The distribution and significance of Buddhist remains in Central Asia

Buddhist remains in Central Asia are found in five regions: Bactria-Toharistan region in southern Uzbekistan and in southwestern Tajikistan, Fergana region in eastern Uzbekistan and Sogdiana region in central Samarkand, Merv region in eastern Turkmenistan, and Semirechiye region in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan. They are dated from around the 1st century to the 9th and 10th centuries. Most of the Buddhist remains in the northern part of Bactria-Toharistan region are Buddhist temples, but there are only stupas remained without temple buildings such as the Jurmala Stupa and Airtam Stupa. The Karatepa Buddhist Temple, the Fayaztepa Buddhist Temple, and the Buddhist Temples inside and outside the capital city Dalverzintepa are built on the Kushan period in the 2nd and 4th centuries and stupas are found in all these temples. Semirechiye is the region where Buddhist remains are clustered following Bactria-Toharistan region and was influenced by Chinese Buddhism after the 7th century and Tibetan Buddhism later. Not stupas but a large Buddha statue and a large statue of nirvana are found at Akbeshim Buddhist Temple and Ajinatepa Buddhist Temple, respectively, that represents the change in the object of worship. The Buddhist remains of Central Asia are largely divided into two periods. The Bactria-Toharistan Buddhist culture from the 2nd to the 4th centuries was the first period of Buddhist culture in Central Asia, when Buddhism was first introduced and settled in Central Asia along with the expansion of the Kushan Empire. The late Buddhist culture of the Central Asia flourished in Bactria-Toharistan and Semirechiye regions in the 7th and 8th centuries was the second period, and the center of Buddhism moved to East Asia. It was confirmed that Buddhism in Central Asia was developed by exchanging influences with other religions, such as Zoroastrianism previously propagated through traces of rituals related to fire or murals in Buddha statue with a flame-shaped halo. In Buddhist architecture, the use of drying bricks and the construction of stone cave temple that dug into the sandstone layer are reflected in consideration of the material and climate characteristics of the site. As such, it can be seen that the Central Asia did not simply serve as a messenger of civilization, but rather accepted, developed, and spread it to other regions.