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Buddhism in Thailand is the main religion of the country. In 2017, 94.6% of the 66.7 million inhabitants adhered to the religion, the main movement in the country being Theravada Buddhism. Archaeological finds indicate that Buddhism in Myanmar dates back to about the 6th century AD. may have been extradited to Thailand. [2] Buddhism may also have been present in Thailand before, of which this is the earliest in the year 228 BC. was by Uttar Sthavira, one of the sons of the Indian king Asoka, a 3rd century BC Indian ruler. and great promoter and protector of Buddhism. The most common movement in Thailand between the 8th and 13th centuries was hinayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism then spread through the then kings of Thailand. This influence was mainly due to the contacts that existed with Ceylonese Buddhists at the time. In 1851, Rama IV succeeded his late brother Rama III. Rama IV was a Buddhist monk when he took the throne and during his reign he reformed Buddhism in the country to the form it is practiced in the early 21st century. He did this by promoting the Dhammayut school, which attaches great importance to the rules of the Vinaya. He was succeeded by Rama V who was also an active advocate of Buddhism. For example, he had a Pali Canon released which is considered one of the most important and complete of its kind in the early 21st century. A later reform put the king in charge of all Sangha in Thailand.