Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Lecture on Modern Shin Buddhism by Jessica Starling
The USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture will host Jessica Starling for a lecture on modern Shin Buddhism.
Where
This presentation focuses on contemporary Shin Buddhist women who are active in social causes such as discrimination against burakumin and leprosy patients. Professor Starling (Lewis & Clark College) uses the example of women’s social activism to explore the role of social networks, gendered spaces, and affective relationships in shaping Buddhist ethics from the ground up. Starling pays special attention to the confluence of religious and secular discourses around the concept of “inochi” (“life”).
Jessica Starling is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She has published several articles on the role of temple wives in Japan and the centrality of family in contemporary temple Buddhism. Her monograph, Guardians of the Buddha’s Home: Domestic Religion in the Contemporary J?do Shinsh?, is under contract with the University of Hawaii Press. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 2012, and was a Shinjo Ito Postdoctoral Fellow in Japanese Buddhism at the Center for Japanese Studies at UC Berkeley from 2012-2013.
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?