2016 International Program of Lecture Series, Conference/Forum, and Fieldwork on Buddhism and East Asian Cultures
July 15-25, 2016, Mount Wutai 五臺山 & Datong 大同, China
Lecture Series | Lecturers | Student Participants |
Conference | Young Scholars Forum | Schedule |
The Wutai International Institute of Buddhism and East Asian Cultures (WII), Research Center for Buddhist Texts and Arts (RCBTA) at Peking University, Institute for Ethics and Religions Studies (IERS) at Tsinghua University, Buddhist Studies Forum at Fudan University (FU-BSF), and the Buddhist Studies Forum at the University of British Columbia (UBC-BSF) in Vancouver, Canada cordially invite applications for a 10-day program of lecture series, conference/forum, and fieldwork on Buddhism and East Asian Cultures (July 15-25, 2016) at Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove (Dasheng Zhulin si 大聖竹林寺), Mount Wutai 五臺山, and Datong, Shanxi, China.
I. Venue:Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove (Dasheng Zhulin si 大聖竹林寺), Mount Wutai 五臺山, Shanxi, China
II. Schedule——July 15-25, 2016
- July 15, 2016:Registration
- July 16-19, 2016:Main Programs (lectures and Students’ Forum)
- July 20, 2016:Tour on Mount Wutai
- July 21-22, 2016: Wutai Cult Conference;
- July 23-24, 2016: Tour in Datong;
- July 25, 2016:Home-going
III. Four-part Lecture Series: The program organizers have invited three international scholars to conduct, all bilingually (English and Chinese), a three-part lecture series related to Buddhism and East Asian Culture, with each part composed of three consecutive 120-minute lectures with a general theme (over three days). These three bilingual speakers and their lecture themes are:
- Professor Jinhua Chen (Department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia, Canada): International Characteristics of Buddhism: East Asian Perspectives 佛教之國際性格:
東亞背景; - Professor James Robson (Department of East Asian Languages and Civilization, Harvard University): “Sacred Geography” in East Asia 東亞“神聖地理學”;
- Professor Barend ter Haar (Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford): Enlisting the Divine Realm: Witches, Mediums, Shamans and Buddhist Critique 驅神役鬼:巫覡、薩滿、以及來自佛教的批判.
This three-part lecture series will be accompanied by five lectures delivered by five China-based scholars on Buddhism and East Asian cultures.
IV. Four Additional Projects: In addition to this four-part intensive lecture series, this program also sponsors the following four projects:
- An international conference on the Wutai-Mañjuśrī cult, titled “Mañjuśrī in Motion: The Cross-cultural Characteristics and ‘International’ Impact of the Wutai Cult,” to be held at the Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove at Mount Wutai, July 19, 21-22, 2016 (conference information announced at http://blogs.ubc.ca/dewei/call-for-papers-the-second-international-conference-on-the-wutai-cult/).
- An International Young Scholars Forum on Buddhism and East Asian Cultures (July 16 at the Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove). Excellent articles may be recommended to academic journals for publication. They include the Fojiao wenxian yanjiu 佛教文獻研究 (Studies on Buddhist Texts), Foxue yanjiu 佛學研究 (Buddhist Studies), Fojiao shi yanjiu 佛教史研究 (Historical Studies of Buddhism), Studies in Chinese Religions, edited by Prof. Fang Guangchang, Prof. Shengkai, Prof. Sun Yinggang, and Prof. Jinhua Chen, respectively.
- Taste of the Dharma: a series of 1-2 hour sessions providing monastic experiences, including seated meditation, tea-ceremony and other temple rituals.
- Occasional visits to renowned local historical sites (especially Buddhist and other religious temples and shines) on the Wutai range. Students with relevant research interests may also apply to participate in an additional two-day (July 23-24) tour in Datong.
V. Applications: Participants are required to take part in all of the activities supported by this program, including the four-part lecture series, the regular conference and the Young Scholar Forum (paper presentations are optional, but attendance is required), field trips on the Wutai range (that in Datong is optional), monastic experience session, etc. Graduate students specializing in any Buddhist tradition(s) or East Asian religions, and postdoctoral fellows working on relevant fields, are encouraged to apply. Please direct applications and inquiries to buddhistseminarandfieldwork@gmail.com. Please submit applications before April 1, 2016. Each application should include (1) an application form (to be provided upon request via the above email), (2) an updated curriculum vitae, (3) one writing sample, and (4) a reference letter (to be emailed by the referee directly to the above email address).
VI. Program Expenses: Successful candidates will be exempted from all tuition fees. Program organizers will also provide free boarding (lodging and meals) in China during the program period, although participants are expected to cover
- the costs for the transportation between their home cities and Mount Wutai; and
- an administration fee of 1,000RMB≈US$150.