An Introduction to the Study of Theravada Buddhism in Burma
Summary
Summarising Prof. Niharranjan Ray’s book on Theravāda Buddhism in Burma, this review traces the religion’s history from the mission supposedly sent by Ashoka through subsequent centuries to the British conquest in 1885. The book discusses the Asoka mission, early traces of Buddhism among the Kirāta and Lin‑yang peoples, the growth of Theravāda in Prome and Thaton, and its establishment in the Pagan dynasty amid rivalry between Burmese and Ceylonese monastic orders. Later chapters cover Burmese Theravāda from the fourteenth century onwards and debate doctrinal issues. The reviewer highlights Ray’s use of Burmese chronicles, inscriptions and literature to reconstruct the past and notes his caution regarding speculative traditions. Competing theories about the identification of Suvarṇabhūmi and the authenticity of early missions are discussed. The book is praised for providing a comprehensive and critical account of Burmese Theravāda.
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Conclusion
The review commends Prof. Niharranjan Ray’s balanced and well‑documented study of Burmese Theravāda. Combining textual analysis with archaeological evidence, the book offers a nuanced narrative of religious change and will inform studies of Indo‑Burmese relations and Southeast Asian Buddhism.