History of Buddhism in Malaysia
The growth of Buddhism
A large number of artefacts, such as terracotta seated Buddhas and Buddhist votive tablets, discovered in various parts of Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in the Bujang Valley of Kedah, point to the existence of Buddhism as early as the 5th century CE. Buddhist influence, however, declined in the 11th century with the waning influence of the Srivijaya kingdom. Buddhism also spread to the northern part of the Malay Peninsula from Thailand. Chinese and Sri Lankan immigrants, who came to Malaysia during British rule, brought Buddhism back to Malaysia in the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Information in the full article includes
- Srivijaya
- Thai influence
- Chinese and Sri Lankan immigrants
- Buddhism today