In early 526, a Chinese emperor granted a personal audience to an elderly Buddhist monk. The monk, Daodu, explained to Emperor Liang Wudi that he had grown weary of “this physical frame.” The body “is ...

(The Conversation) — With his delighted expression, round belly, bald head and monastic robes, the “Laughing Buddha” is instantly identifiable. However, astute observers might wonder why this buddha ...

Buddhism originated around the fifth century B.C.E. in India, but today, more Buddhists live in China than India. Han Buddhism, the dominant branch of Buddhism in China, has blended with local belief ...