Buddhist studies
The word Buddhology emerged in the early 1900s when Unitarian minister Joseph Estlin Carpenter coined it to describe the study of Buddhahood and Buddha's doctrines. Carpenter defined this new field as an examination of the nature of the Buddha alongside his teachings. Modern scholars now treat Buddhology and Buddhist studies as nearly identical terms for academic inquiry into Buddhism. William M. Johnston noted that some contexts view Buddhology as a subset focusing on hermeneutics, ontology, and specific attributes of the Buddha. The discipline expanded beyond theology to include history, culture, archaeology, arts, philology, anthropology, sociology, and interreligious comparative studies.
University of Tokyo and Rissho University stand as major centers for Buddhist research within Asia. Nalanda University launched a master program in 2016 to continue its historical legacy of learning. Most Japanese universities maintain departments covering Eastern philosophy or Indian philosophy with specialized Buddhist studies tracks. Kyoto University operates a public department dedicated solely to Buddhist Studies while Toyo University remains renowned despite being private. Religious denominations run their own universities including Taisho, Koyasan, Shuchiin, Lotus Sutra sects like Rissho, Pure Land sects such as Bukkyo, and Zen sects like Komazawa. North America saw its first graduate program begin at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1961. Surveys by Hart identified Chicago, Wisconsin, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Virginia, Stanford, Berkeley, Princeton, Temple, Northwestern, Michigan, Washington, and Tokyo as producing the most scholars holding U.S. university posts. Other accredited institutions include the University of the West, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Naropa University, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, and California Institute of Integral Studies. Prominent European programs exist at Oxford, Cambridge, School of Oriental and African Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Heidelberg, Bonn, Vienna, Ghent, and Sorbonne.
Charles Prebish serves as Chair of Religious Studies at Utah State University and identifies himself as a scholar-practitioner. He states that academic Buddhist studies in North American universities include individuals who are practicing Buddhists alongside those who study from an external perspective. This dynamic creates a unique environment where insiders and outsiders collaborate within the same departments. The field differs significantly from Judaism or Christianity because it has historically been dominated by outsiders to Buddhist cultures and traditions. Asian immigrants to Western countries and Western converts to Buddhism have made major contributions to this evolving landscape. These practitioners bring lived experience into classrooms while maintaining rigorous academic standards for their research.
Journals specializing in Buddhist Studies appear in alphabetical order including Buddhist Studies Review, Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies, Contemporary Buddhism, Dhammadhara Journal of Buddhist Studies, The Eastern Buddhist, Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies, International Journal for Study of Humanistic Buddhism, Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Journal of Buddhist Philosophy, Chinese Buddhist Studies, Global Buddhism, Indian and Buddhist Studies, International Association of Buddhist Studies, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, Pacific World: Journal of Institute of Buddhist Studies, Pure Land: Journal of International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies, Sengokuyama Journal of Buddhist Studies, Thai International Journal of Buddhist Studies, Universal Gate Buddhist Journal. Many scholars publish in area studies journals like Japan, China, general Religious Studies, history, anthropology, or language studies such as Indo-Iranian Journal, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Chinese Religions, Indian Philosophy, Pali Text Society, Philosophy East and West, Buddhist-Christian Studies. Major university presses include Oxford, Columbia, Cambridge, Indiana, Princeton, SUNY, California, Chicago, Hawaii, Virginia. Non-university presses include E.J. Brill, Equinox, Palgrave, Routledge, Silkworm Books, Motilal Banarsidass. Dharma presses include BPS Pariyatti, Parallax Press, Shambhala, Snow Lion, Wisdom Publications.
The first graduate program in Buddhist studies started at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1961. Prior to 1975, Buddhist studies in the United States remained dominated by three institutions: University of Wisconsin, Harvard University, and University of Chicago. Surveys conducted by Hart revealed which programs produced the most scholars holding positions at U.S. universities. These included Chicago, Wisconsin, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Virginia, Stanford, Berkeley, Princeton, Temple, Northwestern, Michigan, Washington, and Tokyo. The field has grown steadily since its institutional beginnings over six decades ago. Richard Gombrich documented fifty years of Buddhist studies development specifically within Britain through his 2005 article published in Buddhist Studies Review. J.W.A. de Jong traced European and American history in a 1997 book released by Kosei Publishing Company. Donald Swearer and Somparn Promta examined the state of global Buddhist studies between 1972 and 1997 for Chulalongkorn University's Center for Buddhist Studies in Bangkok.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the term Buddhology emerge and who coined it?
The word Buddhology emerged in the early 1900s when Unitarian minister Joseph Estlin Carpenter coined it to describe the study of Buddhahood and Buddha's doctrines. Carpenter defined this new field as an examination of the nature of the Buddha alongside his teachings.
Which university launched the first graduate program in Buddhist studies in North America?
North America saw its first graduate program begin at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1961. Prior to 1975, Buddhist studies in the United States remained dominated by three institutions including that same university, Harvard University, and University of Chicago.
What are the major centers for Buddhist research within Asia today?
University of Tokyo and Rissho University stand as major centers for Buddhist research within Asia. Nalanda University launched a master program in 2016 to continue its historical legacy of learning while most Japanese universities maintain departments covering Eastern philosophy or Indian philosophy with specialized Buddhist studies tracks.
How does academic Buddhist studies differ from other religious fields regarding insider participation?
Charles Prebish states that academic Buddhist studies in North American universities include individuals who are practicing Buddhists alongside those who study from an external perspective. The field differs significantly from Judaism or Christianity because it has historically been dominated by outsiders to Buddhist cultures and traditions.
Who documented fifty years of Buddhist studies development specifically within Britain?
Richard Gombrich documented fifty years of Buddhist studies development specifically within Britain through his 2005 article published in Buddhist Studies Review. J.W.A. de Jong traced European and American history in a 1997 book released by Kosei Publishing Company.