Buddhism Across Asia
This five-week seminar traces the spread of Buddhism from India across the Silk Road into China, Korea, and Japan. Focusing on religious migration and cross-cultural exchange, participants will explore how trade networks, diplomacy, and pilgrimage carried Buddhist ideas, art, and practices across Asia. The seminar highlights how Buddhism adapted to local cultures while shaping political life, visual traditions, and philosophical thought. Educators will receive accessible readings and classroom-ready resources for teaching Buddhism’s global influence in world history, social studies, humanities, and art history.
🗓️ Date: Tuesdays 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7/2026
⏰ Time: 4:00–5:00 PM (PT)
💻 Format: Zoom Webinar (Lecture + Q&A)
🎓 Open to all K–12 educators
📚 Includes classroom-ready resources and materials
Sessions are online, synchronous, and feature interactive discussions with top scholars. Participants will gain ready-to-use insights and classroom resources to support curriculum goals.
This seminar is perfect for K–12 educators seeking engaging, standards-aligned content to bring East Asian history to life in their classrooms.
The online seminar includes:
- Video presentations (1 hour/week) that you watch on your own schedule
- Background and primary source readings (1 hour/week)
- Mandatory online forum participation
- 5 Weekly live online discussion
Benefits:
- 1 salary points for Los Angeles Unified School District.
- For all other districts, 3 Continuing Education Units
- Online resources and materials
Schedule:
The seminar live discussions will be held virtually on Tuesdays for the following dates (2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7). Reading assignments and pre-recorded lectures for each week will be available in an online forum and are to be completed prior to the discussion sessions (approximately 2 hours of work per week). Access and log-in information will be provided upon acceptance into the course. Please refer to the Seminar Requirements Document for details on assignments and course completion.
Speaker: Lori Meeks
Lori Meeks is associate professor of religion and East Asian languages and cultures at USC. Her research is centered on the social and cultural history of Buddhism in Japanese history.
Schedule:
The seminar live sessions will be held virtually from 2/24 for the following dates (3/3, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7). Reading assignments and pre-recorded lectures for each week will be available in an online forum and are to be completed prior to the discussion sessions. Access and log-in information will be provided upon acceptance into the course. Please refer to the Seminar Requirements Document for details on assignments and course completion.