Symposium Announcement
“A Buddhist Heaven on Earth: Hangzhou Buddhism and Its Historical Significance”
April 24–25, 2026
University of Arizona, Tucson
Format: Hybrid (In-person and Online Participation)
Hosted by: Center for Buddhist Studies, The University of Arizona
Co-sponsored by: College of Humanities, The University of Arizona
Department of East Asian Studies, The University of Arizona
College of Arts & Sciences, The University of South Dakota
Department of History, The University of South Dakota
Dear Friends of the Center for Buddhist Studies,
The Center for Buddhist Studies (CBS) at the University of Arizona is hosting an international symposium, “A Buddhist Heaven on Earth: Hangzhou Buddhism and Its Historical Significance,” to be held on April 24–25, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. This two-day event honors the distinguished career and scholarly legacy of Professor Albert Welter, whose pioneering research on Chinese Buddhism—especially the religious and cultural worlds of Hangzhou—has shaped global understanding of Buddhist thought, history, and spatial culture.
The symposium will also celebrate several major milestones:
• The publication of the Encyclopedia of Hangzhou Buddhist Culture.
• The 1,700th anniversary of Lingyin Monastery, one of China’s oldest and most influential temples.
• The eighth anniversary of the Center for Buddhist Studies (CBS) at the University of Arizona.
Conference Venues
Friday, April 24
- Panels: Sabino Room, Student Unions Memorial Center
- Reception and Celebration for Albert Welter’s Retirement at 5 pm: 4th Floor, Student Unions Memorial Center
-Address: 1303 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719
-Suggested Parking: Second Street Garage (915 N Mountain Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719)
Saturday, April 25
- Panels and Dinner: Cantor Hall, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine
-Address: 1502 E Mabel St, Tucson, AZ 85719
-Suggested Parking: Highland Garage (1420 E Helen St, Tucson, AZ 85719)
Registration
- Call for Papers: Closed
Attend Online:
To receive a link to the Zoom, please sign up for our email list here: http://eepurl.com/gb2yaD and select the group "Lectures and Academic Research." You will soon receive a welcome email containing the link.If you are already on our list but do not receive the email about this lecture, please update your preference: go to your email inbox and find any of our emails you received before, then click the link to "update your preference" in the footer; select the group "Lectures and Academic Research," you will receive a welcome email with our Zoom link. We will also send a reminder email with the Zoom link an hour before the lecture. (See [Tutorial] How to Update Preferences for CBS Newsletter)
- Attend In Person:
Please email coh-hangzhouculture@arizona.edu with the following information by April 6th, 2026:- Your name, contact information and affiliation
- Food preferences (e.g., vegetarian or other dietary needs)
- Whether you will attend the reception
Conference Website
https://sites.arizona.edu/hangzhou-culture/
Please visit our conference website for conference agenda, attending scholars, and other practical information.
Conference Format
The event will be held in hybrid format, combining in-person sessions on the University of Arizona campus with virtual participation options. The program will include:
• A keynote address by Professor Albert Welter.
• Thematic workshops and paper panels.
• A commemorative session for Lingyin Monastery’s 1,700th anniversary.
• A roundtable discussion with editors of the Encyclopedia of Hangzhou Buddhist Culture and editors from the publisher.
Contact Information
For inquiries, please contact:
Center for Buddhist Studies
University of Arizona, College of Humanities
Hangzhou Buddhist Culture coh-hangzhouculture@arizona.edu