On the Opening of the China-Japan Joint Symposium

Yasuo Morita

IT has been a singular honor for the Institute of Oriental Philosophy tohave been given the opportunity to hold a joint symposium with theInstitute of World Religions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the most prominent research institution in China.
The Institute of World Religions is a specialist national institution,and I wish to express my deepest gratitude to three of China’s most distinguished scholars, Professors Wu Yungui, Yan Zengwen and He Jingsong for their participation in the symposium.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the Chinese professors and to discuss the purpose of the symposium and the circumstancesthat led to holding it.
Former Director, Professor Wu Yungui is an outstanding scholar in
the studies of Islam and apart from his work at the Chinese Academy ofSocial Sciences, he also serves as a member of the State Council’s Academic Committee, as the Vice President of the Chinese Society for
Religious Study and the Vice President of the International ScientificCommittee, UNESCO.
Professor Yan Zengwen is a well-known scholar in the field of Buddhist research and also serves as the Head of the Department of Buddhist Studies of the Institute of World Religions that leads China’s
researches on Buddhism. Having conducted overseas research at Kyoto
University, Japan, and Cornell University, USA, he is a writer of numerous books including those on the history of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism.
Professor He Jingsong is an up-and-coming scholar and serves as theVice Chief of the Department of Cultural Arts of Buddhism of the Institute of World Religions. He specializes in comparative studies in theBuddhism of Chinese Buddhist countries. Included in his writings areDiscussion on Nichiren and Soka Gakkai’s Principles and Practices.
I should now like to discuss the circumstances that led to the holdingof the symposium. This year marks the seventh anniversary of signing
the agreement for academic ties between the Institute of World Reli3

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ON THE OPENING OF THE JOINT SYMPOSIUM

gions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Institute ofOriental Philosophy in October 1992. Last year we suggested that ajoint symposium be held to commemorate this anniversary. We received
a most positive and prompt response, which led to the holding of thissymposium. The decision to make the Lotus Sutra the theme of thesymposium was due to the growing awareness that a clue of solutions tothe myriad global issues facing humanity at the threshold of the 21stcentury lie in Buddhist philosophy and in particular in the Lotus
Sutra—the essence of Buddhist teachings.
At the symposium we look forward to a thorough discussion by theparticipating scholars on how the Lotus Sutra has served as spiritual
nourishment in China and Japan. As we also express the debt of gratitude we owe to China for the transmission of Buddhism, we also aspirethat humanity benefit from the Lotus Sutra now and in the future. Thesymposium will provide an opportunity to make an in-depth study on
the ideas and principles of the Lotus Sutra from the perspective of thehistory of Buddhism beginning with Shakyamuni, T’ien-t’ai (Chih-i,538–597) of China, Nichiren Daishonin (1222–1282) and the Soka
Gakkai.
There is no greater joy than the fact that these discussions will be an
initial step towards a further in-depth study and that the joint endeavorsof our two institutions may contribute to the future of humankind.