The translation of a large body of Indian Buddhist scriptures into Chinese and the inclusion of these translations together with works composed in China into a printed canon had far-reaching implications for the dissemination of Buddhism throughout the Chinese cultural sphere, including Korea, Japan, Ryukyu Islands and Vietnam. While monks are vegetarian year-round, many believers follow the Buddhist vegetarian diet temporarily, similar to Christian Lent. Nonetheless, the scholarly consensus is that Buddhism first came to China in the first century CE during the Han dynasty, through missionaries from India. Chinese Buddhism is also marked by the interaction between Indian and Chinese religion which includes Taoism. Buddhist vinaya for monks and nuns prohibits harming of plants. Additionally, the Pali Sutras where this rule is set forth tell of the Buddha refuting a suggestion by his student Devadatta to include vegetarianism in the monastic precepts. It is vegetarian or vegan, and it is based on the Dharmic concept of ahimsa (non-violence). Chinese Buddhism ( Han Chinese Buddhism ) has played an extreme prominent and dynamic role in Buddhist history, particularly in East Asia. In modern times, commercial restaurants have also latched on to the style, catering both to practicing and non-practicing lay people. Vegetarianism is common in other Dharmic faiths such as Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism as well as East Asian religions like Taoism. Various legends tell of the presence of Buddhism in Chinese soil in very ancient times. Based on the existing historical texts and the archaeological iconographic materials discovered since the 1980s, particularly the first-century Buddhist manuscripts recently found in Afghanistan, the commentator believes that the most plausible theory is that Buddhism reached China from the Greater Yuezhi of northwest India and took the land route to reach Han China. Both prohibitions followed incidents in which monastics harvested more than they could eat in one day.
Main articles: Han Dynasty and Silk Road transmission of Buddhism. Buddhist cuisine is an East Asian cuisine which is followed by monks and many believers from areas historically influenced by Chinese Buddhism. This is based on teachings found in the Brahamajala Sutra, the Surangama Sutra and the Lankavatara Sutra (chapter eight). A vegetarian restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan serving Buddhist cuisine in buffet style. The view that Buddhism was transmitted to China by the sea route comparatively lacks convincing and supporting materials, and some arguments are not sufficiently rigorous. The dishes that comprise Buddhist cuisine in any given place will be influenced by the style of food there. This restriction of not eating garlic and mango is found in both the Theravada vinaya and in that of the Mahayana. Temples that were open to visitors from the general public might also serve meals to them and a few temples effectively run functioning restaurants on the premises. Over the course of approximately two thousand years, Buddhist ideas and practices have shaped Chinese culture in a wide variety of areas, including art, politics, literature, philosophy, medicine, and material culture. Most of the dishes considered to be uniquely Buddhist are vegetarian, but opinions and restrictions on the eating of meat, and whether it should be prohibited, vary among sects. Generations of scholars have debated whether Buddhist missionaries first reached Han China via the maritime or overland routes of the Silk Road. The monastic has to follow this rule on all occasions, not just on holidays. For other branches of Buddhism in China other than Han Chinese Buddhism, see Tibetan Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.
