Religions of Southeast Asia

• Buddhism

• Philosophy of Confucianism

• Hinduism

• Shintoism

• Islam

Birthplaces of Twelve Major Living Religions

Buddhism in Southeast Asia• Buddhism is one of the important religions of mainland SE

Asia – 360 million adherents worldwide

• Founded in Northeast India in 6th c. BC by Siddhartha Gautama

• After Siddhartha’s “awakening” or enlightenment, he came to be called the Buddha (The Enlightened One)

• In the 3rd c. BC Buddhist missionaries traveled throughout India to Sri Lanka and beyond to most of SE Asia.

• Buddhism began to lose influence in India in the 8 BC. due to the rise of Hinduism and Islam

Buddha’s Birthplace and Dispersion of Buddhism to East Asia

Buddha’s Early Teachings: Four Noble Truths The truth of suffering,

The truth of the cause of suffering,

The truth of the end of suffering,

The truth of the path that leads to the end of

suffering.

Buddhist Practices

Meditation - Mental concentration and mindfulness

Mantras - Sacred sounds Mudras - Symbolic hand

gestures Prayer Wheels - Reciting

mantras with the turn of a wheel

Burmese Monks

Burmese Nuns

Confucianism in South East Asia• Confucianism developed in China: a belief system

begun by the moral philosopher, Confucius (551 BC –479 BC)

• Confucianism is a complex set of beliefs emphasizing harmony, stability, consensus, hierarchy and authority

• There is no priesthood and no formal ritual

• Confucian ideas still have a profound effect in Vietnam, Singapore, and among Chinese in cities throughout the region

• There are approximately 6 million Confucians in the world. Almost all are in SE Asia.

MAIN TENETS OF CONFUCIANISM

• The Sacred Past: Confucius believed people should study the past to understand how to behave and be virtuous.

• The Social Code (Relationships): Political relationships are like family relationships, but larger. Rulers should behave toward their subjects they way fathers do with their children. Certain rituals of the past should be followed with this code.

• Self-Improvement: Strive to become a virtuous man. If all become virtuous, there will be harmony in society.

Confucianism

Origins of Hinduism• Hinduism originated in India; it spread to SE Asia,

and other parts of the world

• It is considered one of the oldest religions in the world and can be traced to 2000 BC

• In the 1st c. AD, Hinduism was spread throughout SE Asia by Indian traders who established marketing centers on their routes

• Today, there are approximately 900 million practicing Hindus

World Dispersion of the Hindu Community

Beliefs of Hinduism• Believe in a Supreme God – Brahman – the force

present in all things

• Every living thing has a soul

• Central belief involves cycle of birth, death and rebirth (reincarnation) controlled by Karma -

• Karma is the belief that one’s actions have good or bad consequences

• Life should be lived according to the dharma (code of conduct)

Practices of Hinduism The Ganges is considered sacred, the home of the

goddess Ganga

• annual pilgrimages to the many temples and shrines located along its shores

• Drink, bathe, and, after death, have their ashes scattered in the river.

• Bathing in the Ganges is a purifying ritual to wash away sins

• spreading one's ashes in the water upon death may improve one's karma and hasten salvation.

• Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan

• Approximately 3-4 million adherents worldwide

• Contains aspects of Buddhism and Toaism – mixture of religious traditions

• “Shinto" means "way of the kami." Shinto beliefs focus on the existence and power of the kami, or gods, that exist in the world, in nature, and especially in and throughout Japan.

• A diverse and ancient set of traditional and ritual practices that create and express the natural relationship between the Shinto gods (called "kami") and the people and places of Japan.

• Shinto rituals performed at shrines by male priests - Purification rituals are common

• Many national festivals (matsuri) revolve around Shinto beliefs and celebrate the seasons, Japanese history, and other Japanese events and traditions

Shintoism in SE Asia

Shintoism does NOT have:

a formal founder

written documents before the 8th century CE

list of formalized ethics

system of dogmatic beliefs or creeds

specific holy book

Shinto Shrines

Origins of Islam in Southeast Asia• Islam’s roots in SE Asia are debated: some argue that

Islam came directly from Arabia in the Middle East; some say Islam came from India via the Middle East; others claim Islam was brought to SE Asia through Muslim Chinese traders

• Islam arrived in SE Asia sometime in the 13th c. long after Hinduism, Animism and Buddhism

• Islam in SE Asia influenced by Buddhism and Hinduism

• There is great Islamic diversity throughout SE Asia due to the mix of religious traditions

Review of Islam• Muhammad is the founder• Holy Book is called the Koran (Quran)• Arabic is the sacred language• Worship in a mosque• Imam leads the worship• Mecca is a Holy City• 5 Pillars • Sunni – majority – any holy man could

be the leader after Muhammad• Shite – minority – the next leader has

to be a descendant of Muhammed

Islam in Southeast Asia today

• Indonesia most populous Islamic country in the world (90% Muslim)

• Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India also have large Muslim populations

• 1.3 billion adherents worldwide

Asian Religions

Works Cited

Carroll, Beverly J. “Shinto Basics.” World-Religions-Professor.com. 2012. Web.

6 Apr. 2014.

“Confucianism.” http://www.freehostingguru.com/. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.

“Confucianism: The Philosophy Explained.”

http://www.mitchellteachers.org/confucius/philosophy/

ConfucianPhilosophyNotesHandout.pdf/. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.

Kleinmeyer, Cindy. “Religions of South East Asia.” Northern Illinois University.

June, 2004. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.