History : The Early Period

Early period of Buddhism in Mongolia: 3rd B.C. E to 13th century

According to historical sources of Mongolia, the Buddhism was introduced and spread throughout the history of successive Mongolian states starting as early as 3rd B.C.E. The earliest introduction of Buddhism was to the southwestern territories of Mongolian Hunnu (Xiongnu) state (3rd B.C.E-2nd B.C.E). In Hor chos 'byung (History of Buddhism in Mongolia) it is stated that “As it is prophesized by the Buddha in gLang ru’i mdo, Buddhism spread in Upper Hor country (present area of Qinghai, China) at the same time when Buddhism spread in Khotan after 100 years of the Buddha’s parinirvana. (4th century B.C.E)”. At that time 3 meter standing tall golden Buddha statue was the main object of sacrifice for inhabitants of southwestern Mongolian Hunnu state. Hor chos ‘byung informs that Buddhism was spread not only in southwestern part of Hunnu state but also in the present territory of Mongolia. The evidence of this is the Jowo Buddha temple in Bayanbalgad city, which was located in the northern bank of the present Selenge river in Mongolian Selenge aimag. At the time of Toba Wei state (386-581), the Buddhism was the state religion of Mongolia. A king of Joujan or Nirun state (402-555) proclaimed the Dharmapriya monk as a state teacher with the title of the purohita. In 572, the Toba King , a king of Tureg state of Mongolia (4th to 5th AD) had sent his state messenger to the Northern Qi state (550-577A.D) to bring Buddhist texts and scriptures such as Vimalakirtinirdeshasutra, Mahaparinirvanasutra and Sarvastivadavinaya.

During the Mongolian Uigar state (8th -9th century) both the Buddhism and the Manichaean religion were the primary religions of that time. Translation of Buddhist scriptures was active at that time.