Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c10.56

c10.56

As regards Burma, there is a general belief that Buddhism was introduced in this country during the reign of Aśoka. This belief rests upon the tradition, recorded in the Ceylonese chronicles, that two religious missionaries named Soṇa and Uttara, sent by Aśoka, visited Suvarṇabhūmi. This Suvarṇabhūmi has been identified with Burma by many scholars. But some have identified it with Siam, while others regard it as general designation of South-east Asia. Although the identification of Suvarṇabhūmi with Burma, and even the very tradition of Aśoka's mission to that land may be regarded as doubtful; the introduction of Buddhism in Burma must be placed at an early date. A great deal of importance attaches in this connection to the testimony of Buddhaghoṣa, the famous commentator of Pāli canon, who lived in the beginning of the fifth century A.D. He not only places the scene of activities of Aśoka's missionaries in Burma, but also regards as natives of the same country the two merchants who became the first disciples of the Buddha shortly after he attained Bodhi at Buddha-Gayā. These stories may not be true, but the very fact that Buddhaghoṣa recorded them at the beginning of the fifth century A.D. proves that even learned people of that age regarded the introduction of Buddhism into Burma as reaching back to hoary antiquity.