2026 DILA Classical Buddhist Chinese Summer Program

The Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA) is pleased to announce its 2026 Intensive Summer Program in Classical Buddhist Chinese. This three-week program is designed for scholars, researchers and graduate students who wish to deepen their proficiency in reading and translating classical Buddhist texts under the guidance of leading scholars.

Readings cover selections of Bodhisattva and Mahāyāna literature in classical Chinese translation, as well as texts related to the Vinaya and monasticism in East Asia.

The program combines close reading with philological methodology, providing graduate students with practical skills for dissertation research in Buddhist Studies, East Asian religions, and premodern Chinese intellectual history.

Dates: July 26th (Sunday) to August 15th (Saturday), 2026 (21 days)

Location: Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts (DILA), Jinshan, New Taipei City, Taiwan R.O.C.
（https://maps.app.goo.gl/kTcufkFKCsDYoXy86

Capacity: Limited to 20 participants (on-campus housing provided)

Pre-Arrival Giude:https://sites.google.com/dila.edu.tw/dila-pag-vstndstdn2026/%E9%A6%96%E9%A0%81

Instructor 1 — Dr. Matthew ORSBORN

Associate Professor, Department of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Taiwan

PhD, University of Hong Kong (2011)

July 27 (Mon) – August 5 (Wed)

Matthew Orsborn is an Associate Professor at the Department of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Taiwan. Since completing his doctorate in Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong in 2011, he has taught in Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. His research focuses on Indian Buddhist literature and doctrines, including early, Abhidharma, and Mahāyāna periods, utilizing Pāli, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources. As a former monastic, he has also published on various aspects of contemporary Chinese Buddhism.

For the first half of the program, Matthew will be leading us through selections of Bodhisattva and Mahāyāna literature in classical Chinese translation.

Instructor 2 — Dr. Thomas NEWHALL

Lecturer, Department of Indian Philosophy and Buddhist Studies, University of Tokyo

PhD, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA (2025)
MA, University of Tokyo (2016)
MA, Foguang University, Taiwan (2012)
BA, Oberlin College, Ohio (2007)

August 5 (Wed) – August 14 (Fri)

Thomas Newhall is a Lecturer in the Department of Indian Philosophy and Buddhist Studies at the University of Tokyo. He completed his PhD in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at UCLA in 2025, and received master’s degrees from the University of Tokyo (2016) and Foguang University (2012) in Taiwan, and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College (2007) in Ohio prior to that. His research focuses on the development of monasticism and monastic literature in China and Japan.

During the second half of the program, Tom will guide us through a selection of texts related to the Vinaya and monasticism in East Asia.

Eligibility: Currently enrolled graduate students with a solid foundation in classical Chinese and Buddhist studies.

Housing: DILA offers housing subsidies at Chanyue (禪悅) for all accepted participants.

Expenses: Participants are responsible for their own airfare, insurance, and meal expenses.

Application Deadline: April 30th, 2026

Application Link: https://forms.gle/caEb1b7VKtc7EXPS7

Email: oia@dila.edu.tw

For inquiries, please contact the Office of International Affairs (OIA).