The culture of giving in Myanmar : Buddhist offerings, reciprocity and interdependence / Hiroko Kawanami.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kawanami, Hiroko, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buddhism--Burma.

Buddhism.

Buddhism and state--Burma.

Buddhism and state.

Burma--Religion.

Burma.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (201 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Distribution:

[London, England] : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020

Place of Publication:

London [England] : Bloomsbury Academic, 2020.

Summary:

"How can people living in one of the poorest countries in the world be among the most charitable? In this book, Hiroko Kawanami examines the culture of giving in Myanmar, and explores the pivotal role that Buddhist monastic members occupy in creating a platform for civil society. Despite having at one time been listed as one of the poorest countries in the world in GNP terms, Myanmar has topped a global generosity list for the past four years with more than 90 percent of the population engaged in 'giving' activities. This book explores the close relationship that Buddhists share with the monastic community in Myanmar, extending observations of this relationship into an understanding of wider Buddhist cultures. It then examines how deeply the reciprocal transactions of giving and receiving in society - or interdependent living - are implicated in the Buddhist faith. The Culture of Giving in Myanmar fills a gap in research on Buddhist offerings in Myanmar, and is an important contribution to the growing field of Myanmar studies and anthropology of Buddhism."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

List of figures

Acknowledgements

Notes for transliteration

Introduction

1 The culture of giving

2 The laity

3 Buddhist monks

4 Buddhist nuns

5 Donor groups and social outreach

Towards a society of interdependence

Glossary

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781350124202

1350124206

9781350124189

1350124184

OCLC:

1148882327