Luoyang

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Map of Buddhist transmission to China. The northern Chinese cities of Luoyang and Chang'an were key sites on the Silk Road.

File:27467-Luoyang (49085730123).jpg

The White Horse Temple in Luoyang.

Luoyang is among the oldest cities in China and it played an important role in the transmission of Buddhism to China.

Luoyang was declared the capital of the Eastern Han dynasty in 25 AD, and the city remained influential for several centuries. During the Eastern Han dynasty, Luoyang was made the start of Silk Road, which was the route used by many Buddhist pilgrims.

The first Buddhist temple in China, the White Horse Temple, was founded in Luoyang in AD 68. The temple still exists, though the architecture is of later origin, mainly from the 16th century.

An Shigao (fl. c. 148-180 CE) was one of the first monks to popularize Buddhism in Luoyang.

Luoyang was restored to prominence when Emperor Wen of the Wei dynasty, declared it his capital in 220 AD.

The Jin dynasty, successor to Wei, also established its capital in Luoyang.

The famous Longmen Grottoes are located just south of the present day city of Luoyang.

Further reading

• Luoyang, Wikipedia