Pagodas and Prophets: Contesting Sacred Space and Power among Buddhist Karen in Karen State

This paper analyzes multi-layered religious practices among local Buddhist Karen on the plains of Karen State in Burma, within the context of the larger socio-political dynamics of Burmese Buddhism. The purpose is threefold: first, to give ethnographic details of the hybrid nature of religious pract...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of Asian studies Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 1083 - 1105
Main Author Hayami, Yoko
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.11.2011
Duke University Press, NC & IL
Subjects
19th century
20th century
Asia
Asian culture
Asian studies
Buddhism
Burma
Burmese
Ethnology
Generalities
Minorities
Minority & ethnic groups
Modernity
Monks
Orthodoxy
Paan
Pagodas
Politics
Power
Prophets
Reformism
Religion
Religion & politics
Religion, magic, witchcraft
Religions, beliefs, worships
Religious orthodoxy
Religious practices
Religious rituals
Sacred
State
Syncretism
Vegetarianism
Vows
Worship
Southeast Asia
Burma
Myanmar (Burma)
Religious practice
Buddhism
State
Sacred space
Contestation
Karen
Pagoda
Power
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:This paper analyzes multi-layered religious practices among local Buddhist Karen on the plains of Karen State in Burma, within the context of the larger socio-political dynamics of Burmese Buddhism. The purpose is threefold: first, to give ethnographic details of the hybrid nature of religious practices among Buddhist Pwo Karen, thereby demonstrating how sacred space and power are contested, despite the strong hand of the state; second, to challenge the assumed equation between non-Buddhist minorities on the one hand, and Buddhists as a lowland majority aligned to the state on the other; and third, to raise an alternative understanding to predominantly state-centered perspectives on Theravada Buddhism. Field-based observations on the young charismatic Phu Taki and his community, as well as on the practice of pagoda worship called Duwae that has hitherto been undocumented are presented. These are examined in relation to the changing religious policies of the regime, especially since the policies of “Myanmafication” of Buddhism by the reformist council began in 1980.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0021-9118
1752-0401
DOI:10.1017/S0021911811001574