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Labour of Devotion: Material Construction and Charisma of Saintly Monks in the Myanmar–Thai Border Region

Labour of Devotion: Material Construction and Charisma of Saintly Monks in the Myanmar–Thai... The Myanmar–Thai border area has been the stage for charismatic monks revered by the populace following three religious traditions: the northern Thai tradition of khruba worship, Myanmar Buddhism in the peripheries, and Karen history of seeking variable millenarian leaders. Their practices are characterised by the construction of large Buddhist structures; the formation of a community of devotees; ascetic and/or moral practices; and a diversity of followers including ethnic minorities. The construction is enabled by donations from those wielding political and economic power, and through the massive labour of devotees. Minorities and impoverished populations provide the labour of devotion towards religious construction, gaining sustenance by the monk’s compassion. This article examines the process of material construction of enormous architectural structures such as pagodas. This involves the labour of devotees, in this case namely the Karen minorities, which in turn expands the capacity for further merit-making and thereby increases the saints’ charisma. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology Taylor & Francis

Labour of Devotion: Material Construction and Charisma of Saintly Monks in the Myanmar–Thai Border Region

Hayami, Yoko
The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology , Volume 24 (1): 18 – Jan 1, 2023
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18 pages

Labour of Devotion: Material Construction and Charisma of Saintly Monks in the Myanmar–Thai Border Region

Abstract

The Myanmar–Thai border area has been the stage for charismatic monks revered by the populace following three religious traditions: the northern Thai tradition of khruba worship, Myanmar Buddhism in the peripheries, and Karen history of seeking variable millenarian leaders. Their practices are characterised by the construction of large Buddhist structures; the formation of a community of devotees; ascetic and/or moral practices; and a diversity of followers including ethnic minorities....
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2022 The Australian National University
ISSN
1740-9314
eISSN
1444-2213
DOI
10.1080/14442213.2022.2117405
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The Myanmar–Thai border area has been the stage for charismatic monks revered by the populace following three religious traditions: the northern Thai tradition of khruba worship, Myanmar Buddhism in the peripheries, and Karen history of seeking variable millenarian leaders. Their practices are characterised by the construction of large Buddhist structures; the formation of a community of devotees; ascetic and/or moral practices; and a diversity of followers including ethnic minorities. The construction is enabled by donations from those wielding political and economic power, and through the massive labour of devotees. Minorities and impoverished populations provide the labour of devotion towards religious construction, gaining sustenance by the monk’s compassion. This article examines the process of material construction of enormous architectural structures such as pagodas. This involves the labour of devotees, in this case namely the Karen minorities, which in turn expands the capacity for further merit-making and thereby increases the saints’ charisma.

Journal

The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology – Taylor & Francis

Published: Jan 1, 2023

Keywords: Buddhist Charisma; Materiality; Thai–Myanmar Border; Pagoda; Khruba; Ethnic Minorities

References

  • Buddha-Relics in the Lives of Southern Asian Polities
  • The Saint with Indra’s Sword: Khruubaa Srivichai and Buddhist Millenarianism in Northern Thailand
  • A Re-Investigation of the Gwe of Eighteenth-Century Burma
  • Towards a Moral Understanding of Karen State’s Paradoxical Buddhist Strongmen
  • Buddhism Unshackled: The Yuan ‘Holy Man’ Tradition and the Nation-State in the Tai World
  • Waiting for a Righteous Ruler: The Karen Royal Imaginary in Thailand and Burma
  • Pagodas and Prophets: Contesting Sacred Space and Power Among Buddhist Karen in Karen State
  • Butto konryu to seija no karisuma- tai/myanmaa kokkyouiki ni okeru shukyo undo [Pagoda Construction and Saintly Charisma: Religious Movements in the Thai-Myanmar Border Region]
  • Tamu-moji shahon bunkaken ni okeru Kuba Siwichai ni tuiteno oboegaki [Khuba Siwichai in the Cultural Region of Tham Script Manuscripts]
  • Royal Spirits, Chinese Gods, and Magic Monks: Thailand’s Boom-Time of Prosperity
  • The Vessantara Jataka, Barami, and the Bodhisattha-Kings: The Origin and Spread of a Thai Concept of Power
  • On the Materiality of Religion
  • Ethnic Politics in Eighteenth-Century Burma
  • Constructing the Charisma of Khruba (Venerable Monks) in Contemporary Thai Society
  • Materiality, Labor, and Signification of Sacred Objects in Japanese Buddhism
  • Ariya and the Golden Book: A Millenarian Buddhist Sect Among the Karen
  • From Bricks to Pagodas: Weikza and the Rituals of Pagoda-Building