FOUR RELIGIONS

INFLUENCES OF THE EAST ON SOUTH EAST

Buddhism
ASIAN COUNTRIES:
RELIGIONS Confucianism
Vu Doan Thi Phuong Thao, M.A.
Hinduism

Islam

ORIGIN

Definition: Buddhism is a non-theistic religion base on teachings

attributed to the Siddhartha Gautama who is commonly known as the
Buddha, meaning "the awakened one".

BUDDHA’S OUTLINE OF LIFE THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA

Siddhartha Gautama did indeed exist and that his disciples preserved the
memory of his life and teachings.

renunciati
birth maturity search awakening liberation teaching death
on
 THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA MAHAYANA VS. THERAVADA

• MAHAYANA (great way) • THERAVADA (the school of the older)

• Where? Northern (Tibet, China, Taiwan,
Japan, Korea, Mongolia, parts of Southeast
Asia )
• Man involved with others
• Religion for laypersons as well
• Liberal
• Goal: to become not just liberated, but
fully enlightened for the benefit of all
• The Mahayana includes the Theravada
teachings
• Where? Southern (Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Burma, Laos, Cambodia, parts of Southeast
Asia)
• Man as individual
• Religion mainly for monks
• Conservative
• Goal: closest example of this type of
Buddhism. Their goal is liberation from all
disturbances

MAHAYANA VS. THERAVADA BUDDHA’S TEACHING: THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

• Suffering is common - Everyone suffers

VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM • Cause of Suffering – Self, greed, desires and ignorance
• Where? Southern (Tibetan Buddhism)
• End of Suffering – Renunciation of greed and ignorance
• For every individual, not only monks
• Path to end Suffering – Correct way of living and following the eight fold path of life which is – Right
• No need to give up unhealthy attachments
Knowledge, Right Attitude, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Means of Livelihood, Right Effort, Right
• Most faithful to Buddha’s original vision
• Faster path towards enlightenment, thus Awareness, and Right Meditation.
reducing the need of experiencing several
lifetimes before reaching illumination

BUDDHA’S TEACHING FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

•Nirvana: the soul reunites to its pure state and stop wandering in incarnations and
karma.
•The Supreme Power that controls the universe has no form or name.
•Strong characters are built by doing good deeds and kind thoughts.
•Before criticizing anyone it is better to see what you are doing.
•Always do good and do not waste time and effort on things that lead to harm.
•Be aware of your words and deeds.
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS BUDDHA’S TEACHING

•The Five Percepts of life are the most important rules of life and these are – respect for
1- Khổ đế (Dukkha): là thực trạng đau life so no killing, respect for the property of others so no stealing, respect for pure
khổ của con người. nature so no sexual misconduct, respect for honesty so no lying and respect for a clear
mind so no intoxicants.
2- Tập đế (Samudaya): là nguồn gốc
hay nguyên nhân dẫn đến thực trạng đau
•Death is not the end of life. Energy changes into matter and matter again into energy
khổ.
like pale leaf fell on the ground mixes with soil, seed fell on earth to give rise to new
plant and so on.
3- Diệt đế (Nirodha): là sự kết thúc hay
sự chấm dứt khổ đau.
•Three poisons i.e. greed, hatred and stupidity keep us in the wheel of life and death.
4- Đạo đế (Magga): là con
đường hay phương pháp thực hành dẫn
đến chấm dứt khổ đau.

EIGHTFOLD PATH INTRUSION AND SPREADING

INTRUSION AND SPREADING

INTRUSION AND SPREADING 5th cent. Mahayana  Theravada
King Jayavarman VII
13th cent. Theravada: state religion

c. 268 – c. 232 BCE: King Ashoka (India)

Theravada
Integrated in people’s life, combined with nat worship (deity worship)

Mahayana: combined with Taoism, Chinese spirituality & indigenous Vietnamese rel
2nd cent: From China
Buddhism combined with Hinduism

228 BC. 5th – 13th: Mahayana Buddhism

13th cent: Theravada: state religion. Supported by Thai royal
Combined with Thai folk belief

Theravada (unique version)

7th – 8th cent:
Tied to animist beliefs, beliefs in ancestral spirits (esp. rural areas)
Vietnamese pagoda: Main gates Vietnamese pagoda: pagoda yard
LAOS – THAILAND - MYANMAR

Statue of a mythical
Kinnon at Wat Phra Kaew,
Bangkok
Transvestite Dancing/ Nat Worship Mandalay 1987

BUDDHISM’S INFLUENCE ARCHITECTURE

•Vietnam is more diverse with different branches of Buddhism can be •Buddhism’s temples and pagodas architecture are peacefully mixture of artistic factors from
other religions.
found. RATE OF BUDDHISTS
95%

95%

89%

65%

15%

Pagoda- the God of Mercy statue,

THAILAND CAMBODIA MYANMAR LAOS VIETNAM
Wat Bang Riang, Thailand

BUDDHISM’S INFLUENCE ON RELIGIOUS LITERATURE BUDDHISM’S INFLUENCE ON BELIEFS AND VALUES

•Buddhist monks perform a number of

Vietnam literature Laos literature Thailand literature
functions in Cambodian, Lao and Thailand
handsome society.
Fate and
priest, the
Buddhism, Karma, •huge emphasize on family values , highly
heroin =
Confucianism, Buddhist
beautiful
Taoism and concepts of appreciating close and hierarchy relationships,
princess, the
Animism Merit and
antagonist = a avoiding competitiveness and public emotional
Demerit
demon
expression
Buddhist monks receiving
offerings on Luang Prabang
street
 CONFUCIANISM – DEFINITION AND ORIGIN

•an ethical and philosophical system

•developed from the teachings of
the Chinese philosopher Confucius
•concerned with the principles of good conduct,
practical wisdom, and proper social
relationships

Confucius (551–479 BC) or Kong Fuzi (Kǒng

Fūzǐ, literally "Master Kong")
The Analects – one of the four basic books in

CONFUCIANISM Confucianism.

CONFUCIANISM’S INTRUSION AND SPREADING IN VIETNAM

•111 B.C – 905: Confucianism was brought into Vietnam and prospered under
the Chinese rule

•the period of national independence (939-1404 A.D), most of the Vietnamese

people accepted Confucianism.

The statue of a seated

Confucius in Temple of
Literature in Hanoi Successful candidates kowtowing
before the Literature Temple (1897).

CONFUCIANISM’S INTRUSION AND SPREADING IN

CONFUCIANISM’S INTRUSION AND SPREADING IN VIETNAM
SINGAPORE

•The role of martyr and the idea of sacrifice •the mid-19th: the institutionalization and The spread of
•A highly organized hierarchical society Confucianism

•“Universal Harmony” and “people as the root of the nation” •From the 1980's, a powerful Confucianism movement occurred
•1982: the Confucian Ethics campaign began, continuing into the
next decade.
CONFUCIANISM’S INTRUSION AND SPREADING IN COMMON VALUES IN VIETNAM AND SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE SOCIETY UNDER CONFUCIANISM’S INFLUENCE

•“to create a certain amount of ideological coherence in its version •family is the basic unity
of Asian Values and to give it some academic respectability” •family values are fundamental
•fostering talents concept: strive to cultivate oneself (tu thân), •extended generations
then build a family (tề gia), rule the country (trị quốc) and make •filial piety
the country harmonious (bình thiên hạ)
•respect for elderly

MARIAMMAN – HO CHI MINH CITY

HINDUISM

MARIAMMAN – HO CHI MINH CITY HINDUISM FACTS

•The 3rd largest religion in
the world
•A polytheistic religion
with many beliefs
•A way of life
 MAIN GODS/ GODDESSES OF HINDUISM
• Brahma: The Creator
• Devi (goddess): heavenly, divine, anything of excellence
• Shiva
• Vishnu: the preserver and protector of the universe

Origin Intrusion & Spreading

•"Hinduism" refers to the Sindhu(or Indus) river in northwest India

•Historians’ view: ancient Indus Valley civilization (over 4000 years old)  precedes
recorded history

No beginning

No founder

Mystical religion

(The symbol of peace) Country Period of influence Ways of intrusion

A non-missionizing religion Indonesia (4th cent.) Kingdom of Kutai, Traders;

•Spread to the world through: Hindu kings; colonization & Tarumanagara & Holing immigrants(defeated

globalization;… soldiers); missionaries;…

Malaysia (2nd cent.) State of Gangga Negara & trading

•Spread to SEA:
Langkasuka
1st century AD: Indian traders established marketing centers on
Singapore Early 19th century Immigrants (Tamil people
their routes  brought along Brahman priests
from southern India)
320-550 AD: Gupta period – peak of Hinduism
5th-14th century: state religion for various SEA states Cambodia Beginning of Kingdom of Funan (around Khmer’s Empire’s official
1st cent.) religion
POPULARITY CULTURE
Country Percentage
Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Indonesia 3%

Malaysia 6.27%

Singapore 5.1%

The Philippines 2%

Brunei 0.035% (a few thousands) Sri Mariamman Temple

in Singapore

Ratha-Yatra Festival in Fire Walking Festival

Malaysia in Singapore

BELIEFS AND VALUES

•Hinduism shares similar beliefs and
ISLAM
values with Buddhism
•The Sanskrit word ‘karma’ : actions or
deeds affect one's fortunes in
this life and the next
•Purpose of life in Hinduism:
minimize bad karma
•moral compass for followers within
remaining Hindu communities
 WHAT IS ISLAM?

• The 2nd largest religion in the world

• A monotheistic religion
• Teachings from the Holy Book: Qu’ran
(Quran or Koran)

BIG RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD

Origin ISLAM POPULATION AROUND THE WORLD

• Allah(creator)Quran(sacred
text)Prophet Muhammad

• 622 AD: the Prophet fled north to

Medina hijira(flight)

Began the Islamic calendar

(622AD=1AH)

• “Islam”=“peace” in Arabic
 Intrusion & Spreading SEVERAL THEORIES TO THE ISLAMIZATION IN SEA:

•Trade: The expansion of trade among West

Asia, India and Southeast Asia helped the
spread of the religion as Muslim traders
brought Islam to the region

•Sufis: missionaries syncretising Islamic

ideas with existing local beliefs and
religious notions

•The ruling classes embraced Islam

Country Period of influence Ways of intrusion

Indonesia the end of the 13th century Traders; local rulers;
Mecca, marriage
holly
land
Malaysia 12th century AD Indian traders; absorb
rather than conquer

The Philippines late 14th century Trading; local rulers

POPULARITY INFLUENCES

RATE OF POPULATION FOLLOWING THE RELIGION • Architecture

• Costume
88.20%

• Arts
• Beliefs and values
61.30%

64%
15%

7%

INDONESIA MALAYSIA SINGAPORE THE PHILIPPINES BRUNEI

 Great Mosque of Denmak - Indonesia
Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque - Brunei

Shadow Puppet and Wooden Puppet

• Women wearing “tudung”(hijab or headscarf) over their heads

Types of Muslim female headgear BELIEFS AND VALUES

• Most Muslims in Southeast Asia are Sunni

• Absorbed a number of local beliefs, customs and traditions that pre-date the arrival of Islam

Hijab Chador Niqab Burka

BELIEFS AND VALUES: FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM FURTHER READING & WATCHING

Profession of Faith (shahada): "There is no god but God, and • https://asiasociety.org/education/islamic-influence-southeast-asian-visual-arts-literature-and-

Muhammad is the Messenger of God"
performance
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dCxo7t_aE
Prayer (salat): Muslims pray facing Mecca five times a day: at dawn,
noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark.

Alms (zakat): Donation practice with fixed proportion of their

incomes
Fasting (sawm): the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, all healthy
adult Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink during
daytime.
Pilgrimage (hajj): Every Muslim whose health and finances permit it
must make at least one visit to the holy city of Mecca, in present-day
Saudi Arabia

RELIGION OF THE WORLD HOLLY BOOKS/ SACRED TEXT BY RELIGIONS

The Qur'an

Tipitaka:, known as the “three baskets,” are thought to be the

earliest collection of Buddhist writings
Sutras: There are more than 2,000 sutras, which are sacred
teachings embraced mainly by Mahayana Buddhists

Analects, Mencius, Xunzi, Great Learning

and Doctrine of the Mean

The Vedas

HOMEWORK – INDIVIDUAL WORK HOMEWORK – INDIVIDUAL WORK

1. Make a poster/ infographic compare and contrast the 4 religions: 2. Paragraph writing of at least 70 words:
Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, & Islam by the following criteria From your knowledge and experience, clarify the influence of one
Key words to remember
of the four religion in Southeast Asia. You can choose one or 2 of
Origin
Holy places/ animals/ things
the following aspects:
Important books/ teachings •Beliefs and values
Time and ways of spreading in Southeast Asia •Architecture
Influences/ legacies: architecture, writing system, art, beliefs and values
Importance practices (nghi thức quan trọng)
•Writing system