Buddhist Cosmopolis: Temporal, Spatial, and Technological Dimensions

The diffusion of Buddhist concepts, literature, art, and practitioners over the past two millennia has given rise to distinct local traditions and the formation of diverse spaces for veneration, artistic representation, and diplomacy. Yet many of these sites remain interconnected through multidirectional flows of people, objects, and ideas. The concept of a Buddhist cosmopolis not only acknowledges the diversity of Buddhist communities and practices but also illuminates the intricate networks that bind them—both in tangible reality and in the realm of imagination—while recognizing that these connections periodically unravel and disengage. Building on this concept, including a critical examination of its applicability, we plan to organize a series of conferences centered on specific themes and methodological interventions. These conferences will emphasize comparative perspectives, interactions, divergences, and disconnections in the longue durée history of Buddhism. The first of these conferences is Buddhist Cosmopolis: Temporal, Spatial, and Technological Dimensions.

This conference is in-person only. Virtual participation will not be made available.