Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s3.t9.2

v1.c7.s3.t9.2

According to legend, during the period of King Asoka (3^rd^ century BCE), the legendary emperor who created the Maurya Dynasty in India, held the third Samgiti, also the greatest in size in the history of Buddhism in Pataliputra (present-day Patna) during which the *Tipitaka* was compiled and organised. His children and some monks were sent to the different places in the world to disseminate and promote Buddhism. By the records of Buddhism scriptures, King Asoka also took out Buddha Sarira from Limnophila Aquatica (Grand Pagoda) in Rajgir and divided it into 84,000 parts. Then he ordered a spirit which could fly to establish a total of 84,000 pagodas all over the world in one night. It was rumoured that he built 19 dagobas in China, one of them located in Yin County, Zhejiang province. Now, the only history relic saved till today is the dagoba of King Asoka.