Buddha's Story Found in Christian Saints

The story of Christian saints Barlaam and Josaphat has a close parallel to the story of the Gautama Buddha, with the saints' tale being derived from the Buddha's story and influencing each other through successive retellings and translations across various cultures.

The story of saints Barlaam and Josaphat first shows up in the Christian tradition in the 10th century, in Georgia as the Balavariani. The name 'Budhasaf' in the Book of Bilawhar and Budhasaf comes from the Persian version 'Bodisav', and thence from the Sanskrit 'Bodhisattva'.

The Roman Catholic Church included the two saints in older versions of its martyrology. Various Orthodox churches still mention Barlaam and Josaphat today. The story was widely disseminated, with a 1591 Japanese translation made by Jesuit missionaries, and an early printed edition of Marco Polo's travels from 1446 mentioning the saints' tale.

Translations of the story of Barlaam and Josaphat reached as far as Iceland. It wasn't until the mid-19th century that the saints' tale was generally acknowledged as being derived from the Buddha's story.

## Why it matters The story of Barlaam and Josaphat is significant because it highlights the exchange of ideas and cultural influences between different civilizations. The fact that the Buddha's story was adapted and incorporated into Christian tradition demonstrates the complexity and richness of cultural exchange throughout history. The story's widespread dissemination, from Japan to Iceland, also underscores the extensive reach of cultural and religious ideas across the globe.