戰後馬來西亞的三系上座部佛教 : 及其與華人社群的互塑=The Three Traditions of Theravāda Buddhism in Post-War Malaysia and their Collective Formation with Chinese Buddhist Communities
In contemporary southeast Asia, Malaysia is one country where Chinese and Theravāda Buddhist traditions have long coexisted, and gradually they have come to exist in a state of fusion, with varying degrees of difference. Although the majority of the Buddhist community in Malaysia certainly is ethnic Chinese, Theravāda Buddhism is not overshadowed by its Chinese counterpart in its social role, and in many regards surpasses it. This article will explore how the Burmese, Thai, and Sri Lankan traditions of Theravāda have become integral to Malaysian Buddhism. Although the discussion will involve the transmission path and the historical background of the schools, the heart of the analysis is how these three schools transcend ethnic boundaries, creating changes in religious beliefs, structures, and practices in a Buddhist communities concentrated on the Chinese ethnicity. At the same time, the article explores the division of labor in religious formation of the three schools, as well as their different relationships with Chinese Buddhist communities. Moreover, the article touches on the schools’ potential influence in the future. The emphasis of the discussion is placed on how the Theravāda traditions, which originally served as religions of foreign immigrants or indigenous religions of ethnic minorities, “appeared” in contemporary Malaysia and has transcended ethnic boundaries. Through different methods, these schools spread and fused together with Malaysian Buddhist communities concentrated on the Chinese ethnicity. Meanwhile, they are molding contemporary Buddhism in Malaysia.
