Religions Of Southeast Asia

Religions of Southeast Asiaby Cindy Kleinmeyer, Northern Illinois UniversityJune 2004 sm) Confucianism

Asian Religionshttp://www.wadsworth.com/religion d/special features/popups/maps/maps f.html

Birthplaces of Twelve Major Living Religionshttp://www.wadsworth.com/religion d/special features/popups/maps/maps f.html

Origins of HinduismHinduism originated in India; spread to SEA, and otherparts of the world (Australia, Europe, N. America, Africa,Caribbean)It is considered one of the oldest religions in the worldand can be traced to the 2nd millennium BCHinduism’s origins are traced back through ancientreligious hymns that were composed during this periodIn the 1st c. AD, Hinduism was spread throughout SEAby Indian traders who established marketing centers ontheir routesBrahman priests also instructed people on Hindu beliefsSome say that SEA was “Hinduized” or “Indianized”during this period

World Dispersion of the Hindu Communityhttp://www.wadsworth.com/religion d/special features/popups/maps/maps f.html

Spread of Hinduism toSoutheast AsiaHinduism spread to Burma, Thailand, Cambodia,Indonesia via trade and Brahman priestsHinduism was the state religion for various SE Asianstates from the 5th – 14th centuriesDuring this time, Mahayana Buddhism coexisted withHinduism in much of the regionAfter the 14th c. Hinduism was replaced by Buddhism inmost parts of SEA except for Bali, IndonesiaMayayana Buddhism’s influence faded away asHinduism’s influence began to decline in the region

Lasting influence of Hinduism onSoutheast AsiaThere are very few Hindu’s left in SEA today apart fromon the island of Bali, IndonesiaHinduism gave rise to famous political and religiouscenters at Angkor, near Siem Riep, Cambodia, and atBorobodur, Java, IndonesiaAlthough the Hindu population in SEA is small, theinfluence of Hinduism is still found in their great literaryepics the Ramayana and the MahabharataMany SEA cultures adopted these texts and made themtheir own by adapting them to their own culturesThe Hindu principles of absolutism and hierarchy remainessential aspects of SEA politics today

Hinduism in BaliHinduism came to Bali via Java which was exposed to afairly direct influence from India through literatureRamayana and Mahabharata (via traders and religiousteachers)The Ramayana is a love story with moral and spiritualthemesThe Mahabharata is a poem describing a conversationbetween Arjuna and God Krishna

Borobodur, Java

Hinduism at Angkor WatFrom the 9th to the 11th c., Angkor Wat washome to a great Hindu civilizationIn accordance with Hindu beliefs, the leaders atAngkor were god-kings, or deva rajasThe political order was considered to be amicrocosm of the cosmic orderThe king was to his kingdom as the god was tothe cosmos

Decline of Hinduismin Southeast AsiaHinduism lost its influence in SEA during aperiod running roughly from the 1200s – 1400sADHinduism’s influence in SEA declined becauseof its elitist doctrine based on the caste systemLater religions including Buddhism, Islam andChristianity gained popularity because they putsalvation in the hands of the individualAnd, because they were more egalitarian

Origins of Islam in Southeast Asia Islam’s roots in SEA are debated: some argue that Islam camedirectly from Arabia in the Middle East; some say Islam came fromIndia via the Middle East; others claim Islam was brought to SEAthrough Muslim Chinese traders Islam arrived in SEA sometime in the 13th c. long after Hinduism,Animism and Buddhism It is believed that the Walis (Sufi mystics) brought Islam to Indonesia(the first entry point of Islam to SEA) Because SEAsian Islam came via India, and Indian Islam wasinfluenced by the Turks modified Islam, by the time it got to SEA itwas “softer” and mystical. When Islam got to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, etc, there wasalready an Indianized culture of Hindu Buddhists On the island of Java in particular, this created a hybrid culture andan Islam that was very mystical and spiritual (Malaysia as well) There is great Islamic diversity throughout SEA due to the syncreticmix of assimilated religious traditions

Adoption of Islam bySoutheast Asian cultures The Sufi Indians successfully spread Islam to Indonesia,Malaysia, Borneo and Philippines because of its mysticquality and its tolerance for coexistence with earlieranimist, Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and rituals To win converts the Sufis allowed people in SEA toretain pre-Islamic beliefs and practices that werecontrary to orthodox Islamic doctrine For example, women retained very strong positions at home andin society; in many families, women are not obligated to covertheir heads Pre-Islamic religious beliefs and rituals became part of Muslimceremonies (Javanese shadow puppet shows remained verypopular)

maps/muslimtext.html

Southeast Asian Countries: Islam %Brunei: 63% Burma: 4% East Timor: 4% Indonesia: 88% Malaysia: majority, but great diversity Philippines: 5% Singapore: 16% Thailand: 4% Vietnam: small minority Cambodia, Laos: very small minority

Islam in Southeast Asia today Islam is the state religion in Malaysia and Brunei It is the majority religion of Indonesia (90%) Before the 20th c., Mindanao in the SouthernPhilippines was predominantly Muslim; it nowhas a large Christian population Southern Thailand is largely Muslim, and Muslimminorities exist in most Southeast Asiancountries.

What Keeps Islam in SoutheastAsia Alive? Scholars mention two major reasons: Ummah: a concept that means all Muslims, all overthe world, belong to the same community; whenMuslims from all over the world go on the Hajj toMecca their traditional beliefs in a world community ofMuslims is reinforced. Modern communications andtravel technology make it possible for thousands andthousands to travel to Mecca every year; thiscontributes to the evolution of Islam in SEA and helpssustain it Education: Muslims schools keep Islam active andcurrent in the local populations

Muslim Mosque in centralBurma

Early Buddhism in Southeast AsiaBuddhism is one of the important religions of mainland SEAEarly Buddhism was founded in Northeast India ca. 6th c. BC bySiddhartha Gautama; After his “awakening” or enlightenment, hecame to be called the Buddha (the awakened one)Main variants: Theravada and Mahayana BuddhismTheravada Buddhism: “the Way of the Elders” stressed respectfor elders; in the 3rd c. BC Buddhist missionaries traveledthroughout India to Sri Lanka and beyond to most of SEA.Buddhism dies out in India by the 13th c.Mahayana Buddhism: beginning around the 2nd c. BC, evolvedfrom other sub-traditions and in the 1st c. CE spread eastwardacross the central Asian trade routes to China.

Buddha’s Birthplace and Dispersion of Buddhism toEast Asiahttp://www.wadsworth.com/religion d/special features/popups/maps/maps f.html

Buddha’s Early Teachings: 4 noble truthslife is sufferingsuffering is caused by attachmentsto ease suffering one must let go of attachmentslose attachments by following the Eight - fold path:Right understanding of 4 noble truthsRight thinkingRight speechRight actionRight livingRight effortRight mindfulnessRight concentration

Spread of Buddhismto Southeast AsiaLike Hinduism, Buddhism spread to SEAvia India through various separate streamsTheravada Buddhism spread to mainlandSEA via India and Sri LankaBy 500 AD Theravada Buddhism isestablished in Burma, and is spreading eastacross mainland SEA to Thailand, Cambodia,and LaosIt was introduced directly to the people (notindirectly through the ruling classes)

Mahayana BuddhismAt the same time, Mahayana Buddhismreappears and spreads via China to Vietnam19th c. Chinese Immigrants also broughtMahayana Buddhism to Singapore and otherurban areasMahayana Buddhism is more mystical thanTheravada; they believe in Bodhisattvas(Buddhas-to-be)

Buddhism in Southeast AsiaTodayBuddha established the sangha, the order of Buddhistmonks, that is still flourishing today in mainland SEAVirtually all male Buddhists enter the sangha to becomemonks for at least a short time during their lives; thisprovides merit for their parentsThe sangha continues to help spread and protect theBuddhist faithBuddhist monks are not supposed to get involved inpolitics, but in some cases, such as in Burma andThailand they doMainland SEA is still predominantly Buddhist; in allareas, Buddhism is mixed with elements of animist andHindu beliefs

Burmese Buddhist temple (paya)

Burmese monks

Burmese nuns

Animism in Southeast AsiaAll countries of SEA mix elements of animism or spiritworship with local religionDuring the height of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhismin SEA, animism was an important alternative thatappealed to ordinary peopleSpirits are believed to exist everywhere (but not in allthings): rice fields, trees, homes, roads and buildingsSpirits must be properly propitiated or it is believed thatthey can make you sick or ruin your harvestAnimist spirits are often given a designated home, suchas in a building or a simple shrine, so that they may belocated and consulted before important events

Spirits Ancestor spirits: people that were important in this life areconsidered powerful in the afterlifeSpirits of the environment (genie of the soil): spirits in trees,along roads or in waterfalls keep must be propitiated withfood or a shrine to keep these areas safeSpirits of natural phenomena: consulted as needed.Examples include sun, moon, storms, and earthquakes.They represent the uncertainty of the world.

Nat Statues in Burma

A rain nat

† Origins of Christianity in Southeast Asia† There are only two predominantly Christian countries inSEA: the Philippines and East Timor† About 85% of Filipinos and 90% of Timorese are RomanCatholic† Catholicism came to the Philippines in the 16th c. with thearrival of the Spaniards and to East Timor with the arrivalof the Portuguese Dominican Friars† How did a small number of Spaniards convert the bulk ofthe Filipinos to Catholicism?† because there was no centralized power† and because animist beliefs left them open to a more structuredbelief system offering salvation

Christian Church in upper Burma

Confucianism in SE AsiaWhile most of mainland SEA was being Indianized,Chinese influence was spreading to VietnamWith the Chinese came Confucianism: a belief systembegun by the moral philosopher, Confucius (551 BC –479 BC)Confucianism is a complex set of beliefs emphasizingharmony, stability, consensus, hierarchy and authorityThere is no priesthood and no formal ritualConfucian ideas still have a profound effect in Vietnam,Singapore, and among Chinese in cities throughout theregion

Bibliography The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, Vol. 1, Part II: From c. 1500 to c. 1800. ed. Nicholas Tarling.Cambridge University Press, 1999. Cooler, Richard. “Buddhism”, www.seasite.niu.edu/crossroads/ Esmula, Wadja K. “Islam in the k/6443/Philippines/philippines.html Hussain, Mohammad I., M.D. “An Introduction to Islam”, http://eawc.evansville.edu/essays/hussain.htm Neher, Clark. Southeast Asia: Crossroads of the World, Southeast Asia Publications, Center for Southeast AsianStudies, NIU DeKalb, IL. 2000 Russell, Susan. “Islam: A Worldwide Religion and Its Impact in Southeast ell/islam.htm Shih, Anthony. “The Roots and Societal Impact of Islam in Southeast Asia: Interview with Professor MarkMancall”, Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs, Spring 2002, Vol. II. mwww.wadsworth.com/religion d/special features/popups/maps/maps aps/muslimtext.html

Islam is the state religion in Malaysia and Brunei It is the majority religion of Indonesia (90%) Before the 20th c., Mindanao in the Southern Philippines was predominantly Muslim; it now has a large Christian population Southern