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History

They spoke manifold vernacular languages. Buddhist scriptures including the Lotus Sutra were translated into their respective tongues and spead over the areas along the Silk Road. Scaling the towering Karakoram Range and traversing the burning Taklamakan Desert, the scriptures were transmitted to China. Buddhism passed from China to Korea through Japan has a great influence on the culture, politics and society of East Asia.

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The Establishment of the Lotus Sutra

The Birth of Mahayana Scriptures

Deployment of new religious movement to get over the traditional early sectarian Buddhism
During a period from 100 to 200 years after the Buddha’s demise, the Buddhist order split into two groups: the school of the elders, which focused on maintaining traditions, and the school of great congregation, which was concerned with adapting to changes in society. By the 1st century BCE, further sectarian splits had resulted in formation of about 20 different groups. Generally, Buddhism before its ramification into schools is referred to as early Buddhism or pre-sectarian Buddhism, while Buddhism after the first ramification is often referred to as early sectarian Buddhism or Buddhism of early sectarian schools.

It is thought that early sectarian schools maintained and transmitted the Buddha’s teachings and had a social influence as monastic orders, and that a sizable number of lay people supported those schools. Buddhism continued to be very influential up until its decline in India. It is assumed that, from about the 1st century BCE, a new group arose from part of the sectarian schools, whose aim of practice was to help all living beings attain Buddhahood, and that this group came to call their teachings “Mahayana” (Great Vehicle).

Mahayana called Hinayana Buddhism(Lower Vehicle) and criticized part of early sectarian Buddhism severely. In China and Japan, The name of the Hinayana has been settled by the word all early sectarian Buddhism and it is today, but in International society, out of courtesy academically Southeast Asia Buddhism is not Hinayana(Generally refer to Sthaviravada Buddhism or Presbyterian Buddhism).
Gilgit Lotus Sutra manuscript
From above, Sanskrit manuscript of the Abhidharma-piṭaka, Sanskrit manuscript of the Diamond Sutra, Sanskrit manuscript of the Lotus Sutra
The Birth of Mahayana Scriptures which include new concept
As they attempted to transcend the limits of sectarian Buddhism, the leaders of Mahayana Buddhism worked to promulgate this new religious movement. As they did so, the Mahayana scriptures, which include both preceding Buddhist traditions and new concepts, gradually appeared. These representative Mahayana scriptures include the Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) sutras (early texts), the Infinite Life Sutra (Sukhāvatīvyūha-sūtra) and the Lotus Sutra. The Mahayana texts propound various superhuman Buddhas and bodhisattvas who are capable of saving great numbers of living beings. They expound numerous practices for believers and practitioners who seek to attain enlightenment, and also speak of the benefits of faith in Buddhas, bodhisattvas and the sutras themselves.
“All People as Buddha like Sakyamuni” the establishment of the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra is one of the early Mahayana texts; its Sanskrit title is Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra (Sutra of the Correct Law like White Lotus).

Dharmaraksha 竺法護 translated it into Chinese as Zheng fahua jing (正法華經, Lotus Sutra of the Correct Law), and Kumarajiva translated it as Miaofa lianhua jing (妙法蓮華經, Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law). (The title “The Lotus Sutra” 法華經 is an abbreviated form that is often used.) It is thought that the Lotus Sutra was compiled in Sanskrit in a form that is close to its present form between the 1st century BCE and the 2nd century CE.
Puṇḍarīka (White Lotus)
which grows out of mud and blossoms in purity, is included in the title, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra and serves as a metaphor to describe the Wonderful Law.
The Basic Concepts of the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra expounds the teaching that all living beings have the potential to attain Buddhahood (one Buddha vehicle), and relates scenes where Shariputra and other disciples of the Buddha are given prophecies of their future enlightenment.

Furthermore, Shakyamuni reveals that he originally attained enlightenment in the far distant past. He also declares that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth are his direct disciples, who will carry out the mission to propagate the Lotus Sutra after his death.

One of the characteristics of the Lotus Sutra is that it emphasizes faith in the sutra itself. This may be due to previously orally transmitted teachings being put down in written form. The appearance of numerous popular bodhisattvas attests to the benefits obtained from having faith in this scripture.