Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0775828
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$12,373.00
Summary
A study of Buddhism and Chinese Buddhist Monks in modernising China. This project will analyse the relationship between religion and modernisation in China. There is a tendency for modernising states to abandon or marginalise traditional religions but paradoxically, while religious practice has undergone transformation and reform in China, Buddhism has not only survived but flourished over the last two decades. This project will investigate these changes and will assist in broadening the fields ....A study of Buddhism and Chinese Buddhist Monks in modernising China. This project will analyse the relationship between religion and modernisation in China. There is a tendency for modernising states to abandon or marginalise traditional religions but paradoxically, while religious practice has undergone transformation and reform in China, Buddhism has not only survived but flourished over the last two decades. This project will investigate these changes and will assist in broadening the fields of expertise in the vibrant and growing field of Buddhist studies within Australia, a development that will undoubtedly help to forge closer links in the region, both in academic forums and more broadly with informal people-to-people contact.Read moreRead less
Recently discovered rare manuscripts of mediaeval Pali subcommentaries: a missing link in Buddhist textual transmission. The project will "enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies and cultures" (Research priority 4: Understanding our region and the world); it will deepen our understanding of religious and cultural traditions of many Buddhist countries, which constitute a substantial part of Australi ....Recently discovered rare manuscripts of mediaeval Pali subcommentaries: a missing link in Buddhist textual transmission. The project will "enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies and cultures" (Research priority 4: Understanding our region and the world); it will deepen our understanding of religious and cultural traditions of many Buddhist countries, which constitute a substantial part of Australia's regional environment, and advance our knowledge of Buddhism, the fastest growing religion in Australia. Since this is the first project of its kind in the field of Pali studies, it will increase the international prestige of Australian research capability and open new possibilities for international cooperation in the field.Read moreRead less
Cultural competence in supporting Cambodians recovering from conflict. This project will (1) reduce the impact of conflict for the next generation, a key to a healthy start to life and ageing well (2) guide interventions in regional settings (3) inform guidelines for refugee programs in Australia (4) highlight culture as redressing weakened traditional support structures of survivors of war in Australia and the region, supporting the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas (5) equi ....Cultural competence in supporting Cambodians recovering from conflict. This project will (1) reduce the impact of conflict for the next generation, a key to a healthy start to life and ageing well (2) guide interventions in regional settings (3) inform guidelines for refugee programs in Australia (4) highlight culture as redressing weakened traditional support structures of survivors of war in Australia and the region, supporting the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas (5) equip Australia to understand insecurities of globalisation and what survivors of war can be driven to do - unless their culture is used as an asset rather than a source of terror (6) enhance Australia's capacity to engage with its cultural environment (7) enhance capacity for AusAID to interpret itself to the rest of the world.Read moreRead less
Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-17 ....Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-1768), the restorer of all modern Rinzai. This study will investigate Dochu's methodologies, his scholarly predecessors, and his influences on contemporaries and on modern Zen scholarship by examining his analyses of Chinese vocabulary, his lexicography and text criticism.Read moreRead less
On Whose Authority? The Contest to Define Tibetan Buddhism. As our third largest trading partner, China is of immense importance to Australia, and the problem of Tibet is a contentious aspect of Australia-China relations. The presentation of a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the subtleties of Sino-Tibetan tensions relating to the core issue of religious belief and practice will provide Australian policy-makers with key tools and insights for more effectively managing this important fore ....On Whose Authority? The Contest to Define Tibetan Buddhism. As our third largest trading partner, China is of immense importance to Australia, and the problem of Tibet is a contentious aspect of Australia-China relations. The presentation of a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the subtleties of Sino-Tibetan tensions relating to the core issue of religious belief and practice will provide Australian policy-makers with key tools and insights for more effectively managing this important foreign policy matter, which can aid in preventing military instability in the region. The Tibet problem has ramifications for both China and India, and it is vital for Australian leaders to be equipped with the best information about it. Read moreRead less
The edition, translation, and study of the newly discovered Senior collection of Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara. This research will produce scholarly editions, translations, and studies of several of the newly discovered Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan). These manuscripts, which are the earliest Buddhist manuscripts yet discovered (c. 1st century A.D.), represent the first major find of early Buddhist texts from this region, and some of the fi ....The edition, translation, and study of the newly discovered Senior collection of Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara. This research will produce scholarly editions, translations, and studies of several of the newly discovered Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan). These manuscripts, which are the earliest Buddhist manuscripts yet discovered (c. 1st century A.D.), represent the first major find of early Buddhist texts from this region, and some of the first examples of the literature of the Dharmaguptaka school of Buddhism. This research will substantially increase our understanding of the history of Buddhism in this region, of the formation of Buddhist literature, of Gandhari, the ancient language of this region, and of this little understood school of Buddhism.Read moreRead less
The Indian Roots of Modern Chinese Thought. The Project will strengthen Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with our regional and global environments by demonstrating the need for greater understanding of the nationalistic appeal that Yogâcâra thought has held for Chinese intellectuals; and the rise of New Confucianism as a philosophical movement associated with robust expressions of cultural nationalism. It will also further enhance Australia's international intellectual profile by bri ....The Indian Roots of Modern Chinese Thought. The Project will strengthen Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with our regional and global environments by demonstrating the need for greater understanding of the nationalistic appeal that Yogâcâra thought has held for Chinese intellectuals; and the rise of New Confucianism as a philosophical movement associated with robust expressions of cultural nationalism. It will also further enhance Australia's international intellectual profile by bringing together leading researchers to forge innovative research networks and methodologies to advance the knowledge bases of Chinese intellectual history, Chinese Philosophy and Buddhist Studies, and contribute to building Australian research capacity in these three key areas.Read moreRead less
Basho's Men : Making Poetic Places; Harold Stewart's travelling in Japan/John Wolseley's texts from Japan. This project will produce three books, each an interdisciplinary study that will speak to students of landscape, poetry, religious studies and cultural history in Australia and Japan, and generally contribute to cross-cultural relations in the Asia Pacific region. Also, the project will enhance my teaching relations with foreign students, particularly Japanese students, at the Australian Ce ....Basho's Men : Making Poetic Places; Harold Stewart's travelling in Japan/John Wolseley's texts from Japan. This project will produce three books, each an interdisciplinary study that will speak to students of landscape, poetry, religious studies and cultural history in Australia and Japan, and generally contribute to cross-cultural relations in the Asia Pacific region. Also, the project will enhance my teaching relations with foreign students, particularly Japanese students, at the Australian Centre, University of Melbourne. Read moreRead less