Call for Proposals

This Group is a forum for presenting research on lived, local religion in Asia (and not a forum for Eliadean, a-historical, and perennialist studies of space). We feature ethnographically-informed studies of sites and historically-informed studies of texts (canonical and noncanonical) that shed light on the role of space and location in Asian religious traditions or examine religious activity (performance, ritual, and practice) in local Asian contexts. In addition to papers that fit the general purview of our Group, we invite proposals on the following topics:

• Monasteries and monastic practice in Asian religious traditions (e.g., nuns in Japan or Taiwan, monastics in China, Southeast Asia, or the Himalayas, and temples/monasteries as sites of religious life, devotion, ritual action, or pilgrimage)


• Macrodimensional studies of the religious life of cities or central religious features of cities in Asia — including, but not limited to Varanasi, Kyoto, Chang’an, Bangkok, Kyongju

We also welcome full papers session or roundtable proposals that may be cosponsored with another Program Unit. Please contact the Chair of this Group if you have full panel ideas you would like to discuss.

Mission

This Group addresses the manner in which sacred sites in Asia have localized religious, artistic, national, political, commercial, environmental, legal, and ethnic factors throughout history. Our scope is pan-Asian in the broadest sense, ranging from Bamiyan to Borobudur, from Angkor Wat to the Ganges ghats. We engage a wide variety of methodological approaches to investigating the past and present role of specific sites in Asia and seek to explore both transregional and transhistorical themes that relate to sacred space in Asia in general.

Anonymity of Review Process

Proposer names are anonymous to Chairs and Steering Committee members during review, but visible to Chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection.

Questions?

Brian J. Nichols
Central Michigan University
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Method of Submission