군부 쿠데타와 미얀마 승가의 딜레마 = Military Coup and Myanmar Sangha's Dilemma

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Myanmar has a long-standing tradition of Theravāda Buddhism, where religion is deeply intertwined with national identity and political legitimacy. This paper examines the complex relationship between Buddhism and the military regime in Myanmar, analyzing the ethical and political dilemmas faced by the Sangha following the 2021 military coup. Historically, Buddhism in Myanmar played a crucial role in legitimizing royal authority and leading anti-colonial resistance. However, in modern times, the rise of Buddhist nationalism-particularly through movements such as the 969 Movement and Ma Ba Tha-has fueled religious violence, including the persecution of the Rohingya minority. While the military has exploited Buddhism’s social influence to legitimize its rule, it also faced resistance from the Sangha during the 2007 Saffron Revolution, prompting efforts to control the monastic order. Following the 2021 coup, the Sangha became increasingly divided between senior monks who aligned with the military and younger monks who supported the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) or even took up armed resistance.
This fragmentation within the Sangha has disrupted traditional Buddhist practices, including the merit-making and donation culture surrounding the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha). As a result, the moral authority of the Sangha has been severely weakened, exacerbating tensions between Buddhist ethics and the political realities of contemporary Myanmar. This paper explores the consequences of using Buddhism as a political tool and discusses the future role of Buddhism in Myanmar’s evolving socio-political landscape.