Buddhism, which began in northern India as a world religion, is mainly categorized into Theravada Buddhism (Nanden bukkyo [Buddhism that spread from India to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia]) which spread in southeast Asia (Khmer Dynasty, Sriwijaya Kingdom), and Mahayana Buddhism (Hokuden bukkyo [Buddhism that spread from India to northern Asia]) which spread to China, the Korean peninsula, and other regions through the western regions of China (Central Asia).
北インドの地で生まれた世界宗教としての仏教は、主として東南アジア方面（クメール王朝、シュリーヴィジャヤ王国）に伝播した上座部仏教（南伝仏教）と、西域（中央アジア）を経由して中国から朝鮮半島などへ広がった大乗仏教（北伝仏教）に分かれる。