First World Buddhist Forum, 2006
Encyclopedia
The World Buddhist Forum was held in Hangzhou
City and Zhoushan
City, Zhejiang Province, China
, from April 13 to April 16, 2006. It was the first major international religious conference in China since the founding of the People's Republic of China
in 1949.
Over 1,000 monks and experts from 37 countries and regions attended the forum, giving speeches or participating in discussions under the theme of "A harmonious world begins in the mind."
Among the participants was Gyaincain Norbu, the then 16 year old Chinese-approved 11th Panchen Lama
, who was the figurehead of the forum, and made very rare public appearances. However, according to a news story by Reuters
, fellow Buddhists appeared to shun him during opening ceremonies.
This forum did not include the current and exiled 14th Dalai Lama, who is viewed by China as a separatist. According to Qi Xiaofei, vice-director of the Chinese state administration for religious affairs, "The Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure, but is also a long-time stubborn secessionist who has tried to split his Chinese motherland and break the unity among different ethnic groups."
From October 2004 to November 2005, with the common propagation of the Buddhist communities of Hong Kong, Macao and across the Taiwan Strait, the proposal of hosting the World Buddhist Forum in Mainland China won universal support and an active response from Buddhist communities in over 40 countries. The Chinese government gave assurances it would support the Buddhist community to host the grand historic event.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
City and Zhoushan
Zhoushan
Zhoushan or Zhoushan Archipelago New Area; formerly transliterated as Chusan, is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. The only prefecture-level city of the People's Republic of China consisting solely of islands, it lies across the mouth of the Hangzhou Bay,...
City, Zhejiang Province, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, from April 13 to April 16, 2006. It was the first major international religious conference in China since the founding of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949.
Over 1,000 monks and experts from 37 countries and regions attended the forum, giving speeches or participating in discussions under the theme of "A harmonious world begins in the mind."
Among the participants was Gyaincain Norbu, the then 16 year old Chinese-approved 11th Panchen Lama
Panchen Lama
The Panchen Lama , or Bainqên Erdê'ni , is the highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism...
, who was the figurehead of the forum, and made very rare public appearances. However, according to a news story by Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, fellow Buddhists appeared to shun him during opening ceremonies.
This forum did not include the current and exiled 14th Dalai Lama, who is viewed by China as a separatist. According to Qi Xiaofei, vice-director of the Chinese state administration for religious affairs, "The Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure, but is also a long-time stubborn secessionist who has tried to split his Chinese motherland and break the unity among different ethnic groups."
Proposal
Eight disciples from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan proposed the World Buddhist Forum in China in 2004, a suggestion that won support from Buddhist circles in countries like Japan and the Republic of Korea.From October 2004 to November 2005, with the common propagation of the Buddhist communities of Hong Kong, Macao and across the Taiwan Strait, the proposal of hosting the World Buddhist Forum in Mainland China won universal support and an active response from Buddhist communities in over 40 countries. The Chinese government gave assurances it would support the Buddhist community to host the grand historic event.
Overseers of the First World Buddhist Forum
- Venerable Master Yi Cheng, President, Buddhist Association of ChinaBuddhist Association of ChinaThe Buddhist Association of China is a major organization of Chinese Buddhism, which serves as the official supervisory organ of Buddhism in the People's Republic of China...
. - Losang Jigmê Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, 6th Jamyang Zhepa and abbot, Labrang MonasteryLabrang MonasteryLabrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism...
; Vice President, Buddhist Association of ChinaBuddhist Association of ChinaThe Buddhist Association of China is a major organization of Chinese Buddhism, which serves as the official supervisory organ of Buddhism in the People's Republic of China...
. - Venerable Master Ben Huan, Director, Buddhist Association of ChinaBuddhist Association of ChinaThe Buddhist Association of China is a major organization of Chinese Buddhism, which serves as the official supervisory organ of Buddhism in the People's Republic of China...
. - Venerable Master Hsing YunHsing YunHsing Yun is a well-known Buddhist monk, as well as an important figure in modern reformation of Mahayana Buddhism in Taiwan and China. Hsing Yun is the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order and the affiliated Buddha's Light International Association, one of the largest international...
, Founder, Fo Guang ShanFo Guang ShanFo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order based in the Republic of China , and one of the largest Buddhist organizations. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of...
Monastery, Taiwan. - Huba Longzhuangmeng, Abbot of Xishuangbanna Monastery.
- Venerable Master Wei ChuehWei ChuehWei Chueh is a Chinese Buddhist monk situated in Taiwan. He is the founder of the Chung Tai Shan Monastery and Buddhist order. Wei Chueh is often credited for reviving the traditional teachings of Ch'an Buddhism....
, Founder, Chung Tai ShanChung Tai ShanChung Tai Chan is a Taiwan-based Buddhist monastic order founded by the Venerable Master Wei Chueh in 1987. The headquarters monastery itself, Chung Tai Chan Monastery , completed in September 2001 in Puli, Nantou County, is the tallest and one of largest temple and monastery in Taiwan and the...
Monastery, Taiwan. - Venerable Master Sheng Hui, Vice President and Dean of the Chinese Buddhist Academy.
- Venerable Master Kok KwongSik Kok KwongSik Kok Kwong GBS is a Buddhist monk from Hong Kong and the current president of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association...
, President of the Hong Kong Buddhist AssociationHong Kong Buddhist AssociationHong Kong Buddhist Association is a Buddhist organisation in Hong Kong founded in 1945. It promotes Buddhism in Hong Kong and provides a series of charity services in Hong Kong, including education, medical, child care, youth activities, elderly care and burial....
.