Conference: Evolution of Scriptures, Formations of Canons

24 September 2018

Photo: Orna Almogi

September 24–25, 2018,
Tokyo Campus of the University of Tsukuba at Myogadani, Room 120

Universität Hamburg & University of Tsukuba
Convenors: Orna Almogi & Chizuko Yoshimizu

The evolution of Buddhist scriptures and the formation of the various Buddhist canons are complex processes that often stretch over a long period of time and involve numerous aspects of the societies in which they take place. Understanding these two related processes is not only crucial to our study of the history of Buddhism in general and of Buddhist ideas in particular, but is also instrumental in appreciating the impact of social and cultural aspects on intellectual and religio-philosophical developments and vice versa. The conference “Evolution of Scriptures, Formation of Canons” aims at discussing various issues related to these two processes, both on the meta-level and by way of specific examples, including various stages (or versions) in the evolution of a specific scripture, fluidity between treatises and scriptures resulting in the transformation of the one into another or vice versa, influence of śāstric literature on the evolution of scriptures, intertextuality between various scriptures, the issue of revelation versus authorship and its influence on the evolution of scriptures and formation of canons, processes leading to the formation of canons (of varying scope and content), and the impact of various social and political aspects of society on these two processes.

• Click here to download the program [pdf]
• Click here to download the abstracts [pdf]