Buddhist Death Rituals of Southeast Asia and China

Summary

Individual scholars connected with the Centre for Buddhist Studies in Bristol have shown an interest in death related topics in the various Buddhist traditions (Tibetan, Sri Lankan and Chinese). This research has raised particular questions which the project will address in two independent but complementary studies: a postdoctoral research project on Buddhist death rituals in Southeast Asia and a doctoral research project on Chinese Buddhist death rituals. The three main areas of research within the study will be:

1. Common Core of Theravada Buddhist Rituals
Do the Theravada countries of S and SE Asia have more in common than the use of a sacred language (Pali) and reliance on Pali canonical texts? Is there a shared set of death rituals?

2. Relationship of Monks and Laymen
What is the nature of the interaction between monks and laity in the context of death? What is the impact of issues, such as financial costs and the fact that monks act as mediators between the living and the dead on this relationship.

3. Interdependence of Text and Ritual
The texts commonly recited in the context of death rituals are composed in Pali, an ancient language which is not generally understood by those participating in the rituals. Does that mean that the content is lost on the listeners? What function do the recitations have? What is the relationship between ritual practice and Theravada doctrine?

While a certain amount of research has been completed, particularly by French scholars such as Bizot, Gabaude, etc. most of this is either dated or deals with death rituals only in passing. Moreover, these studies are either characterised by a particular approach (ethnographic, textual, etc.) or focus on a particular country (either Sri Lanka or Thailand, etc.). Our project will take a much broader view, bringing together a range of perspectives from different academic disciplines and from different Buddhist countries.
Our research methods, too, are multidisciplinary and combine field work methods (participant observation, interviews, etc.) with textual study. The latter will be employed in defining and interpreting the nature and use of Pali texts in SE Asia and Sri Lanka.
The project management combines scholars of different background and expertise: Prof. Paul Williams, Director of the CBS and Prime Investigator and project leader, is an established Buddhist scholar with a broad knowledge of various Buddhist traditions and editing experience. He will oversee the study and bring together the different strands of research. Dr. John Kieschnick (Co-Investigator) has published on the impact of Buddhism on Chinese culture. He will assist the PI and supervise the PhD student. Dr. Rita Langer, a trained Indologist with philological expertise and field work experience, has published in the area of Buddhist death rituals. She will be the Research Assistant for the area of Southeast Asian Buddhist rituals. Finally, a PhD student working on Chinese Buddhist death rites would complement the study of Southeast Asian ritual.
The plans for dissemination of the project findings are varied. Firstly, the material will be presented at two academic conferences and published as a collection of articles in the form of an edited book. And secondly, an exhibition will reach out to a wider audience and the chosen media (images and video films) will make the material easily accessible.
In conclusion it should be added that the project is conceived of as a collaborative venture for the CBS. Colleagues, research fellows and PhD students are working together to contribute from their various fields of expertise to an in-depth and multi-faceted understanding of the dynamics of Buddhist death rites. The network of international connections which the CBS has over the past years built up will maximize efficiency while limiting the costs in the field. We are confident that the project will be a success and represent value for money.