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Questions about Buddhism in Cambodia

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did Mahayana Buddhism arrive in the Kingdom of Funan?

Mahayana Buddhism arrived in the Kingdom of Funan during the 5th century alongside Hindu merchants. Chinese traveler Yijing observed this dual religious presence toward the close of the seventh century.

Who was King Jayavarman VII and what role did he play in Cambodian Buddhism?

King Jayavarman VII reigned from 1181 to 1215 and worked tirelessly to establish Buddhism as the state religion of Angkor. He became a Mahayana Buddhist who regarded himself as a Dharma-king and bodhisattva.

What happened to Buddhism under the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979?

The communist Khmer Rouge tried to completely destroy Buddhism when they took control of Cambodia in 1975. Estimates suggest that 50,000 monks died during the Khmer Rouge regime and nearly every temple and library had been destroyed by the end of their rule.

How many monks were there in Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge ascension compared to the early 1980s?

Estimates of the number of monks prior to the ascension of the Khmer Rouge vary ranging between 65,000 and 80,000. By the early 1980s the number of Cambodian monks worldwide was estimated to be fewer than 3,000.

When did Theravada Buddhism become the state religion of Cambodia after the 13th century?

After the 13th century Theravada Buddhism became the state religion of Cambodia following the return of Prince Tamalinda from Sri Lanka. King Jayavarman VII sent his son Tamalinda to Sri Lanka to be ordained as a Buddhist monk and study Theravada Buddhism according to Pali scriptural traditions.