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52 EASTERN HORIZON | NEWS

National University of Singapore

Announces Launch of Newly

Established Buddhist Studies Group

By Craig C Lewis,August 12, 2024

“These contributions have significantly
advanced scholarship and encouraged
research and teaching in the field in
Singapore,” Prof. Chia noted.
Coinciding with the launch of the
NUS Buddhist Studies Group, the NUS
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and
Temenggong Artists-In-Residence, a
non-profit arts company that seeks
to inspire arts, heritage, and cultural
appreciation, cohosted an opening
ceremony for a new exhibition of
ancient Buddhist art at NUS, The Many
Attendees of the official launch community engagement,” Associate
of the newly established NUS Professor Jack Meng-Tat Chia, Foo Hai Faces of Buddha.
Buddhist studies Group and opening Ch’an Monastery Fellow in Buddhist
ceremony for The Many Faces of Studies and inaugural chair of the NUS Among the works on display are

Buddha exhibition. Image courtesy of Buddhist Studies Group, told BDG. a Gandhara-era Buddha statue
Temenggong Artists-In-Residence dated to the 1st–3rd centuries
“Although we have not yet achieved CE, thangka paintings from Tibet,
The National University of Singapore the longstanding success of Buddhist ancient Buddha coins, and other
(NUS) announced the official launch of studies centers and groups in Europe artifacts from China, Indonesia,
the newly established NUS Buddhist and the United States, we hope to learn Myanmar, Thailand, and elsewhere.
studies Group on 3 August. An from their experiences and emulate
interdepartmental research initiative their achievements,” Prof. Chia added. “In 2022, the NUS Faculty of Arts and
composed of faculty members and “Singapore is in a unique position to Social Sciences signed an MOU with
students from the Faculty of Arts and serve as a bridge between Eastern and Temenggong to promote joint research
Social Sciences, the group is intended Western Buddhist Studies scholarship, and teaching activities in the areas of
to serve as an open forum for scholars and we aspire to foster this vital arts, heritage, and culture,” Prof. Chia
and members of the public to engage in dialogue. We would be grateful for your observed.
the collaborative academic exploration support in this meaningful endeavor.”
of Buddhism. “This collaboration marks a significant
The NUS has in recent years received milestone in fostering a vital
“My colleagues and I are enthusiastic several substantial donations that partnership between NUS and local
cultural organizations. The Many Faces
about the future of the Buddhist have been instrumental in establishing
Studies Group at the National a Faculty Fellowship, a Visiting of Buddha exhibition features research
University of Singapore, and we are Professorship, a graduate scholarship, an conducted by NUS students in my
committed to establishing it as a annual distinguished lecture series, and a ‘Buddhism in World History’ course
center for scholarly research and seminar series in Buddhist studies. last semester, and is a product of this
meaningful collaboration.”