Buddhist Diversity and Inter-regional Connectivity in Southeast Asia

The Intervention of Chinese Religious Syncretism

This project attempts to look at Buddhist diversity and inter-regional religious connectivity in Southeast Asia through the lens of Chinese religious syncretism, seeking to unfold Buddhist diversity in the region after the infusion of Chinese Three Teachings tradition (Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism). Regions studied under the topic concerning primarily on Malaya (Malaysia and Singapore under British rule), with references to Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia where Chinese religious syncretism asserts particular influence from early modern to contemporary times. Methodology employed will be interdisciplinary, combining textual studies, historical and ethnographical framework, using evidences from textual, visual and spatial materials.