Buddhism in Southeast Asia is mostly Theravadin[1]. Vietnam however had in pre-Communist times a Mahayana majority due to Chinese influence.[2] Indonesia was Mahayana Buddhist since the time of the Sailendra and Srivijaya empires[3] but Mahayana Buddhism in Indonesia is now largely practiced by the Chinese diaspora, as in Singapore and Malaysia.
Southeast Asian countries with a Theravada Buddhist majority are Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma.
Mahayana Buddhism with traditional Chinese religions such as Taoism and Confucianism (Ancestor Worship) is the predominant religion of mostly Chinese communities in Singapore where it's the largest religion; while in Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines and Indonesia it is a strong minority. Vietnam's current largest religion is still Mahayana Buddhism.
Contents |
Buddhism in Southeast Asian countries
- Buddhism in Brunei
- Buddhism in Cambodia
- Buddhism in Indonesia
- Buddhism in Laos
- Buddhism in Malaysia
- Buddhism in Burma
- Buddhism in the Philippines
- Buddhism in Singapore
- Buddhism in Thailand
- Buddhism in Vietnam
See also
References
- ^ Answers.com (see "Buddhism Dictionary: Theravada")
- ^ CPAmedia: Buddhist Temples of Vietnam
- ^ Singapore Philatelic Museum website: Southward Expansion of Mahayana Buddhism - Southeast Asia
External links
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