On November 14, 2015, the 4th Lingyin Buddhist Culture Forum was held to mark the 760th anniversary of Master Yuansou Xingduan’s birthday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Nearly one hundred experts and scholars on Buddhism from many countries and regions participated in this academic forum, holding discussions on the Buddhist thoughts of Master Yuansou and the history of Buddhism in the Yuan Dynasty so as to make contribution to the contemporary theoretical studies of religions.

Abbot of Lingyin Temple Ven. Guangquan attended the opening ceremony and gave a speech. He discussed achievements of Master Yuansou as an eminent Buddhist monk in the Yuan Dynasty with far-reaching influence on Buddhism. Master Yuansou adhered to the doctrine of the Linji sect of Chan Buddhism, his name became widely known also for his cultivation of brilliant and outstanding disciples, who inherited his down-to-earth spirit in the practice of Buddhism. He played a significant role in the spread and development of Buddhism at the late Yuan Dynasty and the early Ming Dynasty. The aim of this academic forum was to cherish the memory of Master Yuansou and his great spirit in heritage--his great contributions to Buddhism.

Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Director of Buddhism Research Office, Institute of World Religions Professor Wei Daoru gave a speech in which he spoke highly of the academic activities held by Lingyin Temple in recent years for the purpose of building an academic platform for research on Buddhism. He also stressed that purifying the mind of Chan Buddhism transcends time and space and that it is of great significance to build a harmonious society by researching into the essence of Buddhism.

The two-day forum included two sub-forums in the themes of ＂The Buddhist Thoughts of Master Yuansou＂ and ＂Feilai Peak and Buddhism in the Yuan Dynasty＂, on which experts and scholars held extensive discussion.  

Distinguished guests at the opening ceremony

Participants of the forum signing in

Abbot of Lingyin Temple Ven. Guangquan gave a speech at the opening ceremony.

Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Director of Buddhism
Research Office, Institute of World Religions Professor Wei Daoru gave a speech.

Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former Director
of Institute of World Religions Mr. Du Jiwen gave a speech.

Experts and scholars at the forum

Sub-forum 1

Sub-forum 2  

 Group photo of the participants of the forum