The specific timeline of Buddhism's introduction to China has always been a topic of debate. The theories from the pre-Qin period are often inconsistent, while records from the Qin dynasty lack solid evidence. It wasn't until the late Western Han period that Buddhism began to gradually spread to the Xinjiang region and then to the interior through the Western Regions. In the early Eastern Han period, Emperor Ming of Han officially advocated for Buddhism, and the establishment of the White Horse Temple marked the formal dissemination of Buddhism in China.
During the Yongping era of the Eastern Han, Emperor Ming dreamt of a divine being named Buddha. He dispatched envoys to the Western Regions to seek Buddhist teachings, bringing back images of Buddha and scriptures. This led to the establishment of the White Horse Temple, one of the earliest Buddhist temples. Although the exact timing of the translation of the 'Forty-Two Chapters Sutra' is uncertain, it undoubtedly represents a significant milestone in the spread of Buddhism in China.
