Download LECTURE> James Benn on “Buddhism and the Invention of Tea

H-Buddhism
LECTURE> James Benn on “Buddhism and the Invention of
Tea Culture in Medieval China”
Discussion published by Jimmy Yu on Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Dear Colleagues,
We are delighted to announce the 4th Sheng Yen Lecture Series speaker this year, Dr. James Benn,
who will be speaking on “Buddhism and the Invention of Tea Culture in Medieval China” at the
Florida State University, in Dodd Hall Auditorium, on March 3rd, from 4:30-5:30pm. More
information can be found here: http://religion.fsu.edu/documents/lecture_shengyen_BENN_2017.pdf
The dramatic change in Chinese drinking habits that occurred in the eighth century CE cannot be
understood without considering the crucial role of Buddhist ideas, institutions, and individuals in
creating a new culture around the consumption of tea. Benn's lecture will look closely at the
surviving artistic, material, and literary evidence for Buddhist involvement in the invention of a
Chinese tea culture during the Tang and Song dynasties, roughly seventh through thirteenth
centuries.
James Benn is a Professor of Buddhism and East Asian Religions in the Department of Religious
Studies at McMaster University. His research evolves around three major areas of research: bodily
practice in Chinese Religions; the ways in which people create and transmit new religious practices
and doctrines; and the religious dimensions of commodity culture. He is the author of Burning for
the Buddha: Self-immolation in Chinese Buddhism and Tea in China: A Religious and Cultural History,
and numerous other articles.
The lecture is open to public, and you are all invited. If you are unable to attend, a video recording of
his talk will eventually be posted on our FSU Religion Dept Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh9dI0od6iK-BeA8CUEWxJw
Hope to see you at the lecture.
Best wishes,
Jimmy Yu
Sheng Yen Associate Professor of Chinese Buddhist Studies
Co-editor, Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies
Florida State University
Department of Religion, 120D Dodd Hall
641 University Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1520
Office Phone: 850-615-1406
Office Fax: 850-644-7225
http://myweb.fsu.edu/jyu2
Citation: Jimmy Yu. LECTURE> James Benn on “Buddhism and the Invention of Tea Culture in Medieval China” . H-Buddhism. 02-2-2017. https://networks.h-net.org/node/6060/discussions/168235/lecture-james-benn-%E2%80%9Cbuddhism-and-invention-teaculture-medieval
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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H-Buddhism
Citation: Jimmy Yu. LECTURE> James Benn on “Buddhism and the Invention of Tea Culture in Medieval China” . H-Buddhism. 02-2-2017. https://networks.h-net.org/node/6060/discussions/168235/lecture-james-benn-%E2%80%9Cbuddhism-and-invention-teaculture-medieval
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
2