Dr Elizabeth Guthrie

BA (San Francisco State), MA(Hons) (Otago), PhD (Canterbury)

Lecturer

Richardson 5S6, 5th Floor, Richardson South Tower
Tel +64 3 479 5355
Email elizabeth.guthrie-higbee@otago.ac.nz

Elizabeth lectures and tutors on Buddhism, Southeast Asian Religion and New Religious Movements at the University of Otago. In addition she has taught English as a Second Language in New Zealand and Thailand, worked for NGOs in Cambodia, and done research in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Burma, Arakan and Southwestern China.

Publications include a book on New Religious Movements in Cambodia, articles on Cambodian Buddhist nuns, the relationship between Buddhism and politics, the biography of the Buddha, and the religious iconography of Mainland Southeast Asia.

Teaching

Papers taught in 2023

RELS 531 Pali for Postgraduates

Research

Elizabeth’s research interests centre on the religious art, literature and material culture of mainland Southeast Asia. Her doctoral research was on the text and iconography of the Buddhist earth deity who witnessed for the Buddha at the time of the Enlightenment.

She is currently in the process of turning the thesis into a book for Silkworm Press Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Another project is documenting Buddhist temple paintings from the late colonial period in Cochinchina (Cambodia and Vietnam). Ongoing research interests include religion and migration, popular Chinese religion, Buddhist nuns and laywomen in Southeast Asia, new religious movements in Cambodia and Thailand, and the religious healing rituals and techniques of Southeast Asia.

From 2008 Elizabeth worked with Dr Chaisit Suwanvarangkul to develop a classical Sanskrit reading group for interested students in the department, which from 2010 has been offered as a formal part of the department's teaching programme.

Selected publications

'Khmer Buddhism in the Mekong Delta: Sri Lankan connections' in Ethnic conflict in Buddhist societies in South and Southeast Asia: The politics behind religious rivalries. K. M. de Silva, ed. Kandy, Sri Lanka: International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), 2015: 123-41

'In Defence of the Nation: the Cult of Nang Thoranee in northeast Thailand' in Buddhism, Power, and Political Order. Ian Harris, ed. London and New York: Routledge 2007, 168-181

Cambodian Buddhism, History and New Religious Movements. J. Marston and E. Guthrie, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2004

'Khmer Buddhism, Female Asceticism, and Salvation' in Cambodian Buddhism, History and New Religious Movements. J. Marston and E. Guthrie, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2004, 133-149

'The performance of the maravijaya during Buddhist consecration ceremonies' Udaya 6, February-March 2003

'Outside the Sima' Udaya 4, June-July 2002

'Buddhist Temples and Politics' in People and the 1998 National Elections in Cambodia: Their Voices, Roles and Impact on Democracy. John Vijghen, ed. Phnom Penh: ECR, 2003

Publications

Guthrie, E. (2022, December). Narada Maha Thera's dhammaduta in Indochina, 1933-1963. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions (NZASR) Conference, [Hybrid]. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Marston, J. A., Hoeur, C., & Guthrie, E. (2022). Analysis of Sīmās (boundaries). In J. A. Carbine & E. W. Davis (Eds.), Sīmās: Foundations of Buddhist religion. (pp. 265-296). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press. doi: 10.2307/j.ctv1msswd0.16 Chapter in Book - Research

Guthrie, E. (2019). Conflicts between Boran and Samay Buddhism in Cambodia in 1937 Indochina. Proceedings of the 23rd Biennial International Conference of the New Zealand Asian Studies Society (NZASIA). (pp. 19-20). Retrieved from http://www.nzasia.org.nz Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Guthrie, E. (2019, August). The life of the Buddha. Aspects of Religion, University of the Third Age, Timaru, New Zealand. [Research Presentation]. Other Research Output

Guthrie, E. (2017). Okhna Son Kuy: Buddhist martyr of the Mekong Delta, and enduring symbol in contemporary Cambodian politics. Proceedings of the New Zealand Asian Studies Society (NZASIA) International Conference. (pp. 9). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/nzasia-2017/index.html Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2022

Chapter in Book - Research

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie, E. (2022, December). Narada Maha Thera's dhammaduta in Indochina, 1933-1963. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions (NZASR) Conference, [Hybrid].

2019

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Other Research Output

Guthrie, E. (2019, August). The life of the Buddha. Aspects of Religion, University of the Third Age, Timaru, New Zealand. [Research Presentation].

2017

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2016

Chapter in Book - Research

Guthrie, E. (2016). Post-monk life in New Zealand: Samnang. In J. Samuels, J. T. McDaniel & M. M. Rowe (Eds.), Figures of Buddhist modernity in Asia. (pp. 183-185). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.

2015

Chapter in Book - Research

Guthrie, E. (2015). Khmer Buddhism in the Mekong Delta: Sri Lankan connections. In K. M. de Silva (Ed.), Ethnic conflict in Buddhist societies in South and Southeast Asia: The politics behind religious rivalries. (pp. 123-141). Kandy, Sri Lanka: International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES).

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie-Higbee, E. (2015, November-December). De Jong, the World Fellowship of Buddhists and the Buddha Jayanti. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Asian Studies Society (NZASIA) 21st Conference: Asian Intersections: Identities and Linkages, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2014

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie, E. (2014, June). Khmer Buddhism in the Mekong Delta: Sri Lankan connections. Verbal presentation at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) International Conference: Twenty-Five Years in Retrospect: Buddhism, Ethnic Conflicts and Religous Harmony in South and Southeast Asia, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

2013

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie, E. (2013, December). Art as history: Buddhist mural painting in post-colonial Cambodia. Verbal presentation at the 4th Annual International Siem Reap Conference on Special Topics in Khmer Studies: Don't Abandon the Indirect Road: Divergent Approaches to Cambodian Visual Cultures, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

2012

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie, E. (2012, June). Late colonial Buddhist iconography in the Mekong Delta and its origins. Verbal presentation at the Siem Reap Conference on Special Topics in Khmer Studies: Religious Studies in Cambodia: Understand the Old and Trace the New, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

2010

Performance

Susilo, J. (performer), Brunt, S. (performer), & Guthrie, E. (performer) (2010). Puspawarna Gamelan: Puppets & Percussion, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2009

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Guthrie, E. (2009). Martyr-monks of the Mekong Delta. Proceedings of the 18th New Zealand Asian Studies Society International Conference. Retrieved from http://www.nzasia.org.nz/NZAsiaConference_abstracts.pdf

Performance

Susilo, J. (performer), Brunt, S. (performer), Guthrie, E. (performer), & Lim, F. (performer) (2009, 26 September). Puspawarna Gamelan and Shadow Puppet Theatre, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2008

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie, E. (2008, July). Cambodian Buddhist painting during the late colonial period. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religion Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand.

Performance

Susilo, J. (performer), Brunt, S. (performer), Lim, F. (performer), & Guthrie, E. (performer) (2008, 1-2 November). Javanese shadow theatre: The forest of Marta [Babat Wana Marta], with guest musician Budi S. Putra, Christchurch Puppet Festival, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2007

Chapter in Book - Research

Guthrie, E. (2007). In defence of the nation: The cult of Nang Thoranee in northeast Thailand. In I. Harris (Ed.), Buddhism, power and political order. (pp. 168-181). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

Journal - Research Other

Guthrie, E. (2007). [Review of the book The red thread: Buddhist approaches to sexuality]. Crossroads, 19(1), 208-210.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Guthrie, E. (2007, June). Sraoc tuk: The magical power of sacred water. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2006

Journal - Research Other

Guthrie, E. (2006). [Review of the book Cambodian Buddhism: History and practice]. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies, 8(1), 172-173.

2004

Edited Book - Research

Marston, J., & Guthrie, E. (Eds.). (2004). History, Buddhism, and new religious movements in Cambodia. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, 272p.

Chapter in Book - Research

Guthrie, E. (2004). Khmer Buddhism, female asceticism, and salvation. In J. Marston & E. Guthrie (Eds.), History, Buddhism, and new religious movements in Cambodia. (pp. 133-149). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.

Marston, J., & Guthrie, E. (2004). Introduction. In J. Marston & E. Guthrie (Eds.), History, Buddhism, and new religious movements in Cambodia. (pp. 1-5). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.

2003

Journal - Research Article

Guthrie, E. (2003). The performance of the māravijaya episode during Buddhābhiṣeka. Udaya, 4, 11-19.

2001

Journal - Research Article

Guthrie, E. (2001). Outside the sima. Udaya, 2, 7-18.