About this Event
SYNOPSIS This talk traces the historical development and contemporary transformations of the Buddhist community in Singapore. Beginning in the nineteenth century, it examines how waves of migration from China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia produced a diverse Buddhist landscape encompassing Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna traditions in a colonial port city. It then considers the transition from syncretic “folk” practices to more institutionalized and reformist forms of Buddhism in the twentieth century, shaped by monastic networks, lay organizations, and state policy. Turning to the present, the talk explores the plurality of Buddhist identities within Singapore’s urban context, ranging from “traditional” and “reformist” practitioners to the “inactive” majority, alongside an increasing emphasis on education, welfare, and public engagement. It concludes by reflecting on the challenges of secularization, demographic change, and religious competition, demonstrating that Buddhism in Singapore continues to be reconfigured through processes of urbanization and global circulation.
More details
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
8 Somapah Rd, 8 Somapah Road, Tampines, Singapore
SGD 0.00
