Zhongguo foxue yuan 中國佛學院

The Buddhist Academy of China^[1] (Zhōngguó Fóxué yuàn 中國佛學院) was started in the mid 20th century, and is currently the central Buddhist seminary of the PRC.

History

• September 28, 1956^[2] - Cultural Revolution; ?? - Present
• Location(s): Fǎyuán Temple 法源寺, in Běijīng 北京

This Buddhist Seminary 佛學院 officially opened at Fǎyuán Temple 法源寺, in Běijīng 北京 on September 28, 1956. It was founded by the Chinese Buddhist Association 中國佛教協會, and was headed by Sherab Gyatso 喜饒嘉措.

It basically shut down during the Cultural Revolution, but has since resumed operations.

It seems that there was another institution of this same name that ran in the 1930s, which published the periodical Fóxué yuèkān 佛學月刊. If so, then the Institute that opened in 1956 was possibly a continuation of the earlier school.

Section Editor: Erik Hammerstrom

Notable Teachers

• Zhèngguǒ 正果
• Fǎzūn 法尊
• Zhōu Shūjiā 周叔迦

Notes

1. ↑ This is the title of the institution given in English on their website.
2. ↑ An identically-named Seminary was opened at Ruìyīng Temple 瑞應寺 in Beijing in 1940 by Zhōu Shújiā 周叔迦, who also served as a lecturer at the Academy.

References

• Official Institution Website
• 中国佛学院大事记
• Shì Dōngchū 釋東初. Zhōngguó Fójiào jìndài shǐ 中國佛教近代史 (A History of Early Contemporary Chinese Buddhism), in Dōngchū lǎorén quánjí 東初老人全集 (Complete Collection of Old Man Dongchu), vols. 1-2. Taipei: Dongchu, 1974 Pp. 2.1031.