The increased interactions of travellers, merchants and locals incited by trading along the Silk Road resulted in the spread of ideas, in particular Buddhism to China. This adoption of the religion is thought to have been instigated by Indian Buddhist monks who accompanied Silk Road caravans in order to ensure safe passage to China (Buckley-Ebrey, 1996, p. 59). Such monks are depicted in the Mogoa Caves. This series of Chinese caves, located close to the Silk Road, were carved by Buddhist monks as lodges and temples. Here, we find a surplus of Buddhist artefacts including a 9th century painting of a travelling monk, indicated by his well-stocked pack [Picture labelled of PPT] (British Museum, 2015). This monks also carries a range of scrolls thought to be sutras, records of Buddhist practices …show more content…
The Silk Road established a platform to the spread ideas which Buddhist monks use to travel to China and convert entire cities, such as Khotan, to Buddhism. Smaller cities like those in Sogdiana as a result of the new financial opportunities the Silk Road brought to towns along the route changing their people’s