Abstract: Doctoral school on “Buddhism and Silk Culture” features Stuart Young as a guest lecturer. The course aimed to enhance the PhD researchers’ understanding of key questions pertaining to the role of Buddhism in these contexts. While offering a thorough analysis of essential text material in the Chinese medieval period, the instructor, assisted by the organizers, will also introduce specific methodologies of research in medieval Chinese Buddhism, from an East Asian historical, as well as from a religious perpsective.
- May 28 – June 1, 2018
Venue: het Pand, Onderbergen 1, 9000 Gent
- DAY 1: Monday 28 May, 2018 (lunch break 12:00-13:30)
09:30: Welcome of the participants by the Doctoral School organizers (Ann Heirman, Christoph Anderl)
10:00 – 12:00: Course overview: Buddhism in the silk cultures of medieval China; The Chinese history, technology, and vocabulary of silk and sericulture* (lecture, with active participation)
12:00 – 13:30: lunch break
13:30 – 15:30: Research sources primary and secondary, textual, visual, and material; Archaeology of Chinese Silk, Dunhuang 敦煌 and Famensi 法門寺 (interactive presentation and discussion of sources)
- DAY 2: Tuesday 29 May, 2018 (lunch break 12:00-13:30)
10:00 – 12:00: Vinaya and material culture (Ann Heirman)* (lecture with active participation)
12:00 – 13:30: lunch break
13:30 – 15:30: Silk in the Vinaya (disciplinary monastic rules) and Chinese Vinaya Commentaries (1: Dharmaguptaka)
- DAY 3: Wednesday 30 May, 2018 (lunch break 12:00-13:30)
10:00 – 12:00: Silk in the Vinaya and Chinese Vinaya Commentaries (2: Sarvāstivāda and Mahīśāsaka)
12:00 – 13:30: lunch break
13:30 – 15:30: Discussion with students, Q+A
- DAY 4: Thursday 31 May, 2018 (lunch break 12:00-13:30)
10:00 – 12:00: Daoxuan’s 道宣 (596-667) Xingshi chao 行事鈔 commentary on the silk bedding precept
12:00 – 13:30: lunch break
13:30 – 15:30: Daoxuan’s commentaries in comparison with Dajue大覺 (fl. 712)
- DAY 5: Friday 1 June, 2018 (lunch break 12:00-13:30)
10:00 – 12:00: Chinese views of silk in India: travelogues, hagiographies, miracle tales (1)
12:00 – 13:30: lunch break
13:30 – 15:00: Chinese views of silk in India: travelogues, hagiographies, miracle tales (2)
15:00 – 16:00: Final discussions with students (Stuart Young, Ann Heirman, Christoph Anderl)
* Lectures also suitable for a more general audience (including PhD students of (art) history, etc.)
This doctoral school was generously sponsored by the Tianzhu Buddhist Network.