On the ambivalence of female monasticism in Theravada Buddhism. A contribution to the study of Burmese religious system

International audienceHow have Buddhist nuns in Myanmar engaged themselves in monastic relationships while being officially excluded from the monastic institution (the Sangha) since the female order disappeared? This article examines the term "nuns" and monastic status through the way it is embodied in everyday interactions. I begin by presenting the main characteristics of the Buddhist nuns' ambivalent status and the methodological problem this raises. I then focus on the various relationships in which nuns are engaged in Myanmar. Firstly, an analysis of donation interactions between nuns and lay donors indicates the different paths that lead to monastic identification. Secondly, a description of the combination of relationships between nuns, monks, and lay donors highlights the monastic system as a network of dynamic relationships in which monastic social identity and its processes of legitimation can take place