The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, “Sutra of the Repentance Ritual of Great Compassion (Cibei daochang chanfa), Volume 1” 明萬曆 木刻 《慈悲道場懺法》 卷第一. Accession Number: 2020.73.3. www.metmuseum.org.
International Conference on Chinese Buddhist Rituals and Spiritual Life in Asia
August 23–26, 2024
Conference Location: Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery 蓮山雙林禪寺, Singapore
The 2024 Annual International Academic Conference on Chinese Buddhism is scheduled to take place in Singapore between August 24–25. The event is jointly organized by Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery in Singapore, the Department of Chinese Studies at the National University of Singapore, the Institute of Ethics and Religious Studies (IERS) at Tsinghua University in China, and the FROGBEAR Project at the University of British Columbia in Canada. The theme of this year’s conference is “Chinese Buddhist Rituals and Spiritual Life in Asia”.
Buddhist rituals play an important role in expressing the religious beliefs and sentiments of Buddhists. Through the tangible and intuitive ceremonies involved in practicing Buddhist rituals, practitioners can comprehend the wisdom and philosophy of Buddhism, cultivate their minds and spirits, and contribute to the dissemination and reinforcement of Buddhist faith. Additionally, Buddhist rituals serve as a vital channel for the monastic group to connect with followers, deepening relationships among Buddhists and serving as a key source of cohesion within the Buddhist community.
Chinese Buddhist rituals are influenced both by the precepts and ritual procedures inherent to Buddhism, which retain traces of ancient Indian societal customs, and by traditional Chinese folk customs. Evolving with the spread of Buddhism within the Chinese cultural circle, these rituals and customs, once established, have reciprocally spread widely in the broader society. As Chinese Buddhism disseminates, its rituals become part of the spiritual life in Asian societies, contributing greatly to content of Asian civilizations.
The topics for this conference include but are not limited to:
- Changes and History: The Formation of Chinese Buddhist Rituals;
- Ideas and Life: The Life Aspect of Chinese Buddhist Rituals;
- Ritual Systems and Etiquette: A Comparative Study of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism;
- Sacred and Secular: Chinese Buddhist Rituals and the Spiritual Life of Asians;
- Traditional and Contemporary: Modernization of Chinese Buddhist Rituals.
Scholars interested in applying should submit their paper abstracts (no less than 1,000 words) and CVs to the email addresses frogbear.project@ubc.ca and zhoubw22@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn by April 24. Accepted scholars are required to submit the initial drafts by July 15 and the revised for publication by late November 2024. All associated costs, including room and board during the conference (arrival on the 23rd, conference on the 24th–25th, departure on the 26th), will be covered by the host institutions. Additionally, publication stipends will be provided and scholars are responsible for their own transportation costs.
