Buddhist Revitalization and Chinese Religions in Malaysia

Erscheinungsjahr 2020
ISBN: 978-94-6372-643-6
Verlag: Amsterdam University Press

Buch, Englisch, 206 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 298 g

Reihe: Amsterdam University Press

Buddhist Revitalization and Chinese Religions in Malaysia tells the story of how a minority community comes to grips with the challenges of modernity, history, globalization, and cultural assertion in an ever-changing Malaysia. It captures the religious connection, transformation, and tension within a complex traditional belief system in a multi-religious society. In particular, the book revolves around a discussion on the religious revitalization of Chinese Buddhism in modern Malaysia. This Buddhist revitalization movement is intertwined with various forces, such as colonialism, religious transnationalism, and global capitalism. Reformist Buddhists have helped to remake Malaysia’s urban-dwelling Chinese community and have provided an exit option in the Malay and Muslim majority nation state. As Malaysia modernizes, there have been increasing efforts by certain segments of the country’s ethnic Chinese Buddhist population to separate Buddhism from popular Chinese religions. Nevertheless, these reformist groups face counterforces from traditional Chinese religionists within the context of the cultural complexity of the Chinese belief system.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ooi Tan, Lee

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Volkskunde Minderheiten, Interkulturelle & Multikulturelle Fragen
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Stadt- und Regionalsoziologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Religionssoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Buddhismus
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Soziologie von Migranten und Minderheiten

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of Tables

Abbreviations

List of Chinese Characters

Orthography

Chapter 1 Introduction

The Origins of Buddhist Revitalization

Methodology

Chapter Overviews

Chapter 2 A Brief History of Buddhist Transnational Connections

Theravada Buddhist Communities in Malaya

Early Mahayana Buddhism in Malaya

Pan-Asian Phenomena of Buddhist Modernism

Summary

Chapter 3 Reforming Chinese Buddhism through the Zheng Xin (Right Faith) Movement

The Discourse of Zheng Xin

Defending Zheng Xin Buddhism in Malaysia

Buddhicizing the Hungry Ghost Festival

The Role of the MBA

The Buddhist Youth Movement and Zheng Xin Buddhism

Summary

Chapter 4 New Transnational Connections with Taiwan

Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Merit Society

Tzu Chi and Malaysian Buddhism

Mass Participation

Fo Guang Shan

Fo Guang Shan and Malaysian Buddhism

Differences between Tzu Chi and Fo Guang Shan

Similarity of the Esthetics of Religious Space and Material

Summary

Chapter 5 Remaking Chinese Buddhists

Chinese Community and Buddhism in Malaysia

The Emergence of Second-Generation Religious Leaders: A Case of Venerable Chi Chern

Cultural Reformation in Chinese Community

The Experience of Fo Guang Shan's Celebration: Chinese New Year Lantern and Floral Festival

Tzu Chi's Chinese New Year Relief

The Declining Role of Chinese Associations

Summary

Chapter 6 Counterforces to Buddhist Revitalization

Dreams about Father

Case 2: A Battle between Chinese Religions and Buddhism at Kampung Baru Jenjarom

Case 3: An Urban Miracle of the Talking Buddha Statues

Multiple Counterforces to Buddhist Revitalization

The Relaxation of Political Correctness in Zheng Xin Buddhism

Summary

Chapter 7 Conclusion

Appendices

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Ooi Tan, Lee
Tan Lee Ooi is Head of the Department of Mass Communication at UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College in Malaysia. He completed his PhD at the National University of Singapore. He published a book with the National University Press of Malaysia on the dynamics of cyberspace during the Reformasi Movement, in the Malay language.