Buddhism in Cambodia

General people in Cambodia are very religious. Buddhism prevails but some other religions are also present. More or less 95% people are Buddhist out of which Theravada Buddhist are more in number. Rest of the population follows Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and animism. Buddhism in Cambodia is very prominent and that is the reason people are very innocent at some point. Most of them are peace lover.

From 5th century CE, Buddhism has survived in Cambodia. But its origin can be expected as 3rd century BCE. Since13th century CE Theravada Buddhism has been regarded as the Cambodian state religion. The expected reign was Khmer Rouge period. Presently the percentage has been calculated as not less than 95 %.

In Cambodia the history of Buddhism dates back to not less than two thousand years. Number of empires and kingdoms changes. Buddhism comes in Cambodia in different streams. The most former kinds of Buddhism which was along with Hindu influences entered the Funan kingdom. This was done with Hindu merchants. Some years later a different stream of Buddhism entered Khmer culture. It happened during the Angkor Empire. At that time Cambodia engaged various Buddhist ethnicities of the Mon kingdoms. Haripunchai and Dvaravati were also included.

During Khmer history in Cambodia, first thousand years was ruled by a series of Hindu kings. Some of the Buddhist kings were also there such as Suryvarman I and Jayavarman of Funan. Different Buddhist traditions co-lived peacefully in and around Cambodian lands. The Hindu kings and Mon-Theravada kingdoms were very tolerant and extra protective towards them.