May 4- Chan & Zen & Seon：The Formation of Chan Buddhism and Its Spread in the World
On the morning of May 4, 2018, The International Conference on：Chan & Zen & Seon：The Formation of Chan Buddhism and Its Spread in the World, hosted by the Research Institute for International Chan Culture of Wuhan University and International Zen Research Project, Institute for Oriental Studies of Toyo University, took place at Zhenhua Building, the school of philosophy, Wuhan University. This is a very important international academic conference after the establishment of the International Chan Research Center of Wuhan University. More than forty scholars and monks who are from Japan, South Korea, the United States, China Mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan have joined together to discuss the important issue on : Chan & Zen & Seon. This conference is of significance for promoting the development of the Research Institute for International Chan Culture of Wuhan University into an international high-level academic research platform, enriching and developing the study of Chan culture and religious theories, and promoting the academic exchange of global Chan culture.
Wu Genyou, Dean of the School of Philosophy of Wuhan University; Professor Atsushi Ibuki, of the International Chan Research Project, Institute of Oriental Zen Studies of Toyo Universitys; Professor Wang Song, Director of Centre for Buddhist Studies ,Peking University； Professor Gong Yan, Director of the Center of Buddhist Studies, Sun Yat-sen Universit; Professor Chen Jianxi, director of the Buddhist Research Center, Chinese University of Hong Kong, with other experts and scholars attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor He Yansheng, the head of Research Institute for International Chan Culture of Wuhan University.
Dean Wu and Professor Atsushi Ibuki delivered the welcome speech
Professor He Yansheng hosted the opening ceremony
Professor Faure of the University of Columbia gave the keynote speech
Dean Wu and Professor Atsushi Ibuki delivered the welcome speech and introduced the schedule of the conference firstly. Abbot Chong Di Master of Anguo Temple, Professor Wang Chung, Professor Gong Yan and Professor Chen Jianyi delivered a speech on behalf of the co-organizers. Professor Faure of the University of Columbia and Professor Ishii Ikegani (represented by others) of the University of Takizawa University made the keynote speeches of the <Gradualism Revised Another Look at Early Chan>and < Modern "Zen" and "The Exploration of the Heart">.
On the evening of May 4th, the distinguished scholar of western Chan studies, Professor Faure from Columbia University gave the Luojia Lecture, entitled “Methodological Reflection on Chan and Tantric/Western Chan Studies” at the Old Library Building.
On the two-day meeting of the conference, scholars had in-depth discussions based on four meaningful topics on Chan. The conference also invited experts and scholars to visit the Fourth Patriarch Temple and the Fifth Patriarch Temple in Huangmei County, for Chan cultural exchanges.
GROUP PHOTO
The Research Institute for International Chan Culture of Wuhan University was proposed by Professor He Yansheng last year, which was deemed that it was an important task to enhance Wuhan University’s leading position in Chan studies and to promote the internationalization of the School of Philosophy of Wuhan University. The Research Center is affiliated with the School of Philosophy and closely cooperates with the "Wuhan University Comparative Philosophy and Cultural Strategy Research Center". Through the integration of the academic, religious, and business communities, it strives to build world-class academic environment, to attract world-class talents, to engage in world-class research, and to publish world-class achievements and be an academic exchange platform.
