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Early Spread of Theravada Buddhism

There are many factors that contributed to the early spread of Theravada Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia. The main three ways in which the religion was transported into the region is through systems of trade, marriage, and missionary work. Buddhism has always been a missionary religion and Theravada Buddhism was able to spread due to the work and travel of missionaries. The Mon people are an ethnic group from Burma (Myanmar) that contributed to the success of Theravada Buddhism within Indochina. Buddhism was likely introduced to the Mon people during the rule of Ashoka Maurya, the leader of the Mauryan Dynasty (268-232 BCE) in India. Ashoka ruled his kingdom in accordance with Buddhist law and throughout his reign he dispatched court ambassadors and missionaries to bring the teachings of the Buddha to the east and Macedonia, as well to parts of Southeast Asia. India had trading routes that ran through Cambodia, allowing for the spread of these ideologies to easily occur. The Mons are one of the earliest ethnic groups from Southeast Asia and as the region shifted and grew, new inhabitants to Burma adopted the Mon people’s culture, script, and religion.

The middle of the 11th century saw a decline of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. From the 11th to 13th century the Khmer Empire dominated the Southeast Asian peninsula. Hindu was the primary religion of the Khmer Empire, with a smaller portion of people also adhering to Mahayana Buddhism. During the Khmer Rule, Theravada Buddhism was only found in parts of Malaysia, northwest Thailand, and lower Burma. Theravada Buddhism experienced a revival under the rule of Anawrahta Minsaw (1014-1077 AD). Anawrahta was the ruler of the Pagan Empire in Burma and is considered to be the founder of the modern Burmese nation. Anawrahta embraced and revived the Mon people’s form of Theravada Buddhism through his building of schools and monasteries that taught and supported Theravada ideologies. The success of Theravada Buddhism in Burma under the rule of Anawrahta allowed for the later growth of Buddhism in neighboring Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. The influences of the Mon people as well as the Pagan Empire are still felt today throughout the region. Currently, the Southeast Asian countries with the highest amounts of practicing Theravada Buddhists are Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.

Citations:

Deedrick, Tami. Khmer Empire. Ancient Civilizations (Raintree Steck-Vaughn). Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2002.

Guillon, Emmanuel., and Di Crocco, James V. The Mons : A Civilization of Southeast Asia. Bangkok: Siam Society under Royal Patronage, 1999.

Keown, Damien. Buddhism : A Very Short Introduction. New ed. Very Short Introductions ; 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.

Maraldo, John C., and Dumoulin, Heinrich. Buddhism in the Modern World. New York: Macmillan, 1976.

Schecter, Jerrold L. The New Face of Buddha; Buddhism and Political Power in Southeast Asia. New York: Coward-McCann, 1967.

Kitiarsa, Pattana. "Beyond the Weberian Trails: An Essay on the Anthropology of Southeast Asian Buddhism." Religion Compass 3, no. 2 (2009): 200-24.

Borobudur

Borobudur is a Mahayana Buddhist monument located in Java, Indonesia. It was constructed during the Shailendra dynasty, which ruled in Java from 750 to 850. Borobudur is a colossal structure resembling both a Mandala, a Buddhist structure of the universe, as well as a Stupa, a Buddhist mound containing a relic. A visitor to Borobudur is meant to be transformed as they ascend the various levels of the monument, finally reaching the top and encountering the Buddha hidden within the main stupa. While Borobudur is Mahayana Buddhist structure, rather than the Theravada form most practiced within Southeast Asia, the elaborate and intricate design of Borobudur influenced neighboring counties as well as later Buddhist artwork created in Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma.

http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/80769

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?resultListType=RELATED_DOCUMENT&userGroupName=lacc_main&inPS=true&contentSegment=9780028659107&prodId=GVRL&isBOBIndex=true&docId=GALE|CX3402600054#46

http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/109586#29587.toc

MIKSIC, JOHN N. "Borobudur." Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Ed. Robert E. Buswell, Jr. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 68. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.

Theravada Buddhism and Gender in Southeast Asia

Localizing the Universal: Women, Motherhood and the Appeal of early Theravada Buddhism

-12th and 13th cent. a lot of change experienced in SE Asia: Introduction of Theravada Buddhism and its appeal to women.

-religious changes reshape cultural order

-When the Buddha was a woman: Buddha in his various lives, is usually always a man. However, there is one old story of his rebirth where he was in the form of a woman! Interesting--this is often overlooked

-Women cannot be monks

-Theravada Buddhism more strict than Mahayana: "There is a general consensus that Theravada commentaries are particularly outspoken in denouncing female attachment to this world and endorsing the view that to be a woman rather than a man was evidence of 'an inadequate store of merit." (4).

-Discrepancy between text and practice (6)

-Women wanted to be reborn as men (7)

Beyond the Weberian Trails: An essay of Anthropology of Southeast Asian Buddhism

1-Complexity and multivalency of Buddhist practices in the region's diverse contexts

2-Relationship between Buddhism and political issues (post-cold war)

3-Global interests in Theravada buddhism

-primarily Thai Buddhist literature but can draw parallels to Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar

-Weberian Thought: Legacy of Max Weber

-"How can one properly analyze the social complexity of Southeast Asian religion?" (204).

-Networks of trade, marriage, and missionary works. (205)

-religious syncretization

-Buddhaization: in countries where the Buddhism is a state-sponsored religion. Attempts to convert non-buddhists to buddhism.

Influence of Cold-War and Spread of Buddhism!!

Interesting---Buddhism and politics (207)