Religions
Buddhism (mostly East Asian Mahayana)
Languages
Chinese and other languages

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Buddhism in China refers to Buddhism that has been developed and practiced in China, based on the geographical location and administrative region instead of a particular Buddhist branch. Buddhism is the largest officially recognized and the most prevalent religion in China. Estimates from 2023 suggest that there are around 470 million Buddhists in China, or about 33.4% of the country's 1.4 billion residents.^[1] There are three main branches of Buddhism in China: Han or Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism.^[2] There is no definitive answer to the time when Buddhism was first introduced to China, but it is generally believed that this occurred around the time of the Han dynasty.