The presence and significance of Buddhism in maritime Southeast Asia warrant deeper scholarly inquiry and rigorous analysis. This region, often associated with the Malay Archipelago, encompasses the predominantly Muslim nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, as well as the Catholic-majority Philippines. Singapore, with its predominantly Buddhist and ethnically Chinese population, is frequently regarded as an outlier. The author contends that the forms of Buddhism referred to as ‘South China Sea Buddhism’ have played a vital role within the predominantly Islamic and Catholic milieus of maritime Southeast Asia, particularly among its Chinese communities. Rooted in the historical interactions between China and Southeast Asia, South China Sea Buddhism has continually evolved through processes of adaptation, localization, and innovation.

This volume is a collection of essays primarily focused on Buddhism in Singapore. By examining themes such as transnational networks, religious diplomacy, and the emergence of modernist Buddhist practices, the book aims to illuminate and critically analyze the intricate and dynamic developmental trajectories of Buddhism in maritime Southeast Asia, employing interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional approaches.