No. 7

The Institute of Oriental Philosophy

NEWSLETTERTable of Contents

Introduction / Director’s Greeting ------------------------ 2-3
On the 60th Anniversary of the Conception of the IOP --- 4-9
Online Public Lecture Series ---------------------------- 10-11
News ---------------------------------------------------------- 12‘The Lotus Sutra — A Message of Peace and Harmonious
Coexistence’ Exhibition------------------------------------ 13
IOP Lotus Sutra Manuscript Series / Totetsu Series ------ 14
Publications ---------------------------------------------- 15-16

NEWSLETTER No.7 covers the news of research projects which the Institute ofOriental Philosophy carried out from January 2020 to March 2021. (Affiliation andtitle etc. at that time)Introduction

The Institute of Oriental Philosophy

Founder: Daisaku Ikeda (President of Soka Gakkai International)
Director: Akira Kirigaya
History
On January 27, 1962, the Institute of Oriental Studies was founded in Shinjuku ward,
Tokyo, for the sake of clarifying the relevance of Buddhism and other world religions in
the modern world. The institute was recognized as a nonprofit foundation underJapanese law in December 1965, at which time the name was changed to the Institute ofOriental Philosophy (IOP). On November 18, 2010, the IOP was recognized as a Public
Interest Incorporated Foundation under Japanese law.
Objective
The IOP is dedicated to advancing scholarly inquiry into Buddhism and other world
religions to clarify their universal value, to integrate them into humanity's rich spiritual
heritage in the modern age and to solve myriad problems facing humanity today.
Contact Detail
Address: 1-236 Tangi-machi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, 192-0003, JAPANTEL: +81-42-691-6591 / FAX: +81-42-691-6588
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Weekdays)

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IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

Director’s Greeting
Mr. Akira Kirigaya(Director of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy)
On February 4, 1961, Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku
Ikeda, the founder of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP), wasstanding in Bodh Gaya, India, the birthplace of Buddhism.
Here, President Ikeda sketched his plan to establish the IOP as an academic institution where a
new culture that can guide humanity would be built based on the profound oriental spiritual
civilization revolving around Buddhism. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the birth of theconcept to establish the IOP. On this significant occasion, we received the guiding principles of
the IOP from President Ikeda. In gratefully receiving these, I would like to think about the IOP's
mission and the shape that it should take in the future.
1. Establish the dignity of life as the prevailing philosophy of the age
In recent years, human rights issues have been raised from various perspectives and have gained
attention amid various situations, from nuclear issues and environmental issues including climatechange to national and ethnic conflicts, diversity issues, bullying and cyberbullying. Nowadays,
the effects of COVID-19 have also been significant, and the clue to solving these problems
depends on how we address the 'dignity of life'. At the dawn of the 21st century, President Ikeda
looked ahead to the future and presented a plan for every 50 years from 2001. In this vision,
President Ikeda expected to "make a philosophy involving the 'dignity of life' the spirit of the era
and to establish this as a worldwide spirit" between 2051 and 2100. He then envisioned ourplanet beyond that period with permanent peace and flourishing human culture. The IOP would
like to do its part in creating such an era.
2. Contribute a rich reservoir of wisdom to support a network of global citizens
Looking around the world, the problems mentioned above have also created division, conflict anddistrust in various aspects. To overcome these problems, it is essential for people around theworld to work together, live in harmony and trust each other. President Ikeda entrusted the IOP
to contribute to this goal by a rich reservoir of wisdom. "A rich reservoir of wisdom" can beinterpreted in two ways. The first is to gather wisdom at the IOP. President Ikeda emphasizes"close cooperation among the research fellows", saying that "perfection can be achieved only
through discussions with others based on the studies of individuals, with individuals' work
supplementing that of each other", rather than each of them sticking to their own opinions
without taking a broader perspective. The second is to gather the wisdom of the world throughdialogues across different civilizations and religions among the best academics and research
institutions in Japan and overseas. Through these activities, we would like to contribute to a
network of the citizens of the world.
3. Build a global civilization for peace as an institute with a global mission
One of the founding spirits of the IOP is to "serve for peace". In recent years, the IOP has held theexhibition, 'The Lotus Sutra－A Message of Peace and Harmonious Coexistence', both in Japanand abroad. To date, about 900,000 people have visited the exhibition in 17 countries andterritories. This exhibition conveys the concept of the dignity of life and the equality of all people,
the philosophy inherent in the Lotus Sutra and the vision of peace and harmonious coexistence
based on such a philosophy. The exhibition has been obtaining understanding and empathy froman increasingly wider circle of people in various religious and cultural areas. Going forward, wewould like to expand this circle in a network with various institutions and people around theworld, to aim to create a peaceful global civilization and to make utmost efforts to realize a happysociety where no one is left behind.

IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

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Soka Gakkai International President Daisaku Ikeda envisaged the establishment of theInstitute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP) as an academic institute of research intooriental wisdom when he visited Bodh Gaya in India on February 4, 1961. IOP holds a
meeting every year to commemorate the day as ‘IOP Day’. Here are articles ofJapanese and overseas intellectuals who have contributed on the 60th anniversary of
the conception of the IOP.

The Institute of Oriental Philosophy as a
Testament to the Founder's Ideological
Struggle
Dr. Bambang Wibawarta(Professor of University of Indonesia)
This year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the birth of Soka Gakkai
International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda's concept to establish the Institute of Oriental
Philosophy (IOP) in 1961. First of all, I would like to express congratulations regarding this 60th
anniversary of the birth of the concept to establish the institute. I also would like to say that I
think highly of the history of the institute and the efforts it has made so far.
As you know, President Ikeda held a futuristic thought that transcends the times. Of course, when
he prepared for the establishment of the IOP, he gave it various considerations after a longthinking process. When I think about the
IOP's existence, which is an outcome of
President Ikeda's ideological struggle, thefruits of its existence have provided
remarkable benefit to young people,
whom President Ikeda had big
expectations for, and all other concerned
parties, including myself. The message
regularly included in the various talks of
President Ikeda heralded a universal law
regarding the possibility and uniquenessof all life with dignity. By bringing up thislaw, President Ikeda not only constantly‘The Lotus Sutra－A Message of Peace and Harmoniousdelivers a message of peace but also
Coexistence’ exhibition at the library of the University ofleads humanity in the direction ofIndonesia (September, 2019). The viewers counted 8700.
balance and harmonious coexistence.
President Ikeda is trying to position all human beings as noble and irreplaceable, and the IOP's
existence not only makes the soul and core of his thought for world peace sustainable but alsoenables the IOP to disseminate them to all parts of the planet.
When a friend of mine that belongs to Soka Gakkai Indonesia contacted the University ofIndonesia to co-host the exhibition, 'The Lotus Sutra－A Message of Peace and Harmonious
Coexistence', we sincerely welcomed the opportunity to hold such a unique and significant
event. This exhibition had been held in various countries, including Hong Kong, India, Spain andSouth Korea. Indonesia was going to be the 17th country/territory in the world to host it. The
exhibition introduced the Lotus Sutra, one of the heritages of human wisdom, and was held at
the University of Indonesia from September 10 to September 24, 2019.

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Many people attended the opening
ceremony of this Lotus Sutra exhibition,
including Muhammad Anis (the rectorof the University of Indonesia) and Sinta
Nuriyah Wahid (the first lady of the
fourth President of Indonesia,
Abdurrahman Wahid). The visitors filled
our university's vast library, which was
the host venue for the event. The
exhibition presented research results on
the dissemination of the philosophy
inherent in the Lotus Sutra to various
par t s of th e wor ld , a lon g ma ny
Many students also visited the Lotus Sutra exhibition at themanuscripts (reproductions) of valuable University of Indonesia. Mr. Jaya Suprana (Indonesian World
Buddhist scriptures and paintings going Records Museum), Dr. Nurhadi Magetsari (University ofback 2000 years. The venue was Indonesia) and Mr. Eiichi Tsutaki (IOP) made presentations
crowded with many visitors every day, during the symposium.
and not only students from the
University of Indonesia but also children and students from other universities, elementary
schools, junior high schools, and high schools, and the general public visited the exhibition.
I received first-hand feedback from visitors such that they were very enthusiastic and curious
about the content of the extremely academic and precisely organized exhibition on the Lotus
Sutra. The clear purpose of the exhibition and the structure of the content in line with President
Ikeda's intentions have resulted in a strong impression on and inspiration for young people fromvarious backgrounds, as it is our younger generation that will shoulder the future era and create
peace and balance. The reasons for the success of this exhibition are not only attributable to its
important and exciting content. Above all, it is thanks to the IOP's contribution, as it planned andsupervised the exhibition so that the content could be very easy to understand and could beviewed academically.
There have been rapid changes in our current world, and many problems that can become asource of conflict between nations and groups are casting a shadow over us. Under suchcircumstances, I believe that the existence and role of the IOP, which disseminated the message
of peace and harmonious coexistence through the Lotus Sutra exhibition, is significant. The
message that the Lotus Sutra exhibition conveys is inherent in every individual, no matter where
the person is on Earth, and it is a sense of value that inspires everyone.
The results of the research activities promoted by the IOP have demonstrated a synergistic effectsuch that many people can move in a positive direction. And I can feel that the IOP has beencreating a better, more-fulfilling and happier life and social order.

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High Hopes and Aspirations for the Forum toRediscover the Power of Thoughts

Prof. Emer. Hiroshi Ichikawa(Professor Emeritus of The University of Tokyo)
On the occasion of celebrating the 60th year of drawing up the vision for theInstitute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP), I would like to revisit the significance of theinstitute by reflecting on how the idea of founding it was conceived. In his written contribution (to the firstissue of IOP's periodical, Toyo Gakujutsu Kenkyu [The Journal of Oriental Studies]) titled 'Message ofCongratulations', Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda, the institution's founder,
articulated his expectations for it in the following words:
Firstly, I have a great faith that, as all fellows at this institute uphold the loftiest philosophical ideals thatthey work to put into practice, they will conduct the thorough research and study of various thoughtsystems and cultures in the Orient, explore untrodden fields of study and bring about new academic
outcomes from their perspectives... I also expect that the activities of this institute will always be directly
connected to the interests of the common people. That is the second feature of the IOP that makes it
unique and distinct from others... Thirdly, I am certain to find close cooperation among the research
fellows based on their spirit of shared purpose. Needless to say, it is teamwork and mutual dedication thatbring about great accomplishments.
President Ikeda stresses that the IOP fellows that share the leading philosophical principles are sure to stayconnected to people and strive for new heights through mutual encouragement and cooperation. While
identifying such distinctive features and values of the institute, he expresses his high hopes that the institutewill disseminate their values to the world and that its fellows will enhance the power of thought.
It is our thoughts that drive us to action. The power of our thoughts becomes palpable when we look into
the depths of our being. If we were to lose sight of this, both our existence and society would becomerootless. The power of a thought will gain strength through the process of the construction of powerfularguments as well as a consistent return to the original point. That has nothing to do with being oratory. I
find the original point of President Ikeda's thoughts and philosophy in his constant engagement in dialogue
with people and the respect he holds for others. He clearly expects every member of the IOP to share that
ethos. Because everyone has different circumstances and problems, we need to adjust our narratives
according to the situation when we share our thoughts with them. In order for those that do the sharing tocome up with an optimal narrative, they need to solidify the foundation of their thoughts. Such efforts areneeded to meet the expectations set out in the words of "always be directly connected to the interests of thecommon people". That leads me to believe that creating an arena to cultivate and strengthen the thinking
power of the research fellows is the fundamental purpose of founding the IOP for President Ikeda.
One of the primary activities of the IOP, which distinguishes itself from other institutions, is its
comprehensive study of the Lotus Sutra scriptures. It is quite noteworthy that the IOP has been conducting
academic exchanges with other institutions from around the world that preserve Lotus Sutra manuscripts. I
was especially impressed by the IOP-hosted exhibition held in Tokyo in 1998, featuring the Petrovsky
Sanskrit Manuscripts of the Lotus Sutra housed by the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian
Academy of Sciences. Considering that this precious manuscript had been kept deep inside the depository
under strict security and had never been lent out, the manuscript brought all the way to Japan and exhibitedin public was indeed a miraculous feat, especially for experts in the fields of Buddhist manuscript studies.
This exhibition had become possible thanks to the friendship that President Ikeda had developed with
Russian important persons dating back to the time of the USSR. The IOP, holding academic exchanges with
the Russian Academy of Sciences, testifies that the friendship has been maintained ever since and will be
developed to yield further important achievements.

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With respect to the development of thinking power, I have high hopes that the IOP will provide further
testament to the uniqueness of Buddhist philosophy through its comparative studies of the philosophy ofother thought systems including different religions. To date, President Ikeda has engaged in dialogue withnumerous academics around the world, many of whom have different religious and cultural backgrounds. It
is easily imaginable that, as he discussed the various themes in these dialogues based on a deep
understanding of the counterparts' philosophical background, he has consciously revealed thecharacteristics of Buddhist philosophy through his own words in contrast to the remarks of his counterparts.
It is my earnest wish that comprehensive studies on the remarks of President Ikeda in his discussions withacademics will be carried out so as to closely examine the prominent characteristics of his thinking fromevery dimension and to present the findings systemically. I do hope that these studies be conducted not in a
way to simply go through his work and list the findings but rather with the attitude to explore his ideas andprinciples in order to find solutions to the problems that we are facing. This kind of approach will be
instrumental in reviving the visions and ideas contained in decades-old dialogues of President Ikeda intoday's world and make them relevant for present and future readers. I am confident that academics at the
IOP that can pool their wisdom toward carrying out an extensive project like this are the fittest candidates
for this undertaking.
With that in mind, what is required for IOP researchers today is to strengthen their understanding of
Buddhist philosophy based on an awareness of the global challenges facing us. Our history, from East andWest, ancient to modern, has many examples to show that the power of thought was developed at a time ofcrisis. Let's take a look at the development of Christian philosophy. Augustine's City of God is an epitome of
how important theological works were born out of controversies in church history. He authored it notbecause collected systematic theological studies were in demand back then. This book was composed in
response to the harsh accusations that Christianity had been responsible for the fall of the mighty Roman
Empire, which had happened so quickly when pagans came for invasion. In his work, Augustine the Hippo
tries to make his case that Christianity, which aims for a City of God and the salvation of souls, is not
responsible for earthly events. It was this sense of urgency that drove him to write this thesis such that if he
had not made a counterargument, Christianity would be doomed. The imminent, inevitable threat ofexistence gives rise to the urge to verbalize a thought.
I would like the IOP fellows to conduct thorough research into the recorded remarks and statements ofPresident Ikeda so as to compile a chronological study of his ideas and opinions on particular themes or
issues to see if there is consistency in his views. If any changes are found, there begins the study ofidentifying possible factors that caused alterations in his thinking and detailed research into the context of
his remarks in question. The accumulation of research and repeated discussions based on this analysis willbe the key to revealing the depths of his thoughts. I think that a dialectic approach, like the one employed
for the Talmud in Judaism, will provide study with an optimal platform in which, when discussing a certain
theme, researchers present the foundation of the argument by quoting the predecessors' teachings insteadof offering one's own opinions. Then, they can examine the logical integrity and consistency of the citedteachings through a peer review process and finally present their opinions or views regarding the topic.
Such discussions will be of great help for them to exchange views and deepen their understanding of thetheme. It is commonly believed that Catholic monasteries are closed-off to different ideas, however, thetruth is just the opposite. Monks and nuns in monasteries are said to have exchanged their thoughts freely
than in any other religious order. It was their vibrant discussion and exchange of different ideas that leadthem to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their faith, which facilitated their understanding of theChristian philosophy. The IOP offers a perfect training ground for developing the power of thinking

through dialectic argument.
I have high hopes that the IOP will continue to play pivotal roles in exploring the thoughts and philosophyof President Ikeda and making new developments based on them. I am looking forward to seeing thefurther dissemination of new philosophical research from the IOP that would contribute to the advancementof the vision of its founder.

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The Philosophy Supporting Soka Gakkai to
Become a World Religion

Mr. Masaru Sato
(Visiting Professor of Doshisha University, Writer, Former
Chief Analyst of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)
Soka Gakkai is now developing into a world religion under the guidance of Soka Gakkai
International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda. A critical element for a religion to develop into aworld faith is a philosophy supporting it. In my opinion, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP)
plays a major role in forming the philosophy that promotes the worldwide kosen-rufu of Soka
Gakkai.
In Christian theology, systematic theology is used to convey philosophical principles based on
the tradition and faith of Christianity. On the other side, there are philosophies based on
Christianity. For such philosophies, it is important to note that a universal language not restricted
by Christianity is used. It seems to me that the relation between Soka Gakkai's teaching andprinciples and the IOP's philosophical activities has a structure similar to the relation between
Christian theology and philosophies. Philosophies are indispensable intellectual work for a world
religion.
An editorial by Seikyo Shimbun (February 4, 2020) described the history of the establishment of
the IOP as follows:
Sixty years ago, in October 1960, President Ikeda visited the Americas, marking his first step
toward the worldwide kosen-rufu. In late January of the following year of 1961, he set off on atrip to Asia.
Along the way, President Ikeda pondered: "Within Asia, some are countries of Theravada
Buddhism, and others are Islamic countries. Besides religions, cultures and social structures arediverse. Unless we accurately recognize this reality, we will not be able to engage in fruitful
dialogues for peace."
On February 4 of the same year, President Ikeda was in Bodh Gaya, India, the birthplace of
Buddhism, and made up his mind:"It is absolutely necessary to have an institution that studies the thoughts, philosophies andcultures of the Orient and the rest of the world from a multifaceted perspective… I want torealize 'dialogues across civilizations and religions' that everyone can understand."
These ideas led to the establishment of the IOP and are the origin of 'February 4 IOP Day'.
On January 27, 1962, one year after its birth, the Institute of Oriental Studies (ToyoGakujutsu Kenkyujo) (now the IOP) was established. At the inauguration ceremony, President
Ikeda expressed his expectation that the IOP would become an academic center of wisdom
amid the creation of a new culture.
Since then, the IOP has been conducting research on Buddhist philosophies centered on the
Lotus Sutra and on other religions and ideologies around the world, and has been promotingintercultural interaction and dialogue. The IOP has also introduced the philosophical principlesof the Lotus Sutra to the world through the movement including exhibitions open to the
public.

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IOP NEWSLETTER NO.6

If the aforementioned words of President
Ikeda as per "It is absolutely necessary tohave an institution that studies the thoughts,
philosophies and cultures of the Orient andthe rest of the world from a multifaceted
perspective… I want to realize 'dialogues
across civilizations and religions' thateveryone can understand" were to be
described in the words of the Christiantheology, 'ecumenism' would be the perfecttranslation. 'Ecumenical' means the whole
inhabited world. In this world, some people
The IOP invited Mr. Sato to its public lecture series
believe in religion such as Christianity, ‘Human Rights and Human Future’ for his lecture
Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or ‘Divine Right and Human Rights in Christianity’ on
Shinto, while others do not believe in any October 11, 2019 (Tokyo).
re lig ion . A n important cha lle nge o f
ecumenism is to talk with these people from the viewpoint of ‘What is human?’ and to deepen
mutual understanding.
The IOP is addressing this challenge splendidly. Importantly, Soka Gakkai considers the projectsof the IOP to be the embodiment of humanism based on the spirit of the Lotus Sutra.
The following exchange between President of Soka Gakkai Minoru Harada and Student Division
Leader Koichi Kabasawa is interesting (Seikyo Shimbun, July 30, 2020).
Kabasawa: Humanism is the spirit of the Lotus Sutra. As many as about 900,000 people from 17
countries and territories around the world have visited the Lotus Sutra exhibition, which the
IOP first started in 2006. This has included people from countries of Islamic regions such as
Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Thailand, where most people are adherents of Theravada
Buddhism, along with Europe and South America, and the exhibition has obtained empathy
from an increasingly wider circle of people.
Harada: President Ikeda established Toyo Gakujutsu Kenkyujo (the predecessor of the IOP) in
January 1962 as an institution that studies the thoughts, philosophies and cultures of the
Orient and the rest of the world from a multifaceted perspective, based on his belief that it isimportant to properly understand the religions, cultures and ethnic groups of each country.
The IOP was also the forerunner of subsequent various cultural and educational institutions
founded by President Ikeda. President Ikeda's efforts have produced fruits one by one andhave realized Soka Gakkai's solidarity with today's world.
Based on the guidance of President Ikeda that it is important to properly understand thereligions, cultures, and ethnic groups of each country, the IOP has sincerely conducted advanced
research on all the universal life beyond human beings for people not only of the Orient but also
all over the world. I respect the history and presence of this institute and look forward to its
further development in the future.

IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

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Online Public Lecture Series:‘Faith and Reason
in the Midst of Corona Pandemic’
The Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP) organized 'Faith and Reason', a public lecture series toshow how humankind can respond to the pandemic challenge based on points which Soka
Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda discussed in his lecture 'Scholasticism andModern Civilization' in 1973. The lecture series discussed how we can establish new guidelines
for humankind based on a philosophy that can combine reason (medical treatment andpolicymaking, etc.) and faith (religious perspective of life and death) without any contradictions.

Lecturer: Dr. Keiji Takeuchi(Professor Emeritus of Reitaku University)
Date:
October 10, 2020
Mode: Online Lecture (YouTube)
Title:‘Thoughts of Indian Poet Rabindranath Tagore on
Faith and Reason’
According to Dr. Takeuchi, faith can be understood as religion and reason as being related torationality, logic and science. From the Buddhist perspective, Dr. Takeuchi added, “Tagore envisioned
Visva-Bharati University as a base for the study of Buddhism to bring the teachings to people’s lives.
The Buddha’s message of compassion towards every living being is connected to the thought oflove, which Tagore embraced. He called people of the world to gather and live the ideal life of the
Buddha.” In conclusion, Dr. Takeuchi commented, “Holding up the great ideal, Tagore’s thought
focused on the evolution of human beings through literature, music, art and education, turned
careful attention to social reality, and warned against the crisis of modern civilization. I believe it ispossible for us in the current time of the Corona pandemic to learn a lot from the heritage that
Tagore left.”

Lecturer: Dr. Hiroo Sato
(Professor of Tohoku University,
Research Fellow Commissioned to IOP)
Date:
October 17, 2020
Mode: Online Lecture (YouTube)
Title:‘Pure Land Where the Buddha Disappeared: Geologyof Multicultural Coexistence in the Japan Islands’
Referring to the Corona pandemic, Prof. Sato explained that, in Japan, pandemics had earlier been
attributed to transcendental causes like ‘yakubyo gami’ (the god of plagues). In pre-modern times ofwidespread death and uncertainty of life, people were seeking philosophies that viewed life anddeath as being inseparable. They believed that the death was not the termination of everything, but
a departure towards a next birth.
Prof. Sato said that the life of a human being does not end in this world and beliefs that connect life
to death are always necessary as the long history of humanity shows. He concluded, “Buddhism has
provided the greatest philosophy on life and death. We should pay more careful attention to
Buddhist thought once again going forward. It is necessary for us to understand that religion isalways required for negotiating life instead of believing that it is just a relic of past thinking.”

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In response to the Corona pandemic, the first online public lecture series streamed live on
YouTube and the viewers could count more than 1400 from all over the world. The series wereviewed in countries of Asia (Thailand, Philippines and India), Europe (United Kingdom andFrance) and United States as well. The lecture was followed by a live Q&A session with theviewers.
が長年に渡って進めてきた研究活動は、池田先 生が掲げられてきた学問と理性を統合した「新しい哲学」を発信す
ることにある。本講演を世紀から 22 世紀へと生きる人類のための新しい哲学、真の宗教とは何Lecturer: Prof. Emer.契機として、21
Hiroshi Ichikawa(Professor Emeritus of The University of Tokyo)
かを 探る試みの場としていきたい。
Date:
November 28, 2020
Mode: Online Lecture (YouTube)
Title:‘Faith and Reason in the 21st Century:
Jews and Their Religious Mission’In his lecture, Prof. (Emer.) Ichikawa said, "In the first half of the 20th century, European Jews were
faced with the threat of ethnic extinction due to the Holocaust unleashed by the Nazi regime and theanti-Semitism of the Soviet Union. It was a time when, in Europe, the balance between 'faith andreason' overturned into a divide between 'enlightenment and barbarism'." Prof. Ichikawa introduced
Isaiah Berlin, Emmanuel Lévinas and Yeshayahu Leibowitz as three Lithuanian doctors who
confronted the Holocaust. Touching on the fact that Lévinas despaired at philosopher Martin
Heidegger who had Nazi affiliations, Prof. Ichikawa commented that we can see a division between
faith and reason even in the personality of the philosopher. On the other hand, Lévinas encountered
Monsieur Chouchani, a wise Rabbi, and could further his faith and study of the Talmud owing toChouchani's mastery. Prof. Ichikawa said, “Just as the Talmud comes across as being deeply
concerned with confronting totalitarianism, religion is all about spiritual struggle.”

Lecturer: Dr. Yushi Okajima(Professor of Chuo University)
Date:
December 12, 2020
Mode: Online Lecture (YouTube)
Title:
Postmodern and Faith－
AI and Externalization of Decision Making’According to Dr. Okajima, a sub-cultural trend has occurred in the transition from the ‘Great Story’(that gave a universal sense of values) to the ‘postmodernism’ (that cherishes the individual way oflife). In addition, he stressed that the advance of scientific technology has had a great impact onengendering such a postmodern view that everyone can be different and free to do whatever theylike. As we look back at the history of modern times, we find that people have placed their trust
more in scientific technology than religion and philosophy. They needed rational explanations fornatural phenomena that only science could provide. However, I think it arrogant to assume thateverything can be fully explained by science.” In conclusion, Dr. Okajima shared his hope, “Humanbeings have externalized their own functions to devices and tools, leaving only decision making as
an exclusive human domain. The process of making decisions on how we live our life should bebased on religious faith and philosophy. I am determined to research further on how they can play
an important role in the field of technology.”

IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

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Academic Exchange Agreement with RAS Institute of Philosophy
An online MOU-signing ceremony was held on
February 5, 2021 for academic exchange
between the Institute of Philosophy, Russian
Academy of Sciences (RAS) and the Institute ofOriental Philosophy (IOP). Dr. Andrey Smirnov,
director of the Institute of Philosophy, and Mr.
Akira Kirigaya, director of the IOP, attended the
ceremony with the other members concerned.

The Institute of Philosophy was founded in 1921 by the Russian Academy of Sciences to study all thethematic areas and problems of philosophy. The members of the institute produce many books andarticles every year. The RAS Institute of Philosophy and the IOP have had a long interaction, in 2008
holding the joint symposium 'Buddhist Philosophy in Multicultural Context', as well as publishing an
Encyclopedia of Buddhist Philosophy (of which the IOP was in charge of 16 sections). In 2018, moreover,
IOP delegates made a courtesy visit to the Institute of Philosophy. The current agreement is informed by
the vision that both institutes will cooperate regarding academic activities and advance further
interaction by exchanging journals and contributing articles to each other's journals. The Institute ofPhilosophy is the 12th institution which the IOP has concluded academic exchange agreements with.

Online Projects amidst the Corona Pandemic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IOP has taken the lead in going online with its public lecture
series, research department meetings and section and project research meetings.
On July 28, 2020, the IOP invited Prof. (Emer.) Hiroshi Ichikawa of The University of Tokyo, to its 'Society
and Religion' lecture, its first online research meeting with an external lecturer. Prof. Ichikawa’s lecture,'Challenge of Jewish Orthodoxy in a Modern Secular Society', discussed five main points: (1) Dr. Arnold
Toynbee's 'Jewish Model' and the future, (2) Jewish orthodoxy in the present (visit to Bnei Brak in Israel),(3) the Jewish orthodoxy response to modernity (with particular reference to the case of Lithuania), (4)the transition of orthodoxy in the context of the challenge posed by secularism, and (5) the religious
situation in Japan from the Jewish perspective. The lecture was followed by a Q&A session with IOP
research fellows.
The IOP also organized a three-way online discussion entitled, 'Reflection on Humanity against Suffering－Resilience and Hopes in the Time of the Corona Pandemic', between Prof. Ichikawa, Dr. Yutaka
Ishigami (senior research fellow of the IOP) and Dr. Nobuo Yamagishi (research fellow commissioned to
the IOP). Highlighting the fact that human beings have tended to ignore the underlying reasons for the
spread of diseases and infections, the three researchers discussed whether the corona pandemic hasbrought humanity an awareness of this omission. The discussion appears in Toyo Gakujutsu Kenkyu(Japanese edition of The Journal of Oriental Studies) vol.59 no.2.

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IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

‘The Lotus Sutra－A Message andHarmonious Coexistence’ Exhibition
The Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP) plans and puts together ‘The Lotus Sutra－A Message of
Peace and Harmonious Coexistence’ exhibition, which has been touring the world since 2006. The
exhibition displays IOP’s research on the Lotus Sutra, and introduces its teachings and the history ofits dissemination in simple, easily assimilable language.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2014)‘The Lotus Sutra and Its World: Buddhist Manuscripts of
the Great Silk Road’, the very first Lotus Sutra exhibition of
the IOP, was launched 1998 with 47 treasured items
including original Buddhist manuscripts and woodblock
prints in 14 languages. Selected out of the approximately
100,000 artefacts in the collection of the Institute ofOriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences(IOM RAS), these items were displayed for the first time inJapan. The exhibition finally grew into the far larger andmore comprehensive ‘The Lotus Sutra－A Message of
Peace and Harmonious Coexistence’ exhibition with many

more precious items on display.
Full support by the IOM RAS, the Dunhuang Academy
China and the International Academy of Indian Culture has
made it possible to display facsimiles and replicas of the
Lotus Sutra manuscripts and replicate the Dunhuang
Mogao Caves along with other various Buddhist items andmaterials. The exhibits include the Petrovsky Sanskrit
manuscript of the Lotus Sutra which seems to have been
copied in the eighth century and the Gandhari replicatedmanuscript of Dharmapada which seems to have been
copied from the first to second centuries. Moreover, theSao Paulo, Brazil (2011)exhibition shows imitative paintings of flying beings in
Mogao Caves, duplicated Dunhuang materials of the Lotus Sutra, iron pens and birch bark used forcopying and other objects. On display, are approximately 160 items. The IOP also edited theguidebook to the exhibition that have been published in four languages: Japanese, English, Korean
and Chinese (simplified and traditional characters).
Based on the idea of “visualizing the Lotus Sutra”, theexhibition attracted more than 900,000 visitors in 17
countries and territories of the world as of 2019: Japan,
India the land of Buddhism’s birth, Nepal the birthplace of
the Buddha, Thailand where Theravada Buddhism tookroot, the Islamic cultural area of Malaysia, and others inAsia, Europe and Latin America. To date, Lee Soo-sung( f o r m e r p r im e m i n ist e r o f S o u t h K o r e a ) , V ir a
Rojpojchanarat (Minister of Culture, Thailand), Jao Tsung-I(professor emeritus of the Chinese University of Hong
Nonthaburi, Thailand (2017)Kong) and Burton Watson (English translator of the Lotus
Sutra), many guests and representatives from every section of society have visited to the exhibition.
Based on the idea of “visualizing the Lotus

IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

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IOP Lotus Sutra Manuscript Series
In cooperation with various institutes from around the world that
preserve precious Lotus Sutra manuscripts as well as prominent
experts and scholars, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP) and the
Soka Gakkai have been involved in publishing the Lotus Sutra
Manuscript Series, including facsimile editions and Romanized texts,
which help promote Buddhist studies, in particular further studies of
early Mahayana Buddhism centering on the Lotus Sutra.
The project was launched in 1994 and 19 items have been publishedas the manuscript series from 1997 to 2019 (not for sale). Part of the
background leading up to this series was the fact that the Soka Gakkai
International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda, founder of the IOP, waspresented with several precious reproductions and microfilms of Lotus Sutra manuscripts by various
institutes and individuals.
Regarding the critical editions of the Sanskrit Lotus Sutra, among the pioneering works that have been
published to date are the Kern-Nanjo edition (1908-1912), the Wogihara-Tsuchida edition (1934-1935),
and the Dutt edition (1953). From the contemporary standard of the discipline, critical editions that are
more precise and reliable are required to enable future research efforts. One of the purposes of theseries publications is to provide basic data for editing such new critical editions.

Totetsu Modern Translation Series
It was Zhiyi, Zanran and Saicho that wrote commentaries andteachings and had a great impact on the future generation in theschool of the Lotus Sutra. Later, Nichiren took over the teachings ofschool and established the fundamental doctrines based on theliteratures of the school.
These literatures originally written in Chinese are contained incomplete Buddhist canons such as Taisho Shinshu Daizokyo. The IOP
has been conducting its project to translate literatures into modern
Japanese language as Totetsu series (Totetsu stands for IOP). As thefirst and second series, The Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra wastranslated. As the third and fourth series, new books were publishedfor sale as translated and annotated editions of Annotations of The
Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra (1) by Dr. Hiroshi Kanno and Dr.
Hideyuki Matsumori (November 2020) and A Clarification of thePrecepts by Dr. Kenichi Maegawa (March 2021).

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IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

Publications
The Journal of Oriental Studies Vol.59 No.1 (Japanese)
1,362 yen
Main Articles
Feature 1: Human Rights and Human Future
Divine Right and Human Rights in Christianity・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Masaru Sato
Respect for Sanctity of Life: Philosophy Established as World Spirit・・・Akira Kirigaya
Individual Dignity and Sexual Minorities: An Overview of LGBT Rights in Japan・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Hirono Ikeda
Positioning and Formation of Human Rights with a Focus on Experiences in Early
Modern and Modern History of Japan・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Makoto Kurozumi
Feature 2: Silk Road ― Views on the Eastward Transmission of Buddhism 2Mahāyāna Buddhism from Gandhāra and Bactria to China・・・・・・・・Seishi Karashima
On the History of Buddhist Structure in Tarmita-Termez・・・・・・・Shakirdjan R. Pidaev
Gandhāra in the Kushano-Sasanian Period: An Archaeological View from the
Excavations at Rāṇigāt Buddhist Sites・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Nakao Odani
Archaeological Monuments of Medieval Buddhism in Chu Valley of Kyrgyzstan
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Valery A. Kolchenko
Eastward Transmission of the Lotus Sutra with a Focus on the Images
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Mitsuru Koyama
Sanskrit Folios from an Unknown Commentary of the Yogācārabhūmi— A Preliminary Report —・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Zhang Hanjing / Ye Shaoyong
Contribution
Brian Houghton Hodgson (1800-1894): A Pioneer Explorer of the Himalaya
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Tatyana V. Ermakova

The Journal of Oriental Studies Vol.59 No.2 (Japanese)
1,362 yen

Main Articles
Special Topic: Novel Coronavirus and Human Beings
Statement: Post-Corona, New Change from Human Dimension・・・・・・・・Felix Unger
Special Dialogue: Reflection on Humanity against the Suffering― Resilience and Hopes in the Time of Corona Pandemic
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Hiroshi Ichikawa / Yutaka Ishigami / Nobuo Yamagishi
Feature: Silk Road ― Views on the Eastward Transmission of Buddhism 3
Journey of the Lotus Sutra: Khotan to Tunhuang・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Lokesh Chandra
Samantamukha (All-seeing) Avalokiteśvara and Khotan: Comments on Zhang
Xiaogang’s Paper・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Lokesh Chandra“Various Kings of Liangzhou” and the Shu Area・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Shiro Sekio
God Wakhsh and God Ram-set: An Aspect of Religious Affairs in Tukhāristān
Viewed from the Bactrian Documents・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Ryoichi Miyamoto
Importation of Glass Artifacts in Eastern Eurasia and Buddhism・・・・Park Cheun Soo
Two Decades of Study on the Buddhist Manuscripts from Bamiyan Valley,
Afghanistan・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Kazunobu Matsuda
Home of the Shosoin Treasures: An Analysis of ‘List of Offerings to the Todaiij
Temple’ (1)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Yuusuke Yoneda
Archaeological Monuments of Medieval Buddhism in Chu Valley of Kyrgyzstan (2)・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Valery A. Kolchenko
Eastward Transmission of Buddhism: Story of Sacrificing for Hungry Tigers andDharma-seeking Monks・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Tsugusato Omura

IOP NEWSLETTER NO.7

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The Journal of Oriental Studies Vol.30 (English)
2,200 yenContents
On Publication of The Journal of Oriental Studies Vol. 30・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Akira Kirigaya
Statement: Post-Corona, New Change from Human Dimension・・・・・・・・・・Felix Unger
Feature: Silk Road ― Views on the Eastward Transmission of Buddhism
Foreword・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Kenzo Kawasaki
Journey of the Lotus Sutra: Khotan to Tunhuang・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Lokesh Chandra
Samantamukha (All-seeing) Avalokiteśvara and Khotan: Comments on Zhang
Xiaogang’s Paper・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ Lokesh Chandra
Transmission of Mahāyāna Buddhism from Gandhāra and Bactria to China
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Seishi Karashima
On the History of Buddhist Structures in Tarmita-Termez・・・・・・・Shakirdjan R. Pidaev
Buddhism in the Chuy Valley (Kyrgyzstan) in the Middle Ages・・・・Valery A. Kolchenko
Kalparāja-sūtra and Pagoda Worship・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Duan Qing
The Contribution of Paper in the Transmission of Buddhist Scriptures in the Western
Regions・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Rong Xinjiang
Sanskrit Folios from an Unknown Commentary on the Yogācārabhūmi: A Preliminary
Report・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Zhang Hanjing and Ye Shaoyong
Religious Perspectives on Peace and Happiness in a Global Civilization
From the Symposium in Conjunction with the 34th Annual Conference of the
IOP・・・・Katsuhiro Kohara, Mikio Matsuoka, Nobuhiro Nakamura and Yutaka Ishigami
Contributions
Respect for Sanctity of Life: Philosophy Established as World Spirit・・・・・Akira Kirigaya
Tolstoy and Gandhi・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Abdusalam Guseynov

Bulletin of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy No.36(Not for Sale)
ArticlesWhat Connects the Visible and Invisible Worlds－From Daisaku Ikeda’s Three
Dialogues in the 1970s・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Yutaka Ishigami
A Study of the Historical Tide of SDGs Learned from Ikeda’s Lecture “Scholastic
Philosophy and Contemporary Civilization”・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Koshichiro Mitsukuni
ZhiYi 智顗 and GuanYu 関羽 in Fozutongji 仏祖統紀－Discussion on theFormation of Yuquanshan Guangong Xiansheng 玉泉山関公顕聖・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Yasuo Fukuyama
On the Personality of Sima Yi from 228 to 232 Based upon a Critical Study of “Jinshu” Xuandiji, “Sanguozhi” and Pei Songzhi “Sanguozhi Zhu”・・・・・Takashi Mitsuda
Consideration of the Problem of Time and Space through Bakhtin’s Chronotope ―in the Texts of “Spring in Fialta” and “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov・・Mitsunori Sagae
The Moral Responsibility of Pedagogy in Dealing with Power・・・・・・Barbara Drinck
Emergency and Solidarity: An Islamic Perspective・・・・・・・・・Francesca Maria Corrao
Allusions in Eugene O’Neill’s Plays・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・Kumi Ohno
Research Note
Affective Practice of ‘Partaking’ in Urban Society of India・・・・・・・・Nobuo Yamagishi
IOP Research Works

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The Institute of Oriental Philosophy
Address: 1-236, Tangi-machi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo,
192-0003 Japan
Tel : +81-42-691-6591
Fax: +81-42-691-6588
E-mail us at: iop_info@iop.or.jp
English Website: http://www.iop.or.jp/
Japanese Website: http://www.totetu.org/

The Institute of Oriental Philosophy