Jessica Main

Jessica Main is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Arts. She serves as Associate Head, Internal and as Chair and Director of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society. She began her work at UBC in 2009 as the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation Chair and Director of UBC's Buddhism and Contemporary Society Program, which was renamed in 2014 to its current title as part of a global network supported by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation.

Dr. Main's research focuses on modern Buddhist ethics, social action, and institutional life in East and Southeast Asia. Her specific interests include:

• Buddhism, Ethics, and Human Rights
• Modern Buddhist Institutions, Law, and Governance
• Buddhists and Buddhist Institutions Active in Modern Society (Social Welfare, Healthcare, Rehabilitation, Incarceration)
• Modern Japanese Religions and Society
• Japanese True Pure Land Buddhism (Jōdo Shinshū)

Her scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersection of Buddhist ethics with social justice issues, particularly regarding descent-based discrimination in Japanese society. She has made significant contributions to understanding how Buddhist institutions engage with contemporary social issues including healthcare, human rights, and social welfare. Her research often examines the historical development of Buddhist responses to social problems, with particular attention to Japanese Shin Buddhism.

Dr. Main has received notable recognition through her appointment to prestigious chairs including the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation Chair and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Chair. She is also a member of the steering committee for the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies (IASBS).

Her teaching portfolio includes courses such as ASIA 110: Religions in Asia, ASIA 211: Sex, Sexual Ethics, and Asian Religions, ASIA 250: Introduction to Buddhism, ASIA 301: Buddhism in Modern Asia, and various specialized courses on Buddhist studies. She has been actively teaching these courses from 2021 through the upcoming 2025 Winter Term.

Dr. Main completed her PhD at McGill University in 2012 with a dissertation on descent-based discrimination, human rights, and Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism in Japan, focusing on the problem of caste-based discrimination (burakumin) in Pure Land Buddhism. She also holds a certificate from Otani University in Kyoto (2006-2008) and a BA in General Studies from the University of Calgary (1997).