Events

This talk is organised by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore; with funding support from the Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery Fellowship in Buddhist Studies.

CHAIRPERSON

Assoc Prof Jack Meng-Tat Chia, Department of History, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

This talk examines the contemporary transmission of Vietnamese Buddhism in Taiwan, challenging the traditional view of unidirectional influence from Chinese Buddhism within the Sinosphere. While historical interactions saw Chinese Mahāyāna thought shaping Vietnamese Buddhist traditions, recent decades have witnessed a reversal and diversification of this dynamic. Since the 1990s, the teachings of Ch’an master Thich Nhat Hanh have gained widespread popularity in Taiwan, facilitated by the global reach of his publications and mindfulness practices. Concurrently, the growing Vietnamese diaspora in Taiwan has introduced lived forms of Vietnamese Buddhism that transcend ethnic boundaries and reshape local religious sensibilities.

By situating these developments within the broader context of transnational religious flows, this talk argues for a rethinking of the Sinosphere as a fluid, multidirectional space of Buddhist exchange. Vietnamese Buddhism in Taiwan today reflects not only historical continuity but also the adaptive, globalized, and hybrid nature of religious identity in the modern era. Through an analysis of both textual circulation and community-based practices, this research highlights how Vietnamese Buddhism contributes to Taiwan’s increasingly plural and interconnected Buddhist landscape.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Wei-Yi Cheng is an associate professor at the Department of Buddhist Studies, Fo Guang University. She received her PhD from SOAS University of London. Her researches primarily focus on contemporary Buddhism, more recently about the transnational flow of Vietnamese Buddhism to Taiwan but has conducted fieldwork in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

REGISTRATION

Registration is closed. However, we welcome walk-ins to join us if there are available seats.