Abstract: This paper uses existing literature and excavated objects to undertake detailed research into the history of the rise and fall of Turkestan [Tujue 突厥] Buddhism，and its characteristics. The dissemination of Buddhism in Turkestan started in the second half of the sixth century during the reign of Taspar Qaghan. At that time，monks Huilin，Baoxian，Daosui and Sengtan from Northern Qi，and eminent monks Jnanagupta and Prabhakaramitra from India all came to Turkestan to spread Buddhism. Additionally，Sogdian Buddhism also exerted great influence on the formation of Turkestan Buddhism. However，because the Buddhist doctrines of no killing and no fighting are in conflict with the nomadic Turkestan customs of hunting and bravery，Buddhism did not take deep root in Mongolia. Soon after the death of Taspar Qaghan，Buddhism began to decline. In Central Asia, only the inhabitants of Western Turkestan took refuge in Buddhism in great number，and this was due to Buddhism's long prevailing influence there. Many of them were nobles, bureaucrats, or members of the Turkestan royal family. Under their patronage，Buddhism was very prosperous in many parts of Western Turkestan. It was only after the eighth century that Buddhism began to decline due to the decline of the Turks and the invasion of Islam from the west. The early period of the Turks was associated mainly with Mahayana Buddhism. Later，especially in Western Turkestan，both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism existed. Buddhism ultimately lost its predominance，and for a long time co-existed with Turkestan's traditional shamanism (Eastern and Western Turkestan )，Nestorianism (Western Turkestan)，and Zoroastrianism (Western Turkestan).
