The Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies successfully concluded its 2026 International Intensive Summer Program for Buddhist Studies, held from 7–14 July in Shaoxing, China. The program was complemented by an insightful two-day international conference titled “Translation Across the Four Directions: Buddhist Translation Institutions, Canon Formation, and the Translingual Shaping of Asian Civilizations.”
Hosted at Jishan Academy, also known as the Mount Kuaiji Advanced Institute of Research on Buddhism, the program brought together scholars, students, and researchers from around the globe, fostering a rich environment for academic exchange and collaboration.
“Gathering at this auspicious site of Kuaiji Mountain, we have gained not only knowledge but also forged a pure and precious Dharma bond,” presenter Tardis shared with conference attendees. “As a participant, I am deeply grateful for the insightful sharing by all the esteemed teachers, and I thank the organizers and all staff members for their thoughtful arrangements.”
During the conference, panelists engaged in a series of talks across six panels, led by distinguished faculty members and independent scholars. They shared their expertise in various aspects of Buddhist studies, including philology, intellectual history, translation, and the relationships through textual transmissions between China, Bengal, India, Japan, Korea, and Myanmar.
The International Intensive Summer Program was sponsored by the Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies at Peking University, along with the Peking University “One Thousand Books in One Century” Project. Co-sponsors included the College of Asian Civilizations at Zhejiang University. The program attracted outstanding students and early-career researchers eager to deepen their understanding of Buddhist studies through rigorous academic training and international perspectives.
Participant Rodolfo Maggio, a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Helsinki, Italy, noted that the program had significantly enhanced his understanding of Chinese religion, particularly Buddhism and translation in East Asia. He expressed appreciation for the inclusion of a paper on Buddhist translation history in Bengali, which he said had further enriched his knowledge in a broader context.
Maggio also said that he had cherished the opportunity to exchange and learn from venerable monks, nuns, and fellow participants.
The program featured four seminars and four lecture series designed for participants. The first seminar, which was comprised of three lectures, was led by Prof. Ru Zhan from Peking University and Prof. Jinhua Chen from the University of British Columbia. Their focus was on themes such as unidirectionality, bidirectionality, radiality, locality, globality, and glocality, reconfiguring trans-regional and trans-cultural networks of Buddhist transmission in Asia.
Ven. Yu Ze, a Master of Buddhist Studies student at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), also attended the summer program. She expressed enthusiasm, noting that her studies at HKU and the Intensive Summer Program had enriched her understanding of Buddhism as an academic discipline.
Ven. Ze shared her journey from an economic background working for companies in mainland China and South Africa to becoming a Buddhist nun, engaging in volunteer work for students.
Throughout the program, 41 participants were encouraged to cultivate critical inquiry and deepen their textual competence, enabling them to develop a well-rounded scholarly orientation in Buddhist studies bridging traditional and modern approaches.
The Glorisun Global Buddhist Network’s commitment to promoting multi-level global collaboration was evident in the program’s structure, which allowed participants to benefit from rigorous academic training while building connections with peers and mentors.
The Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies, which received funding from the Glorisun Charitable Foundation, was officially launched in January 2017. Founded by Dr. Charles Yeung, the founder and chairman of Glorious Sun Enterprises, the foundation is aimed at promoting Buddhism and Buddhist studies globally, with Dr. Yeung acting as principal advisor to the Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies.
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Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies (Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies)
2026 Glorisun International Intensive Summer Program for Buddhist Studies (Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies)
“Translation across the Four Directions”: Buddhist Translation Institutions, Canon Formation, and the Translingual Shaping of Asian Civilizations (Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies)
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