Janet Gyatso is the Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies at Harvard Divinity School (HDS), affiliated with Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She holds academic ties to the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations and the Committee on Inner Asian and Altaic Studies. Her research focuses on Tibetan and South Asian cultural/intellectual history, Buddhist epistemology, gender studies, and the intersection of religion and medicine. Dr. Gyatso earned her BA, MA, and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. She previously taught at Amherst College before joining HDS in 2014 as Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (until June 2024). Her major works include Being Human in a Buddhist World (2015) and Women in Tibet (2006), exploring themes like early modern Tibetan medicine and Buddhist gender dynamics. Her current research addresses ethical relationships with animals and Buddhist ministerial training. She has held leadership roles, including president of the International Association of Tibetan Studies (2000–2006) and co-chair of the American Academy of Religion's Buddhism Section (2004–2010). She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2018. Gyatso's teaching spans Buddhist history, ritual, and Tibetan literary practices. She actively develops programs like the Buddhist Lay Ministry Initiative at HDS, blending academic rigor with practical ministry training.
Kevin Buckelew is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Northwestern University specializing in Chinese Buddhism, with particular expertise in Chan (Zen) traditions and Buddhist-Daoist interactions. He earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and his Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University. Affiliation: Northwestern University, Religious Studies Department Education: B.A. (Sarah Lawrence College), Ph.D. (Columbia University) His research explores Chan Buddhist claims to authority equivalent to the historical Buddha, focusing on embodiment, gender, and institutional practices during the Song dynasty. He also investigates Buddhist-Daoist intellectual exchanges, particularly regarding theories of liberation and bodily practices. Recent publications include Discerning Buddhas: Authority, Agency, and Masculinity in Chan Buddhism (2025) and co-edited volume Buddhist Masculinities (2023). His work appears in top journals like Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies and T’oung Pao , supported by Fulbright and Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai grants. Scientific Awards: Fulbright Program Grant Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai Grant Buckelew's scholarship combines textual analysis, historical methodology, and thematic explorations of moral responsibility and gender construction in premodern Chinese religious contexts.
Costantino Moretti is an Associate Professor at the French School of the Far East (EFEO), specializing in Medieval Chinese Buddhism and Dunhuang Studies. He holds the position of lecturer at EFEO and has been actively teaching courses on Chinese Buddhist manuscript traditions at institutions including the École pratique des hautes études (EPHE). His academic work bridges philological analysis with historical and cultural contexts of Buddhist practices in medieval China. Moretti received his BA in Chinese Language and Literature in 2001 from Ca' Foscari University in Venice, Italy. Following this, he was awarded a scholarship at Peking University (2002-2003) to deepen his knowledge of Chinese Buddhism, philology, and Dunhuang studies. He earned his MA (2005) and PhD (2010) in East Asian Studies (Chinese Buddhism) from the École pratique des hautes études, where he was subsequently appointed as an associate researcher (2010-2017). His research focuses on Chinese Buddhist apocryphal scriptures, Dunhuang manuscripts, mural paintings, and codicology. Moretti's scholarly work examines the history and philology of Medieval Chinese Buddhism with particular attention to textual transmission, manuscript production, and Buddhist iconography. His expertise spans both textual analysis and material culture studies of Buddhist manuscripts. Moretti's publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on Dunhuang manuscripts, Buddhist apocrypha, and the material aspects of Buddhist texts. His work spans textual analysis, codicology, and iconographic studies, revealing the complex interplay between religious doctrine, manuscript production, and cultural transmission along the Silk Road. Recent publications show increasing attention to textual errors, layout features, and organizational principles in Buddhist manuscripts. Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Professor of Medieval Chinese Buddhism (2017-2021) PSL University Research Grant for 'Buddhist Religious Names and Titles in the Dunhuang Manuscripts' (2016-2018) Peking University Scholarship (2002-2003) Moretti has been actively involved in organizing scientific events, including an annual cycle of lectures with Professor Kuo Liying as part of a collaborative program with the Dunhuang Academy. He has participated in various research projects led by the Center for Research on East Asian Civilizations (CRCAO) since 2010 and is currently completing an annotated French translation of the 'Traité du bouddhisme et du taoïsme' from the Dynastic History of the Wei Dynasty. He also serves as sub-editor for entries concerning medieval Chinese manuscripts from Dunhuang for the Encyclopaedia of Manuscript Cultures in Asia and Africa (EMCAA).
Timothy Pettipiece is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Carleton University, part of the College of Humanities. He holds an Hon. BA in Classical Languages from the University of Guelph (2000), an MA in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University (2002), and a PhD in Religious Studies from Université Laval (2006). His research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to religious cultures of Late Antiquity, particularly Gnostic and Manichaean studies, and the reception of ancient religious ideas in modern media. His teaching interests include Classics and Religion, with a specialization in Manichaean literature and the intersection of late ancient religious texts with contemporary cultural narratives. Key research areas are Coptic Manichaean homilies, Syriac Christianities in Mesopotamia, and gender roles in early religious communities. Dr. Pettipiece’s publications emphasize textual analysis of apocryphal traditions, redaction criticism in Manichaean and early Christian texts, and comparative religious studies. Recent work explores intersections between Manichaean theology and global religious movements, as well as modern reinterpretations of ancient mythologies in popular culture. He currently serves as an academic leader in Carleton’s Religion program, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate curriculum development. His office is located in 2A51 Paterson Hall, and he maintains active engagement with international scholarly networks through conferences and collaborative research projects.
James Alexander Benn is a Professor of Buddhism and East Asian Religions in the Department of Religious Studies at McMaster University, where he also serves as Director of the McMaster University Centre for Buddhist Studies. His research focuses on medieval Chinese religions (Buddhism and Taoism), examining practices and worldviews through analysis of primary sources in literary Chinese. His work centers on three primary areas: bodily practices in Chinese religions, transmission of religious practices/doctrines, and religious dimensions of commodity culture. Education: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Oriental Studies (Chinese), University of Cambridge Master of Arts Eastern Religions, University of London Master of Arts Oriental Studies (Chinese), University of Cambridge PhD East Asian Languages and Cultures (Buddhist Studies), University of California Los Angeles Research Focus: Professor Benn specializes in the religious and cultural history of medieval China, with particular emphasis on self-immolation practices, Chinese Buddhist apocrypha, and the religious significance of tea culture. His research employs close textual analysis to understand how religious practices were created, transmitted, and practiced in historical contexts, especially regarding bodily practices and material culture. Publications Overview: Benn's scholarly output includes extensive work on Chinese Buddhist texts, ritual practices, and cultural history. His publications frequently examine themes of asceticism, apocryphal literature, and material culture in medieval East Asian religions. Recent works demonstrate continued focus on textual analysis of Buddhist scriptures and their socio-cultural contexts, with particular attention to the Diamond Sutra and Lengyan Jing.
Nobuyoshi Yamabe is a Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences (School of Humanities and Social Sciences) since 2015. Previously, he served as Professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture (2003-2015) and Kyushu Ryukoku Junior College (1996-2003). He earned a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University (1999) and holds multiple advanced degrees from Yale and Osaka University. Current roles: Professor at Waseda University Professional memberships: American Academy of Religion, International Association of Buddhist Studies, The Association for Asian Studies Research interests focus on the intersection of Buddhist philosophy, meditative practices, and visual culture. His work spans Yogācāra theory (ālayavijñāna, bīja theory), Central Asian Buddhist cave monasteries, Chinese meditation texts, and comparative studies between Buddhist traditions. Recent projects integrate digital image restoration with Buddhist art analysis. Recent publications emphasize Yogācāra causality models, visualization sutras, and cross-disciplinary studies of meditation's mind-body implications. His 2024-2023 articles analyze selfhood in Yogācāra, comparative Zen texts, and spatial practices in rock-cut monasteries. Key trends: Meditative theory across Buddhist schools Visual narratives in Buddhist texts and art Historical development of Sino-Indian Buddhist traditions Grants include multiple Japan Society for the Promotion of Science projects on digital Buddhist practices, ālayavijñāna theory, and Sanskrit-Chinese textual analysis. He leads interdisciplinary collaborations bridging Buddhist studies with psychology and neuroscience.
Professor Constantino Moretti is Associate Professor in Chinese Medieval Buddhism and Dunhuang Studies at École française d'Extrême-Orient. His research examines Buddhist manuscripts, apocryphal texts, and intercultural religious exchanges along Silk Road networks. Specializes in Dunhuang manuscript analysis, mural paintings, and Sino-Tibetan religious art, organizing annual conferences with Dunhuang Academy. Authored critical editions including research on the Wei shu 'Treatise on Buddhism and Daoism'. Recipient of the Petra-Kappert Fellowship at CSMC for research on Chinese manuscript traditions. Teaches courses on Chinese philology and Buddhist history at École Pratique des Hautes Études.
Licia Di Giacinto is a Research Associate and Principal Investigator at CERES, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, affiliated with the Faculty of East Asian Studies, Section for the History and Philosophy of China. She specializes in Sinology, focusing on Daoism, Confucianism, religious metaphors, and interreligious encounters in early medieval China. She is actively involved in the SFB 1475 project 'Metaphern der Religion' as Principal Investigator and previously held a postdoctoral position at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg 'Dynamics in the History of Religions' until March 2020. Education and Academic Background: Ph.D. in Sinology with a dissertation on 'By Chance of History: The Apocrypha under the Han' (2008, Ruhr-Universität Bochum). Extensive research in Chinese intellectual history, religious texts, and philosophical traditions. Research Interests: Licia Di Giacinto's research centers on the intellectual and religious history of China, particularly during the Han and Tang dynasties. She investigates Daoist soteriology, Confucian apocrypha, enlightenment terminology, and the linguistic construction of religious concepts such as harmony and violence. Her recent work explores how metaphors shape religious worldviews, especially in Daoist contexts related to war and peace. She also examines interreligious dialogues, sensory dimensions of religious experience, and the historical evolution of purity and fate in Chinese thought. Her interdisciplinary approach combines philology, philosophy, and religious studies. Publication Trends: Her scholarly output over the past two decades reveals a consistent focus on textual analysis of early Chinese religious and philosophical works. She frequently publishes on Daoist and Confucian apocryphal literature, ritual practices, and conceptual history. Her recent publications (2021–2024) show a shift toward broader thematic explorations in religion and conflict, particularly through contributions to major reference works like the Handbook of Religion in Conflicts and Peace Processes . These works reflect her engagement with contemporary debates in religious studies while maintaining deep roots in classical Chinese sources. Scientific Awards and Recognition: No specific awards or fellowships are mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Research Leadership: Dr. Di Giacinto has served as a co-editor of significant academic volumes, such as the Festschrift for Heiner Roetz (2015), indicating her role in mentoring and scholarly collaboration. She is a Principal Investigator in the SFB 1475 project, leading subproject A02, which underscores her leadership in funded research. While no direct advisees are listed, her editorial and collaborative roles suggest active engagement in academic community building. Laboratories and Research Teams: She is a core member of CERES (Center for Religious Studies) at Ruhr-Universität Bochum and contributes to the 'Dynamics in the History of Religions' research network. She is involved in the SFB 1475 'Metaphern der Religion' project, working within interdisciplinary teams exploring metaphorical language in religious contexts. Her collaborations include scholars such as Volkhard Krech, Heiner Roetz, and Alexandra Cuffel, reflecting a strong network in religious and East Asian studies.
Dr. Licia Di Giacinto is a Researcher at the Department of East Asian Studies at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, affiliated with CERES (Center for Religious Studies) and the Käte Hamburger Kolleg Dynamics in the History of Religions. Her research focuses on Sinology with an emphasis on Daoist thought, early Chinese religious texts, and the intersection of religion and history in premodern China. She leads Subproject A02 within the Collaborative Research Center CRC 1475 'Metaphors of Religion' and contributes to projects like 'Entangled Religions'. Her work explores topics such as Daoist concepts of harmony, Confucian apocrypha, and interreligious encounters in medieval China. She has published extensively in journals like Entangled Religions , Monumenta Serica , and Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft . Di Giacinto’s research integrates textual analysis with interdisciplinary approaches to religious history. She has held roles as Principal Investigator, Project Leader, and Research Associate across multiple initiatives, including the Dynamics in the History of Religions series and the CERES Research Department.
