The Center for Buddhist Studies is glad to announce the second lecture of the Pu Yin Buddhist Studies Lecture Series in 2019 spring at UA. Prof. Waifang Xu, a visiting scholar at the center, will give the second lecture. The lecture is free and open to public.
Title:
Su Shi’s Buddhist and Taoist Beliefs and Worship 蘇軾的佛道信仰和崇拜
Speaker:
Dr. Waifang Xu
Date and Time:
1:00–2:30 pm, Feb. 27 (Wednesday)
Location:
Learning Service Building Conference Room 107
1512 E. First Street, Tucson, AZ 85721
*The lecture will be conducted in Chinese.
Lecture Abstract：
Su Shi was one of the most famous literati in the Song Dynasty. He was also a devout believer in both Buddhism and Taoism. He believed in different Buddhism sects, including Pure Land Buddhism and Zen and had so many Buddhist friends. In the meanwhile, Su Shi had many Taoist friends. He had faith in all these different religions simultaneously. He wrote various religious works, which preserved precious information of religions and customs during his time as important religious literature. When he was in a predicament, he would worship these deities to seek for blessings for ordinary people and himself. In most cases, his prayers were answered. Those places where he worshiped now become famous tourist attractions.
Bio:
Dr. Waifang Xu is a professor from the School of Urban Culture at South China Normal University and a visiting scholar at the Center for Buddhist Studies in the academic year 2018 to 2019. Prof. Xu received his PhD degree of Chinese Classical Literature from Fudan University in China in 2003. His research interests include Chinese classical literature, Chinese literary theory, Song Buddhism, and literati in Guangdong, with emphasis on the famous Song scholar, Su Shi 蘇軾 (1037–1101). He has published multiple academic articles and books on Song literature and religious thoughts in the literary works of Su Shi and others.