Buddhism is an Eastern religion and philosophy based primarily on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563鈥?83 BCE). By the time European traders arrived in Asia in the early 1500s; Buddhism was the dominant religion in many regions.

In this greatly exaggerated illustration; probably set in China; the European artist portrays a temple as similar to a European theatre. Statues of demons flank the Buddha image; reminding Europeans of the day that this was a pagan church.