A Brief Analysis of the History and Development of Theravada Buddhism in China

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, four Theravada Buddhist sects were introduced from Southeast Asia to China’s Yunnan Province; they were the Yon Sect(润派), the Tole Sect(多列派), the Baityang Sect(摆庄派), and the Zoti Sect(左抵派). The beliefs and practices of these sects were later adopted by the Dai(傣), Blang(布朗), De’ang(德昂), Achang(阿昌), and some Wa(佤) and Yi(彝) ethnic minority groups, and gradually developed and flourished. During their spread in China, these four Buddhist sects have undergone varying degrees of development and localization. This paper explores the historical context of the development of each sect by examining historical documents, local chronicles, oral histories and records of ethnic groups.