The Taiwan-headquartered international Buddhist organization and monastic order Fo Guang Shan has announced an online soft-launch event for the digital English-language edition of its Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism on 30 July.
“We are excited to announce the soft launch of the English Digital Edition (BETA) of the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism,” Fo Guang Shan said in an announcement seen by BDG. “While the full project is slated for official publication in 2026, we are releasing a selection of 5,000 terms—representing 15 per cent of the complete dictionary—for trial use.
The event will include a series of panels featuring renowned Buddhist scholars, including: Lewis R. Lancaster from the University of California, Berkeley; Robert Buswell, Jr. from the University of California at Los Angeles; Charles Muller from the University of Tokyo; and Jiang Wu from the University of Arizona.
“We cordially invite Buddhist scholars, translators, and practitioners to participate in this soft launch and the BETA trial,” Fo Guang Shan added.“ Your expertise and insights will be invaluable as we refine and enhance this resource before its official debut.”
The launch event will be held in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, on 30 July, and live-streamed via Zoom at the followings times:
Auckland: 1pm, Tuesday, 30 July
Canberra: 11am, Tuesday, 30 July
Seoul, Tokyo: 10am, Tuesday, 30 July
Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei: 9am, Tuesday, 30 July
Bangkok, Jakarta: 8am, Tuesday, 30 July
New Delhi: 6:30am, Tuesday, 30 July
Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm: 3am, Tuesday, 30 July
London: 2am, Tuesday, 30 July
Montreal, New York: 9pm, Monday, 29 July
Los Angeles, Vancouver: 6pm, Monday, 29 July
Click here to register for the live-stream
For more information, contact: Ven. Zhi Yue, [email protected]
“This beta release serves two important purposes,” Fo Guang Shan noted. “User feedback: we invite Buddhist scholars, translators, and practitioners to explore this preview and provide valuable feedback, helping us refine and enhance the dictionary before its official debut; [and a] collaboration opportunity: we’re actively seeking collaborators and contributors to join this monumental project. If you’re passionate about Buddhist studies and translation, this is your chance to be part of a groundbreaking resource.”
Fo Guang Shan was founded in Taiwan in 1967 as a Buddhist monastic order by the renowned monk and teacher Master Hsing Yun (1927–2023). The organization now has an international network of Buddhist temples and communities. By promoting the philosophy of Humanistic Buddhism, which focuses on integrating engaged Buddhist practices into everyday life, Fo Guang Shan has been recognized for its efforts to modernize Chinese Mahayana Buddhism and for operating one of the largest charity organizations in Taiwan, which carries out charitable and humanitarian work across the world. Master Hsing Yun has previously stated that he views Fo Guang Shan as an “amalgam of all Eight Schools of Chinese Buddhism.”
Ven. Hsing Yun is popularly known in Taiwan as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Buddhism, the others being: Master Cheng Yen of Tzu Chi; Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain; and Master Wei Chueh, founder of Chung Tai Shan. These four global Buddhist orders, correspondingly known as the “Four Great Mountains,” have grown to become among the most influential Chinese Buddhist organizations in the world.
See more
Fo Guang Shan Monastery
hsingyun.org
Fo Guang Shan (Facebook)
Related news reports from BDG
Tens of Thousands Gather in Taiwan for the Funeral of Fo Guang Shan Founder Ven. Hsing Yun
Fo Guang Shan Founder and Leading Light of Humanistic Buddhism Ven. Hsing Yun Dies Aged 97
American Buddhist Cultural Society Announces Groundbreaking for New Six-Story Temple in San Francisco
Taiwan’s Fo Guang Shan Shares Light of Engaged Buddhism During the Pandemic
Taiwan’s Fo Guang Shan Plans Interfaith Symposium with Vatican Officials
Taiwanese Buddhist Organization Fo Guang Shan Organizes “2018 New Year Festival of Light and Peace
Related features from BDG
Fo Guang Shan’s Never-ending Work in Chile
Documenting an Urban Temple: Fo Guang Shan London
