page_title: History of Buddhism
section_title: Theravāda Renaissance
hierarchical_section_title: History of Buddhism / Southeast Asian Buddhism / Theravāda Renaissance
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Wat Chai Watthanaram, buddhistische Tempelanlage (Wat) in Ayutthaya am Westufer des Chao Phraya, südwestlich der Altstadt von Ayutthaya gelegen. Es handelt sich um eine große Anlage, die zum Weltkulturerbe der UNESCO gehört. English: Wat Chai Watthanaram, Ayutthaya Historical Park, central Thailand. Français&#160;: Temple de Chaiwatthanaram, dans le parc historique de l'ancienne ville d'Ayutthaya, dans le centre de la Thailande. Tiếng Việt: Wat Chaiwatthanaram, ngôi đền nằm trong quần thể di tích Công viên lịch sử Ayutthaya, thuộc thành phố Ayutthaya, Thái Lan
context_page_description: The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present. Buddhism arose in the eastern part of Ancient India, in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha, and is based on the teachings of Siddhārtha Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. The religion evolved as it spread from the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent through Central, East, and Southeast Asia. At one time or another, it influenced most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements, schisms, and schools, among them the Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions, with contrasting periods of expansion and retreat.
context_section_description: The lands of the Mon and Pyu peoples in Myanmar show extensive evidence of Theravada presence in the Irrawaddy and Chao Phraya basins from the 5th century CE onwards. Theravada Buddhism in Burma initially coexisted with other forms of Buddhism and other religions. After the decline of Buddhism in the Indian mainland, Theravada Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka mounted missionary efforts in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and they were successful in converting all these regions to Theravada Buddhism.
  King Anawrahta (1044–1078); the founder of the Pagan Empire, adopted the Theravādin Buddhist faith from Sri Lanka, building numerous Buddhist temples at his capital of Pagan. Invasions from the Burmese and the Mongols weakened Theravada in this region and it had to be reintroduced from Sri Lanka. During the Mon Hanthawaddy Kingdom (1287–1552), Theravada Buddhism was the dominant religion in Burma, with strong ties to Sri Lankan Buddhism. One of their kings, Dhammazedi, is particularly known for his reformation of Burmese Buddhism from the Sri Lankan Mahavihara tradition between 1476 and 1479. Theravada remained the official religion of the subsequent Burmese Taungoo Dynasty (1510–1752).
  During the reign of the Khmer King Jayavarman VII (r. c. 1181–1218), Theravada Buddhism was promoted by the royal family and Sri Lankan monks, including his son Tamalinda who himself had traveled to Sri Lanka. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Theravada became the dominant religion of Cambodia, and monasteries replaced the local priestly classes. The Theravāda faith was also adopted by the Thai kingdom of Sukhothai as the state religion during the reign of Ram Khamhaeng (1237/1247–1298). Theravāda Buddhism was further reinforced during the Ayutthaya period (14th–18th century), becoming an integral part of Thai society.
caption: Wat Chaiwatthanaram, one of the Ayutthaya Kingdom's best-known temples.
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