Khyentse Foundation is going to present the 30th Goodman Lecture “Enlightenment in Dispute: The Reinvention of Chan Buddhism in 17th-Century China,” which will be given by Professor Jiang Wu of the University of Arizona on Friday December 13, 2024 at 7:00 pm Mountain Standard Time.
Converted Time: San Francisco 6:00 pm, London 2:00 am (December 14), Hong Kong 10:00 am (December 14), Tokyo 11:00 am (December 14)
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Abstract:
This lecture centers on the recent Chinese translation of Professor Jiang Wu’s monograph, offering a comprehensive examination of the complex history and reinvention of the Chan Buddhist tradition in 17th-century China. During the dynamic period from the late Ming to the early Qing dynasties, Chan Buddhism underwent significant ideological debates and sectarian divides, particularly concerning the transmission of dharma lineages and divergent understandings of the meaning of enlightenment. By reconstructing this often-overlooked tradition, the lecture seeks to uncover the rich tensions, intellectual exchanges, and internal conflicts within 17th-century Chan, inviting us to reevaluate its historical and religious significance at the Ming–Qing transition.
The lecture will begin with an overview of the religious landscape of 17th-century Chinese Buddhism, highlighting the development of Buddhist communities during the late Ming period, the influence of the literati on Chan Buddhism, and the reshaping and spread of the Linji and Caodong lineages. Attention will then turn to an internal Chan dispute over the nature of “awakening,” focusing on the intense opposition between Chan masters Miyun Yuanwu and Hanyue Fazang, as well as the political and religious involvement of the Yongzheng emperor in this debate. This conflict over awakening not only reveals differing interpretations of practice and enlightenment among Chan masters but also sheds light on the nuanced shifts in Buddhist authority and sectarian relations in late Ming and early Qing China. Additionally, the lecture will examine one of the central events in the dispute over dharma lineage: the “two Daowu” controversy, which involved the contrasting interpretations of Tianhuang Daowu and Tianwang Daowu. This conflict sparked prolonged debates within Chan circles from the late Ming into the early Qing and extended to Japan, exerting a lasting impact on East Asian Buddhism.
The Goodman Lectures are organized in honor of longtime Khyentse Foundation friend and advisor Professor Steven D. Goodman (1945–2020). During his many years of service to different academic institutions and Buddhist communities, Prof. Goodman’s wisdom and humor buoyed his students and colleagues. His commitment to making the fruits of Buddhist studies available to a broad audience was unshakable.
The Goodman Lectures are inspired by Steven’s enduring vision to make academic talks sponsored by Khyentse Foundation available online to all. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to some of the brightest minds in Buddhist studies today.
Details and a registration link for each talk will be announced in their newsroom, on their events page, by email, and on social media.
To watch the previous Goodman Lectures, go to either Khyentse Foundation’s Vimeo or YouTube channel.