A Study on the Relationship between Nation State and Religious Practices in Theravada Buddhist Society: The Case of Contemporary Myanmar

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23510311
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Area studies
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: KOJIMA Takahiro 京都大学, 東南アジア研究所, 研究員 (10586382)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ミャンマー / 上座仏教 / 政策 / 宗教実践 / 在家信徒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Firstly, I researched the relationship between nation state and Thravada Buddhism in democratized Myanmar after 2011. The result was that the present government does not reveal concern with Buddhism apparently, contrary to the attitude of the military government which saw its role as protector of Buddhism.
Secondly, I carried out fieldwork about the relationship between religious policy and Buddhist practices in local society. Based on the data collected in the field, I found networks of local sects which maintain original practices under the surface of broader institutionalization, and practices of reciting Buddhist texts by lay specialists which have continued among ethnic groups.

Free Research Field

地域研究