Travelling the ‘Southern Pathways’: Esoteric Buddhism in Maritime Asia, 7th–13th Centuries AD

This article presents a historical overview covering the networks of places and agents that were instrumental to the rise and spread of the different varieties of Esoteric (or: Tantric) Buddhism between the 7th and 13th centuries until near vanishing point. The author approaches the study of Esoteric Buddhism from a broad geographical perspective, emphasizing the maritime interactions that took place through the so-called “Maritime Silk Routes” over the course of several centuries, and provides with a supporting historical narrative based on maritime linking. On the basis of textual, material, and archaeological evidence disseminated throughout all Maritime Asia, the author shows how Tantric Buddhist masters of the « first wave » migrated to different Asian locations, where the new Tantric paradigm was developed and consolidated thanks to the sponsorship of dynasties such as the Śailendras, the Yarlungs, and the Tangs. During the « second wave » of expansion, Tantric cults revolving around highly esoteric and martial aspects of deities (such as Heruka and Hevajra) were followed by Kublai Khan in China, Kṛtanagara in East Java, and Jayavarman the VII in Cambodia, among others, until they eventually disappeared. This work argues that beyond socio-political contingencies, paradigm changes may have occurred as a result of religious “reforms” which promoted a shift towards non-esoteric varieties —that is, mystical-magical variants— of Buddhist traditions (as happened, for example, in Sri Lanka and, at a later date, in Myanmar and Cambodia as regards the prevalence of Theravāda Buddhism over Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, or even different religions as happened, for example, in Central Java). Finally, the article sets a starting point to pursue further research to identify networks of non-institutionalized practitioners who contributed to the spread of forms of Tantrism across Maritime Asia.