Buddhist Education between Tradition, Modernity and Networks: Reconsidering the ‘Revival’ of Education for the Saṅgha in Twentieth-century China

Travagnin, Stefania

Abstract

In line with the overall focus on the special issue, this article offers a critical evaluation of Welch’s writing on Buddhist education. It analyzes the vocabulary and conceptual binaries used by Welch, and assesses the impact of his arguments on the field. The first part of this study will also critically contextualize Welch’s publications within a wider range of works that have been published in the Welch and Post-Welch eras. The second part of the article rethinks the research paths that have been undertaken so far and propose new trajectories for an alternative study of Buddhist education. It also suggests adopting the conceptual category of networks in order to unveil connections and dynamics of the actual religion on the ground that remain unexplored. Finally, given the debates that the idea of ‘revival’ has provoked, this article will conclude with some reflection on if and how we could frame the situation of the Saṅgha education in twentieth-century China in relation to the revival paradigm.

Citation

Travagnin, S. (2017). Buddhist Education between Tradition, Modernity and Networks: Reconsidering the ‘Revival’ of Education for the Saṅgha in Twentieth-century China. Studies in Chinese Religions, 3(3), 220-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/23729988.2017.1392193

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 11, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 29, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2020
• Journal: Studies in Chinese Religions
• Print ISSN: 2372-9988
• Electronic ISSN: 2372-9996
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 220-241
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23729988.2017.1392193
• Related Public URLs: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rstu20/3/3?nav=tocList