Buddhist Death Rituals of Southeast Asia and China

与布里斯托尔佛教研究中心有联系的个别学者对各种佛教传统（西藏、斯里兰卡和中国）中与死亡有关的主题表现出兴趣。这项研究提出了一些特殊的问题，该项目将在两个独立但互补的研究中加以解决：一个是关于东南亚佛教死亡仪式的博士后研究项目，另一个是关于中国佛教死亡仪式的博士研究项目。研究中的三个主要研究领域将是：1。小乘佛教仪式的共同核心南亚和东南亚的小乘佛教国家除了使用一种神圣的语言（巴利语）和依赖巴利经典文本之外，还有什么共同点吗？是否有一套共同的死亡仪式？僧人与俗人的关系在死亡的语境中，僧人与俗人互动的本质是什么？经济成本和僧侣作为生者和死者之间的调解人的事实等问题对这种关系有什么影响？文本和仪式的相互依存在死亡仪式的背景下，通常背诵的文本是用巴利语写成的，这是一种古老的语言，通常不被参加仪式的人所理解。这是否意味着听众听不懂内容？复习课有什么作用？仪式实践与小乘教义之间的关系是什么？虽然已经完成了一定数量的研究，特别是由法国学者，如比佐，加博德等人进行的研究，但大多数研究要么是过时的，要么只是敷衍了事。此外，这些研究要么以一种特定的方法（人种学、文本等）为特征，要么专注于一个特定的国家（斯里兰卡或泰国等）。我们的项目将以更广阔的视角，汇集来自不同学科和不同佛教国家的一系列观点。我们的研究方法也是多学科的，将实地工作方法（参与观察、访谈等）与文本研究相结合。后者将用于定义和解释巴利文文本在东南亚和斯里兰卡的性质和使用。项目管理汇集了不同背景和专业知识的学者：哥伦比亚广播公司主任兼首席调查员和项目负责人Paul Williams教授是一位知名的佛教学者，对各种佛教传统和编辑经验都有广泛的了解。他将监督这项研究，并将不同的研究结合起来。John Kieschnick博士（联合研究员）发表了关于佛教对中国文化影响的文章。他将协助PI并指导博士生。Rita Langer博士是一位训练有素的印度学家，具有语言学专业知识和实地工作经验，曾在佛教死亡仪式领域发表过文章。她将担任东南亚佛教仪式领域的研究助理。最后，一名研究中国佛教死亡仪式的博士生将补充对东南亚仪式的研究。传播项目结果的计划各不相同。首先，这些材料将在两次学术会议上发表，并以编辑书籍的形式作为文章集出版。其次，展览将接触到更广泛的观众，所选择的媒体（图像和视频）将使材料易于获取。最后，应该补充说，该项目被认为是哥伦比亚广播公司的一个合作项目。同事、研究员和博士生正在共同努力，从各自的专业领域对佛教死亡仪式的动态进行深入和多方面的了解。哥伦比亚广播公司在过去几年中建立的国际联系网络将最大限度地提高效率，同时限制实地的成本。我们有信心这个项目会取得成功，并且物有所值。

SummaryIndividual 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 RitualsDo 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 LaymenWhat 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 RitualThe 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.