History - Development of Buddhism in Shoutheast Asia - Geographically, mainland Southeast Asia consists of countries such as Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Indo China, and Malaysia. Southeast Asian archipelago includes Singapura, Indonesia, and Philippines. These area received a lot of influence of Indian religions and culture.
Buddhism in Thailand
In Thailand, the kingdoms which developed Therayada Buddism (Hinayana Buddism) betweeen the 13th and 15th centuries were Sukothai and Ayuthia. The two great kingdoms inherited hundreds of 'wats' (temple) or pagodas located in Thonburi (Bangkok). The largest temple is Phra Keo Wat in which there is a statue of Buddha made of emerald.
Buddhism in Myanmar
People in Myanmar started to receive Buddhism teachings when a monk named Buddha Gosha from Srilanka came to the country in 403 AD.
Buddhism got more followers during the Pagan empireunder Emperor Anwrahta (1044 - 1077 AD. The king of Pagan once required some monks from Mon ethnicity to profess Therevada Buddhism. Thousand Pagodas were built in that time. The largest and most famous pagoda was Shwe Dagon which was built in 1059 AD.
Buddhism in Cambodia and Vietnam
Buddhism was received warmly by all levels of people in Cambodia during the reign of Jayawarman VII (1811 - 1219 AD). An important intherirance of Jayawarman VII government is Angkor Thom. It was reparted by I-tsing that the Vietnamese people who lived in Annam and Tonkin regions already professed Buddhism.
Between 968 and 1009 AD, the Dinh Dynasty founded a formal religious organization which combined Taosim and Buddhism. The second king tried to include classical transcripts of Mahayana Buddhism from China and encouraged his people to prefess Buddhism.
Buddhism in Indonesia
Buddhism in Indonesia fourished in Sriwijaya Kingdom during the reign of Balaputradewa. In the 9th century, Sriwijaya was one of the centers of Buddhism propagation.
Other references please read : www.buddhanet.net
May be "Development of Buddhism in Shoutheast Asia" useful for history lovers.
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