Seminar: Early Buddhist meditation in modern China

Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Lecture Series in Chinese Buddhism at the SOAS Centre of Buddhist Studies

In modern China, there has been a reevaluation of early Buddhist scriptures and practices with the belief that they aligned more closely with the “original” Buddhist teachings compared to later Chinese interpretations. 

This reassessment has also led to a newfound appreciation for Southern Buddhist traditions. The workshop will explore two main aspects: the contemporary rediscovery of early meditation practices found within the Chinese Buddhist canon and the introduction of Theravāda forms of meditation. The first segment will present these trends as outcomes of a quest for Buddhist normativity and authenticity, representing one facet of the propagation of Buddhist modernist ideas in China. 

In the second part, we'll delve into understanding the motivations behind why certain Chinese masters incorporated these techniques into their personal development. This will be achieved through the examination of a selection of articles, meditation instructions and other related modern texts.

About the speaker

Ester Bianchi holds a Ph.D. in ‘Indian and East-Asian Civilization’ from the University of Venice (co-tutorial Ph.D. received from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Section des Sciences Religieuses of Paris). She is currently Associate Professor of Chinese Religions and Philosophy and of Society and Culture of China at the Philosophy Department of the University of Perugia (Italy), is external associated researcher of the Groupe Sociétés, Religions, Laïcités CNRS-EPHE (2012-), and is currently a contributor of the Research project “Chinese Buddhism in Globalization: States, Communities, and Practices of Religion” (directed by Yoshiko Ashiwa and David Wank, 2020-). 

Her research is centered on Sino-Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhist monasticism, the revival of Buddhist monastic discipline and, more recently, the rediscovery of early meditation techniques and the spread of Theravāda Buddhist Model in modern Chinese Buddhism.

Ester Bianchi is the author of The Iron Statue Monastery, Tiexiangsi: A Buddhist Nunnery of Tibetan Tradition in Contemporary China (Olschki 2001) and of the first Italian translation of the Gaoseng Faxian zhuan (Morlacchi 2013). Her co-edited volumes include Sino-Tibetan Buddhism Across the Ages, co-edited with Shen W. (Brill 2021), and “Take the Vinaya as Your Master”: Monastic Discipline and Practices in Modern Chinese Buddhism, co-edited with D. Campo (Brill 2023).

Her main articles include: “Reading Equality into Asymmetry: Dual Ordination in the Eyes of Modern Chinese Bhikṣuṇīs” (Religions, 2022, 13/10, 919); “Revisiting Impurity in Republican China: An Evaluation of the Modern Rediscovery of Bujing guan 不淨觀” (Religion 12, 903, 2021); “Understanding jielü 戒律: The Resurgence and Reconfiguration of Vinaya-Related Concepts in Modern China” (in G. Scott, S. Travagnin eds., Critical Concepts and Methods for the Study of Chinese Religions II, De Gruyter 2020, 55-80); “‘Transmitting the Precepts in Conformity with the Dharma’: Restoration, Adaptation, and Standardization of Ordination Procedures” (in Zhe Ji, G. Fisher, A. Laliberté eds., Buddhism after Mao, University of Hawaii Press 2019, 152-170); and “Yi jie wei shi 以戒為師: Theory and Practice of Monastic Discipline in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Buddhism” (Studies in Chinese Religions, 3/2, 2017, 111-141).

Attending the event

This event is free and open to all, but registration is required. 

• Organiser: SOAS Centre of Buddhist Studies