Kedah has the largest number of Theravada Buddhist temples in Malaysia, with 44 confirmed locations. Kedah, like Perlis and Kelantan, borders Thailand and has a strong historical relationship with Siam. There are numerous Siamese Buddhist villages within Kedah, some of which originated 300-500 years ago. There is at least one temple in each village that serves as a community center for the Siamese people, and some temples also serve as Thai language schools.
This report is based on a survey of 44 temples in Kedah, describing the locations and the villages where they are situated, ordained communities, facilities in temples, and the relationship with villagers. The research was conducted mainly from 2007 to 2009, and photographs from that time period were used. The reason for using photographs from that time period is that the landscape around the temples has changed in recent years owing to the economic development of the Kedah Province. The relationship with villagers and rituals are also unique to Malaysia.
This report is a record of the Malaysian-style temple architecture and the Siamese communities that support the rebuilding of temples, which are in the process of transformation.
