On May 18, the 2016 Annual Buddhist Scriptures Debate was grandly held at Hangzhou Buddhist Academy. The event was hosted by the Buddhist Association of China, co-organized by the Buddhism Sutra Lecture Exchange Foundation of China, and Lingyin Temple. Over 40 debaters from eight Buddhist academies, including the Buddhist Academy of China, Shanghai Buddhist Academy, Fujian Buddhist Academy, Buddhist College of Minnan and Hangzhou Buddhist Academy, participated in the debate, which successfully concluded on the 19th after seven themed debates over two days. The two debate teams from the Buddhist Academy of China and Hangzhou Buddhist Academy respectively won the awards of the first prize and the second prize of the Golden Lotus Award. The debate teams from Shanghai Buddhist Academy and Buddhist College of Minnan shared the third prize as six debaters won the awards of the best debaters.

On the evening of the 19th, the awards ceremony was held before the Mahavira Hall of Lingyin Temple and leaders of the State Administration for Religious Affairs and relevant departments of Hangzhou City and Zhejiang Province attended the ceremony. Vice Secretary General of the Buddhist Association of China, Director of the Buddhism Sutra Lecture Exchange Base of China and Abbot of Lingyin Temple Ven. Guangquan delivered speeches. In Abbot Guangquan’s speech, he noting that modern Buddhism would play a more significant role given the proper development of the society and the country. This debate has been the first Chinese Buddhist scriptures debate since the cultural reform era opening up of the country. He expressed his hope that more debates would be held in the future for the Buddhist community to better serve the society and promote Buddhism.

Vice Director of the Buddhist Association of China Master Zongxing also addressed the ceremony that this scriptures debate has initiated a new mechanism for talent cultivation for the Chinese Buddhist community and provided a platform for Buddhist masters to communicate and display talents. He hoped that more debates would be organized and Buddhists would shoulder the responsibility of the Chinese cultural renaissance.

A group photo after the opening ceremony

Abbot Guangquan delivering a speech at the opening ceremony

Guests and judges

Debaters stating arguments

Debate venue

The awards ceremony

Dignitaries and special guests at the awards ceremony

The debate team from the Buddhist Academy of China
that won the first prize of Gold Lotus Award

The debate team from Hangzhou Buddhist Academy
that won the second prize of Gold Lotus Award

The debate teams from Shanghai Buddhist Academy and Buddhist
College of Minnan that shared the third prize of Gold Lotus Award

Six debaters that won the awards of the best debaters

The four debate teams that won the memorial prizes

Master Hongdu delivering a speech

Master Zongxing delivering a speech

Representative of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of
Zhejiang Province Ni Zhongyang delivering a speech

Representative of the State Administration for Religious
Affairs Wu Guosheng delivering a speech

Performance of Buddhist chants