God's Cursed Orphan
Buddhism is the major religion across Asia and all of the architecture is inspired by it. Japan for example is the most sought after in the design world and everyone wants the zen look which is based on an emptiness which is described in zen Buddhism.

Ryunyo
Mahayana spread easier than Theravada Buddhism at first, because the Theravadins were stricter about the rules. Monks were required to receive all food by donation, but Mahayana monks were willing to grow and harvest their own food. This involved killing plants, which Theravada included in the precept against killing. Later, after Buddhism had become more accepted and the Chinese people were more willing to support monks, Theravada also spread. Theravada's main emphasis is on monastic life, overcoming attachments by just not following them. Mahayana included more of the practice the Buddha had taught for householders, so the Chinese laypersons were finally offered a path that they could benefit from. Confucianism had been mainly concerned with governing, and Taoism, as practiced by most of the people, was mainly protective spells. So in a sense, Buddhism was the first system that offered them i way to really accomplish anything religious.