Buddhism, asian religious ritual and materiality at Princeton University

Princeton University organized an international academic symposium on “Buddhism and Asian Religious Ritual and Materiality” from June 13 to 15, 2023, with 21 scholars from Asia, Europe, and North America participating.

This conference aims to investigate the relationship between ritual and materiality, including manuscripts, printed liturgies, paintings, images, statues, talismans, other ritual items and technologies, and physical participation.

It seeks to recognize the significance of objects and the human body in ritual, which has been recently highlighted in scholarship on Buddhism and other Asian religions.

The conference featured five panel discussions and a special speech by Professor Liu Shufen of Taiwan’s “Academia Sinica.”

Notably, four scholars, including Trent Walker, Kate Lingley, Maya Stiller, and Wang Mengxiao, presented papers on June 14th, focusing on the materiality of rituals and their seemingly meaningless aspects in daily life.

Justin McDaniel, a reviewer, highlighted the importance of exploring the “why” behind rituals, rather than just the “how,” “when,” “where,” and “what.”

McDaniel also discussed the concept of the “meaninglessness of ritual” proposed by Professor Fritz Stahl, emphasizing the role of rituals in providing a sense of control in an uncertain world.

Ultimately, he argued that the significance of rituals in religious studies lies in their ambiguity and multiple interpretations of “why” they are performed.

References

• Ritual and Materiality in Buddhism and Asian Religions International Conference at Princeton University, June 13-15, 2023
• Chinese Report by Hanruo Zhang