How did Chan Buddhism spread from China to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam?

Chan Buddhism, which originated in China as a distinctively Chinese development of Indian meditation practices, spread to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam through the movement of monks and the exchange of religious traditions.1

Korea

The Chinese Chan sect, known as Sŏn in Korea, was introduced in the 8th century. It gradually became the dominant school of Buddhism by absorbing existing Korean traditions, such as Huayan, Tientai, and Pure Land.2

Japan

Zen was introduced to Japan as early as the 7th century, but it flourished significantly during the 12th and 13th centuries through the work of monks like Eisai and Dōgen. These monks traveled to China to study and returned to establish major lineages, including the Rinzai and Sōtō schools. Japanese Zen became deeply integrated into the culture, influencing arts such as Noh theatre, the tea ceremony, and martial arts.134

Vietnam

Zen (Vietnamese: thien) was introduced from China beginning in the 6th century. Key figures included the Indian monk Vinitaruchi, who established the first meditation school, followed by Chinese monks like Vo Ngon Thong and Thao Durong, who introduced further Zen lineages in the 9th and 11th centuries.5