Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
A Thousand Words: The Role of Authority in Tibetan Auto-cremation Rituals800 views
Author
Litchford, Marah, Religious Studies - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia
Advisors
Germano, David, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
Ochs, Vanessa, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
Abstract
Since 2009, more than 130 Tibetans have self-immolated in an act of ritualized religious warfare. The role of secular and religious authority shapes both the steps of the ritual itself, as well as the significance of enacting it. Historically, this has always been the case. With the current behaviors of outside authority unchanged, there is no reason to expect the cycles of auto-crematory rituals to come to a halt.
Degree
MA (Master of Arts)
Keywords
auto-cremation; Buddhist protest; Tibet; self-immolation; China
Language
English
Rights
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Litchford, Marah. A Thousand Words: The Role of Authority in Tibetan Auto-cremation Rituals. University of Virginia, Religious Studies - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, MA (Master of Arts), 2014-05-01, https://doi.org/10.18130/V3T95R.
