Buddhism in Southeast Asia

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Thai Theravada monks on pilgrimage.
Thai Theravada monks on pilgrimage.

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 Myanmar.

Mahayana Buddhism with traditional Chinese religions such as Taoism and Confucianism (Ancestor Worship) is the predominantly religion of mostly Chinese communities in Singapore where the 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.

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[edit] Buddhism in Southeast Asian countries

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