How did Buddhism get to China?

How did Buddhism get to China?

 Yes, Asoka sent missionaries to Asia but it was the travel records of three Chinese pilgrims who introduced texts and doctrines from India. Faxian, Xuanzang, and Yijing were among many Chinese pilgrims but they were among the few who left travel records

Tansen Sen, in an essay about the three pilgrims, sums up their significance in an essay for “Education about Asia.” 

“These travel records are important historical resources for several reasons. 

First, they provide meticulous accounts of the nature of Buddhist doctrines, rituals, and monastic institutions in South, Central, and Southeast Asia. 

Second, they contain vital information about the social and political conditions in South Asia and kingdoms situated on the routes between China and India.

Third, they offer remarkable insights into cross-cultural perceptions and interactions. Additionally, these accounts throw light on the arduous nature of long-distance travel, commercial exchanges, and the relationship between Buddhist pilgrims and itinerant merchants” Here a short lesson I developed for my students."

 Here is a short lesson I developed using Sen's essay.