| Abstract: |
This paper, based on a case study of Chinese temples in Phuket, aims to demonstrate the importance of religious activities lying outside religion in the so-called Buddhist societies in Thailand, as well as to question the category of religion itself. In Thailand, most of the Chinese temples (called <i>sanchao</i> in Thai) are not recognized as religious places by the religious administration (namely the Department of Religious Affairs), since they come under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior. In Phuket, Chinese temples as non-religious places (of worship?) outnumber officially recognized Buddhist temples and they offer occasions for the worship of Buddhist deities. One of the unique features of the Buddhist activities of the Chinese temples in Phuket is that they are conducted without monks. Because the Chinese temples are placed outside the state protection of religion, they are not institutionalized as belonging to any state-approved religion. This is beneficial to the Chinese temples as they do not have to compete with state Buddhism
in such temples indiscriminate syncretic worship is also latently sanctioned. In Phuket the functions of Chinese associations and charity foundations overlap with those of the Chinese temples, challenging the definition of religion in yet another way. Our discussion leads us to conclude that all these activities lying outside of religion actually occupy an important part of Buddhism in Thailand. Thus a reconsideration of the framework of Buddhism and religion in Thailand is necessary.
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