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Inauguration Ceremony of the Center for the Study of Chan Buddhism and Human Civilization

13 FEB 2015

Professor Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, and Ven. Da Yuan signed a collaboration agreement at the ceremony.
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Plaque unveiling ceremony officiated by:<br />
(from left) Professor Tam Wai-lun, Chairperson, Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, CUHK; Ven. Da Yuan; Mr Xie Weimin; Ms Florence Hui; Professor Joseph Sung; and Professor Leung Yuen-sang, Dean, Faculty of Arts, CUHK.
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Ms Wang Yayu, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of Buddhist Studies of the Sixth Patriarch Monastery, presented a cheque to Professor Joseph Sung.
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Over 100 distinguished guests attended the inauguration ceremony of the center.
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In collaboration with the Sixth Patriarch Monastery in Guangdong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has recently established the new Center for the Study of Chan Buddhism and Human Civilization. The inauguration ceremony of the center was held on 13 February 2015. Participated by over 100 distinguished guests, the ceremony was officiated by Mr Xie Weimin, Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Ms Zheng Haiyan, Director of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and Ms Florence Hui, Under Secretary for Home Affairs of the HKSAR Government.

Through its Executive Committee of Buddhist Studies, the Sixth Patriarch Monastery has generously pledged a donation of HK$12.5 million in support of the establishment of the center. The donation will be used to recruit faculty members, conduct academic research, organize cultural activities, and support outstanding candidates to pursue postgraduate education in related fields. The newly established center aims to promote Buddhist studies, with a particular focus on Chan Buddhism, through organizing a wide range of academic and cultural activities, strengthening the collaboration with overseas academic partners, and nurturing talents in Buddhist education and research. 

Under the leadership of Ven. Da Yuan, the Sixth Patriarch Monastery has been putting extensive effort in promoting Chinese culture and virtues, as well as Buddhist studies and education. The Monastery has also established close rapport with many institutions in mainland China, such as Wuhan University and Jinan University. In partnership with CUHK, the Monastery aims to promote Buddhist education through a more systematic and internationalized approach. To realize the mission of promoting Chinese culture to a wider public around the world, the center will pursue interdisciplinary collaboration with the experts and professionals in Management, Psychology, Humanities and Philosophy. 

With the objective to strengthen the collaboration on Buddhist education and research, the Center for the Study of Chan Buddhism and Human Civilization has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies. A large-scale international academic symposium will be jointly organized by the two centers in October this year. The center is also planning to collaborate with world renowned Business Schools to organize courses on Chan Buddhism and Corporate Management.