2018 International Program of Lecture Series, Conference/Forum, and Fieldwork on Buddhism and East Asian Cultures

July 3-12, 2018, Mount Wutai, Shanxi, 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, Center for East Asian Religions at the University of Zhejiang (ZU-CEAR), and the Buddhist Studies Forum at the University of British Columbia (UBC-BSF) in Vancouver, Canada cordially invite applications for a 10-day (July 3-12, 2018) program of lecture series, conference/forum, and fieldwork on Buddhism and East Asian Cultures at Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove (Dasheng Zhulin si 大聖竹林寺), Mount Wutai 五臺山, Shanxi, China.

I. Venue: Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove.

II. Schedule——July 3-12, 2018:

  • July 3, 2018: Registration, Opening Ceremony;
  • July 4-5, 2018: international conference;
  • July 6, 2018: Lecture Series, Young Scholars’ Forum (Panel 1);
  • July 7-9, 2018: Seminar Series (1-3);
  • July 10, 2018: Young Scholars’ Forum (Panels 2-5); Closing Ceremony;
  • July 11, 2018: Tour of famed religious sites in Shanxi;
  • July 12, 2018: Leaving.

III. Four-part Lecture Series:

The program organizers have invited three international scholars to conduct 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 speakers and their lecture themes are:

  • Jinhua Chen 陳金華 (University of British Columbia 加拿大英屬哥倫比亞大學): Identity & Network as a Paradigm for the Study of East Asian Buddhism 身份認同與網絡構建作為研究東亞佛教的範式;
  • Bernard Faure 佛雷 (Columbia University 美國哥倫比亞大學): Two Great Traditions of East Asian Buddhism: Chan/Zen and Esoteric Buddhism 東亞佛教之雙峰並峙: 禪宗與密教;
  • Seishi Karashima 辛島靜志 (Soka University 日本創價大學): Mahāsāṃghikas and Mahāyāna 大衆部與大乘.

This three-part lecture series will be accompanied by Five Lectures 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 Identity & Network, titled “Identity and Networks in Buddhism and East Asian Religions,” to be held at the Great Sage Monastery of Bamboo Grove between July 3-5, 2018 (conference information announced at here).
  • An International Young Scholars Forum on Buddhism and East Asian Cultures (July 6 and 10 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 方廣錩, Prof. Shengkai 聖凱, Prof. Sun Yinggang 孙英剛, and Prof. Jinhua Chen 陳金華, 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, and in other sites in Shanxi as well (July 11).

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, monastic experience session, etc. Senior undergraduate students and 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 30, 2018. 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.