Affiliated postdoctoral researcher Dr. Qinqin Peng of the Research Training Group GRK 2833 “East Asian Futures” will hold a lecture titled “Decline or Revival? Narratives of ‘Change’ in Modern Chinese Buddhist Historiography” at the Mittagsforum (lunch forum) of the Faculty of East Asian Studies at Ruhr University Bochum on 5 June, 2024 at 12–1 PM.
Abstract
Combining the Buddhist karmic concept of time with Confucian cyclic cosmology, Chinese Buddhism has developed its own perspective on time and change in doctrinal and historical writings. However, this view underwent significant upheaval from the late nineteenth century onwards with the introduction of Western thought. Through an examination of modern Chinese Buddhist historiography, we can observe how the traditional Buddhist concept of change was transformed in the new historical context, and how this belief-burdened concept played a role in reshaping the worldview in modern China.
For additional information on the Mittagsforum, please refer to the Faculty of East Asian Studies’ homepage.