Buddhism in the Far North of Australia pre-WWII: (In)visibility, Post-colonialism and Materiality

• DOI: 10.26034/lu.jgb.2022.1995
• Publication Date: 2022-12-08T10:46:58Z
• Authors: Anna Halafoff; Kim Lam; Cristina Rocha; Enqi Weng; Sue Smith
• Keywords: White (mutation); Oppression; Materiality

Buddhism was first established in Australia through flows of migrants the mid-nineteenth century, and is currently Australia’s fourth-largest religion. Yet Buddhists have received significantly less scholarly attention than Christians, Jews Muslims Australia. Previous research conducted on has also largely centered southern states, white Buddhists. This article shares findings archival far north Australia, focused Chinese, Japanese, Sri Lankan communities working mining, pearling, sugar cane industries, pre-WWII. It documents histories exclusion, resistance belonging experienced by pre-WWII, during times colonial oppression Japanese internment. In so doing, this challenges dominant narratives a Christian rendering Asian scholarship religion more visible.