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抄録

In Indian religions, the act of giving is highly theorized as one of the key practices for reaching liberation. The emphasis is not on reciprocal norms, as Marcel Mauss points out, but on giving without expectation. Therefore, giving may not create social solidarity in the sense Mauss suggests. Does not the gift of Indian religions, then, create a society? Or, if it does, what kind of society is created? This special issue examines these questions using India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar as examples. It aims to contribute to the anthropological debate on the socially creative power of gifts. In this paper, I will clarify the question of this special issue by reviewing previous research on Indian religious giving that investigates （1） the debate over the concept of “pure gift” and（2） the debate that focuses on the ethical dimension of giving. Then, I will establish the perspective and scope of this special issue by referring to David Graeber's discussion.