Speaker: Ming Tak Ted Hui ,Associate Professor of Classical Chinese and Medieval China, University of Oxford
Date and time: November 22, 2023, 14:00 (EST)
Location: Runcie Room, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge
Abstract: The discovery of Khara-Khoto, a once-thriving city situated in the western part of Inner Mongolia, has yielded a wealth of manuscripts and printed texts, presenting a unique opportunity to explore the circulation and practice of Buddhism in Tangut society. Moreover, it allows for an examination of how the Tangut state in the eleventh century handled and reprinted manuscripts. This presentation will specifically focus on the Āgama sutras (Ahan jing 阿含經) discovered in Khara-Khoto. By comparing these Chinese texts from Khara-Khoto with the received editions, this presentation aims to shed light on the textual variations and editorial practices employed by the Tanguts. It will provide valuable insights into the Tanguts’ perspective on Theravada Buddhism. Through a close study of the Khara-Khoto texts, this presentation hopes to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the history of reading and Buddhism in the Tangut empire in the 11th century.
Speaker: Ming Tak Ted Hui is an Associate Professor of Classical Chinese and Medieval China at the University of Oxford. He earned his B.A. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2009 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2020. He joined the TEXTCOURT project as a post-doctoral fellow and is currently finishing a book project that explores the multilingual environment of the Yuan dynasty in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, a period when China was under Mongol rule.
“Book Culture in Buddhism and Beyond” Lecture Series:
This new lecture series, launching in Michaelmas Term 2023, features talks on writing and publishing in the Buddhist tradition and in related religious and cultural spheres. Lectures in this series offer insights into the various ways in which writing and printing has been shaping Buddhism, as well as the multifaceted impact of Buddhism on book culture in East Asia, past, present, and future.
Registration is not required. The lectures are free and open to scholars, students, and the public.
Please note: all events take place in person at the University of Cambridge. Exact times and location will be circulated via email and posted on our faculty webpage.
This lecture series is organised by Dr. Noga Ganany (ng462@cam.ac.uk) with the generous support of the Glorisun Global Network.
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