Agenda

Prof. Bart Dessein, Ghent University 

Abstract:
Taixu (1889-1947) has become known as one of the most, if not the most important reformer of the Buddhist doctrine and organisation of the early modern period. His name is, more precisely, connected to the creation of so-called 'renjian fojiao' (Buddhism among the people). In this lecture, it will be outlined how, in crafting 'renjian fojiao', Taixu was inspired by elements of Christianity, Socialism, Anarchism, Nationalism and Confucianism, and can thus be seen as an important representative of how the Chinese intellectual world was coping with the fundamental changes in Chinese society at the turn of the 20^th century.

Prof. dr. Bart Dessein (PhD in Oriental Languages and Cultures, Ghent University 1994) is senior full professor at the Department of Languages and Cultures of Ghent University. His research concerns the philosophical traditions of South and East Asia, modern and contemporary history of China, Chinese political philosophy, and New Confucianism. He is Member of the ‘Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences’ (Belgium) and Vice-Director of the ‘School for Comparative Philosophy’ (Antwerp). He also is Honorary Professor at Liaoning University and Guest Professor at Shanghai University. From 2016 to 2022, he was the President of the ‘European Association for Chinese Studies’. He is currently the Principal Investigator of the EU Project 'Reconnect China'.