Studies of religious world of Chinese descendents in Thailand: Their seasonal rituals and ceremonies

• Project/Area Number: 24510345
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Area studies
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: ITO Tomomi 神戸大学, 国際文化学研究科, 准教授 (40337746)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-02-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,460,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,260,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: タイ / 華人 / 宗教 / 華僑華人 / 中国宗教 / 近代仏教 / 大乗仏教 / 比丘尼 / 台湾 / タイ華人 / 仏教 / 道教

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Among the several issues explored through this project, it was the issue of Chinese-Thai women who ordained as Mahayana Buddhist bhikkhunis that highlighted a significant aspect of Chinese-Thai religious world. In China, Taiwan, and most other Mahayana Buddhist countries, bhikkhuni ordination is inherited up until today. However, in the Chinese Order that affliated to the national Thai Sangha, no Mahayana Buddhist bhikkhuni member is allowed. Therefore, Chinese-Thai women who seek Mahayana Buddhist bhikkhuni ordination have to ordain through a foreign sangha and conduct their religious activities in Thailand, independently from the national Thai Sangha. Their situation is strikingly similar to that of Thai women who have no place in the national Thai Sangha, which does not sanction Theravada bhikkhuni, because of the disruption of bhikkhuni lineage in Theravada Buddhism. Lack of secure place in a publicly accepted sangha, bhikkhunis' living has to be insecure.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The Path of Ubasika Ki Nanayon (1901-1974): A Thai Women's Dhamma Practice in the Form of "Ubasika" (2017)
  • Author(s): Tomomi Ito
  • Journal Title: 神戸大学大学院国際文化学研究科紀要『国際文化学研究』 Volume: 48 Pages: 1-16
• [Presentation] Diversity of Mahayana Buddhist bhikkhunis in Thailand: roots, affiliation, and status (2015)
  • Author(s): Tomomi Ito
  • Organizer: 14th Conference of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women
  • Place of Presentation: Sambi Resort, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-22
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Book] 『上座仏教事典』 (2016)
  • Author(s): パーリ学仏教文化学会・上座仏教事典編集委員会編
  • Total Pages: 684
  • Publisher: めこん
• [Book] タイを知るための72章 (2014)
  • Author(s): 綾部真雄他
  • Total Pages: 438
  • Publisher: 明石書店
• [Book] Eminent Buddhist Women (2014)
  • Author(s): Karma Lekshe Tsomo (ed.)
  • Total Pages: 278
  • Publisher: State University of New York Press