Speaker
Konchok Tsering | Assistant Professor, School for Tibetan Studies, Minzu University of China; HYI Visiting Scholar, 2024-25
Chair/Discussant
Janet Gyatso | Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies, Harvard University
Co-sponsored with the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies and the Committee on Inner Asian and Altaic Studies, Harvard University
This talk delves into the transformation of gShen-rab Mi-bo’s life stories within the Tibetan Bon religion, examining three significant texts: mDo ‘dus, mdo gzer mig, and mdo dri med gzi brjid. Each biography, emerging from distinct historical contexts, showcases the evolving nature of Bon religious thought and its interaction with cultural influences. The mDo ‘dus, a concise tenth-century work, is recognized as an early foundational narrative. mdo gzer mig, believed to originate in the eleventh century, is essential for understanding the integration of Buddhist elements within Bon literature. The expansive mdo dri med gzi brjid, from the fourteenth century, enriches the narrative tapestry with folkloric and cultural details, demonstrating how oral traditions have shaped its development. This exploration highlights the adaptive storytelling of the Bon tradition, reflecting shifts in historical and cultural landscapes.
Upcoming Events
Visiting Scholar Talks
The U.S. Cultural Relations Program towards China and the Emergence of Transpacific Intellectual Networks (1942-1947)Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Visiting Scholar Talks
Appropriation or Dialogue—and Why It Matters: The Poetics and Politics of Cross-Cultural AdaptationWednesday, October 15, 2025
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Food, Memories, and Agri-Science in Action: Reconsidering Food Regimes in AsiaFriday, October 17, 2025