The 38th Lecture in the Peking University Buddhist Studies Lecture Series

An Analysis of the Dual Sectarian Model of Guangji Temple in Early Qing 

— A Historical Study Based on the Temple Records

Speaker: Dr. Mariia Lepneva 

                    Postdoctoral Fellow, Ghent University, Belgium (FWO)

Moderator:  Prof. Wang Song

                      Professor of Philosophy, Peking University

                      Director of the Center for Buddhist Studies, Peking University.

Date: March 20, 2025, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Room 306, The Third Classroom Building, Peking University

Lecture Abstract:

Guangji Temple in Beijing is not only an ancient and renowned temple but also the headquarters of the Chinese Buddhist Association, making its history an important subject of study. This lecture, based on the Imperially Constructed Hongci Guangji Temple New Record, will explore the history of the temple during the first fifty years of the Qing dynasty. A close reading of the temple's records reveals that early Qing Guangji Temple was governed by a collaboration between the monastic traditions of the temple's own ordination lineage and the Vinaya ordination lineage brought in from outside. This dual-sect model stands in stark contrast to the popular monastic model of the late Ming and early Qing, which emphasized the transmission of teachings in the Jiangnan region, highlighting the innovative capabilities of the Guangji Temple’s monastic community. From its initial establishment during the Jiajing period to its rebirth following several succession crises, the temple's unique institutional arrangements proved to be both effective and appropriate. The extraordinary history of Guangji Temple offers valuable insights into the construction of institutional frameworks in late Ming and early Qing Chinese Buddhist monasteries, and contributes an intriguing chapter to the history of the sinicization of Buddhism.

Speaker Biography:

Mariia Lepneva holds a PhD in History from the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2022), following her doctoral studies at Buryat State University. Her research interests focus on Buddhist Studies, specifically the history of Buddhism during the Ming and Qing dynasties and the Vinaya tradition of Chinese Buddhism. Additionally, she explores digital humanities, particularly social network analysis. Her papers have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals such as Religions and Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies.Professionally, she is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Ghent University in Belgium, funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). Previously, she has had a long career as conference interpreter and translator, as well as teaching experience as a Chinese language instructor at both the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and Higher School of Economics.