A Family of Clerics: Temple Wives, Tradition and Change in Contempory J?do Shinshu Temples

Starling, Jessica Dawn

A Family of Clerics: Temple Wives, Tradition and Change in Contempory J?do Shinshu Temples 374 views

Author

Starling, Jessica Dawn, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

Advisors

Groner, Paul , Department of Religious Studies , University of Virginia
Schaeffer, Kurtis , Department of Religious Studies , University of Virginia
Lang, Karen , Department of Religious Studies , University of Virginia
Alexy, Allison , Department of Anthropology , University of Virginia

Abstract

This dissertation seeks to understand the position of the priest's wife or bmori (literally, "temple guardian") in the contemporary Jdo Shinsh by weaving together historical, doctrinal, and ethnographic sources. I argue that temple wives occupy an ambiguous position: as women whose existence straddles the domestic and religious realms, they must negotiate their embodiment of the secular norms for wives and mothers with their special responsibilities as residents in a religious household and propagators of the Buddhist teachings. This ambiguity is evident in both the normative discourse regarding bmori, authored by male priests dating back to Rennyo (1415-1499), and in the narratives of women themselves.

Note: Abstract extracted from PDF text

Degree

PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Language

English

Rights

Issued Date

2012-05-01

Persistent Link

https://doi.org/10.18130/V3T828

Suggested Citation

Starling, Jessica Dawn. A Family of Clerics: Temple Wives, Tradition and Change in Contempory J?do Shinshu Temples. University of Virginia, Department of Religious Studies, PHD (Doctor of Philosophy), 2012-05-01, https://doi.org/10.18130/V3T828.

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