by Albert Welter
The Hangzhou Buddhist Culture Project is an ambitious effort to reformulate the history of East Asian Buddhism from a thoroughly East Asian perspective. The history of Buddhism incorporates East Asia in meaningful ways, but still tends toward Indo-centrism. This makes sense if one considers India the birthplace and homeland of Buddhism. Yet the history of Buddhism covers 2500 years, and for the last 1000 years or so, India has ceased to be a significant ongoing source of Buddhist inspiration, and figures primarily in the passive memory rather than as an active agent. This is especially true in the case of China, which actively reimagined Buddhism in unique and indigenous ways to form an intrinsically authentic form of East Asian Buddhism. Hangzhou was a focal point for these developments. From the Hangzhou region, new forms of Buddhism spread throughout East Asia, especially to Japan and Korea. As a result, when we speak about East Asian Buddhism today, we are largely speaking about forms of Buddhism that were initiated in Hangzhou and adopted and adapted in other regions and time periods. The most prominent among these is Chan Buddhism, known in Japan as Zen and Korea as Sŏn, the practice of which from the 10thcentury on is mostly indebted to Buddhist developments in the greater Hangzhou region (roughly the area of contemporary Zhejiang province). This region has long been one of the most important cultural hubs in China, and has had a wide-ranging impact on Chinese culture and Buddhism. It came to prominence in the tenth century, when Hangzhou was known as Qiantang, and served as the capital of the state (or kingdom) of Wuyue. It became the capital of the Southern Song dynasty(1127-1279) under its current name, Hangzhou, at which time its influence began to spread even more intensively throughout the broader East Asian region.
Supported by a generous grant from the Khyentse Foundation, and with collaborative support from partner institutions (University of Arizona Center for Buddhist Studies, Zhejiang University, Jiliang University, Lingyin Monastery and the Hangzhou Buddhist Academy, and the Hangzhou Academy of Social Sciences), the Hangzhou Buddhist Culture Project promises to have a major impact on our understanding of Buddhism in China and the East Asian region. Student engagement in research is integral to the project. Utilizing a collaborative team approach, students assume roles over key aspects of the project. Ultimately, the project will produce two outcomes: 1) a body of research that will both enhance our knowledge of East Asian Buddhism and lead to new perspectives regarding its meaning and significance; and 2) the creation of visual materials designed for new generations of learning, including maps, videos, and other web-based materials, including a “virtual” Hangzhou.
One of the aspects of the project is to hold a series of conferences relating to various aspects of Buddhist culture in the greater Hangzhou region. The first conference is scheduled for May 17-18, 2018 in Hangzhou, China, sponsored by Jiliang University (in cooperation with Zhejiang University, Lingyin Monastery & Hangzhou Buddhist Academy, and the University of Arizona)
Conference theme: Famous Figures Associated with Buddhism in the Hangzhou Region
The greater Hangzhou region (roughly equivalent with contemporary Zhejiang province) has long been recognized for its contributions to Chinese culture, especially to Chinese Buddhist culture. While many figures associated with the region, such as Yongming Yanshou, Zanning, Su Shi, and Dahui Zonggao, are well-known to the Buddhist world, many others are either not known or known only in passing, and few are specifically associated with the region in ways that emphasize the Hangzhou regional dimensions of their careers. The purpose of the present conference is to shine a spotlight on figures associated with Hangzhou and the greater Hangzhou region, to create a dedicated geographical and conceptual space for them in the Buddhist world. While the early patriarchs and masters of the Chan tradition, for example, are well-known figures, not to mention the legendary hallowed Chan luminaries of the Tang dynasty, much less attention has been given to the Chan personages of the later tradition, many (the majority?) of whom either hailed from or spent significant parts of their careers in Hangzhou or the greater Hangzhou region. This list includes not only Chinese masters, but also leading figures from Korea and Japan who either visited the greater Hangzhou region personally or were substantially impacted by Hangzhou regional developments. By emphasizing the regional identity of Hangzhou and Jiangnan masters and the influence of the region, we hope to create a new sense of the importance of geography in East Asian Buddhist careers and come to understand the importance of the Hangzhou region in new and more detailed and nuanced ways.
In addition, a comprehensive study of Buddhism in the Hangzhou region requires a spectrum of perspectives that may be woven into the presentation of figures introduced. We are especially interested in research on topics related to Hangzhou Buddhist culture and figures that will serve to expand our understanding of the scope Hangzhou Buddhist culture that touch on areas such as the following:
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- History 历史
- Geography 地理
- Institutional networks (including international networks) 佛教寺院的发展(以及东亚佛教的发展)
- Politics 政治
- Economics 经济
- Religious traditions and teachings 宗教和传统
- Art & Literary culture 艺术和文学
- Medicine & Wellness 医药和健康
Those interested in participating are invited to submit a title and brief abstract (100-150 words) by September 17th.Accommodation and most meals while in China will be covered by the conference sponsor, as well as post-conference tours to important regional sites. Airfare reimbursement or subsidy will be available to select participants. For more information and to submit titles and abstracts, please contact Albert Welter, University of Arizona (awelter@email.arizona.edu).