Hiroko Kawanami

Religions in the modern world : traditions and transformations

Introduction: The Modern Contexts of Religion 1. How to Study Religion Kim Knott 2. Hinduism David Smith 3. Buddhism (Cathy Cantwell and Hiroko Kawanami 4. Sikhism Christopher Shackle 5. Chinese Religions Stephan Feuchtwang 6. Japanese Religions Robert Kisala 7. Judaism Seth Kunin 8. Christianity Linda Woodhead 9. Islam David Waines 10. Religion in Africa Charles Gore 11. Native American Religions Kenneth Mello 12. Spirituality Giselle Vincett and Linda Woodhead 13. New Age Religion Wouter J. Hanegraaff 14. Paganism Graham Harvey 15. New Religious Movements Douglas Cowan 16. Religion and Globalization David Lehmann 17. Religion and Politics Jeffrey Haynes 18. Religion and Violence Charles Selengut 19. Religion and Gender Linda Woodhead 20. Religion and Popular Culture Christopher Partridge 21. Secularism and Secularization Grace Davie and Linda Woodhead

Renunciation and Empowerment of Buddhist Nuns in Myanmar-Burma

In Renunciation and Empowerment of Buddhist Nuns in Myanmar-Burma, Kawanami offers a detailed account of how Buddhist nuns build their monastic community through fostering scriptural education and engaging in religious activities devoted to the dissemination of the Buddhas teaching.

U Nu’s Liberal Democracy and Buddhist Communalism in Modern Burma

Buddhism in Asian countries has seen diverse expressions in the public arena at various stages of their political process, development, and nation-building. In recent years, however, we have seen media reports suggesting that Buddhist monks are at the forefront of inciting violence as well as terror, as in the case of a Burmese monk U Wirathu,1 making us wonder whether Buddhism has been as peaceful or harmonious as many of us have been indoctrinated to believe. As Buddhism reveals its diverse aspects in engaging with the modern world, it is important to identify what kind of ‘Buddhism’ we are referring to in the first place and pay attention to the unique ‘cultural fundamentals,’2 which has nurtured a specific form of ‘Buddhism’ that each country has inherited from its historical and political past. Such context-specific Buddhism has allowed its adherents to construct a particular world view that aspires toward a certain political vision in their local context.

Implications of International Relief Work and Civil Society for Japanese Buddhists Affiliated with Traditional Denominations

This chapter examines Japanese Buddhists affiliated with traditional denominations in their role as relief donors and reveals how international relief work has come to provide them with an important channel to break out of their traditional sectarianism and parochial mindset, and as a consequence, help them become integrated as part of Japanese “civil society.”1 I focus especially on the activities of Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF), a loose union of self-governing Buddhist sects whose role is particularly important in promoting the collective interests of Japanese Buddhists and building a national network for relief groups that have worked in relative isolation for centuries. In recent years, JBF has put its efforts into making Japanese Buddhism more beneficial for the public good, and young members in particular have been at the core of a movement to promote humanitarian activities in the international community. Social engagement, on the other hand, may be effective in building communal bonds in a milieu where people share their public values and expectations, but the notion of supporting “strangers” in foreign countries has been unfamiliar to the Japanese public until recently. This allows us to examine the significance of “international relief work” in Japan, and what it implies to Buddhists who are trying to extend their support beyond the traditional confines of their local congregation and sect members.