Southward Expansion of Mahayana Budhism - Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia a number of the kingdoms adopted various schools of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, especially Srivijaya in Sumatra, and the Central and East Javanese kingdoms.

• Buddhism in Indonesia
• Malay Peninsular and Singapore

Buddhism in Indonesia

Buddhist pilgrims voyaged via trade routes to Indonesia during the 7^th to 13^th centuries AD. Historical records show that Sumatra and Java were major centres of international Buddhist scholarship during this period. The Chinese pilgrim, Yijing, visited Palembang, capital of Srivijaya in south Sumatra, in the 7^th century, noted that Buddhism was adopted.

Under the reign of the Sailendra kings (780 AD), who were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism, Buddhist temples, including Borobudur, were built between 750 and 850 AD. As esoteric Buddhism evolved during the 7^th to 10^th century, Sumatra and Java were exposed to Vajrayana Buddhism via contacts with India and Tibet. The structure of Borobudur illustrating the four tantras levels is historical evidence to Indonesia's exposure to tantric Buddhism.

Malay Peninsular and Singapore

The 19^th century immigrants from south China brought with them their Mahayana Buddhist beliefs and practices. Today the biggest Mahayana Buddhist temples in Singapore is the Phor Kark See temple at Bright Hill Road. Other popular Mahayana temples are the Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) temple at Waterloo Street and the Siong Lim See temple at Toa Payoh. Guanyin is also worshipped at several other temples dedicated to other Chinese deities. Theravada Buddhists in this region are mostly immigrants from Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma. The Theravada Burmese Buddhist Temple is located near Ah Hood Road. The Sri Lankaramaya Temple at St Michael Road is famous for a huge reclining statue of Buddha.

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		Two Paths Of Salvation		Across the Himalayas
		Spread of Buddhism Beyond Northern Indian		Southeastern Expansion of Theravada Buddhism -Indochinas
		Northward Expansion of Buddhism - Far East		Southward Expansion of Mahayana Budhism - Southeast Asia
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