On Chinese Philosophy and Memory: A Thesis Project Examining Chan Buddhism Recollection, Ritual, and Narrative

I am a third-year Masters of Fine Arts candidate at the University of British Columbia School Of Creative Writing, and am working on my novel with Annabel Lyon ([email protected]), exploring familial connections, memory, and Chan Buddhism in a story where time is a fluid entity, ultimately examining and combining Chinese Philosophical concepts with non-linear narrative styles. The vivid details obtained from my research travel, including personal experiences, work with primary texts, examination of historical relics, art, and sculptures, as well as one-on-one interviews will help me become a more informed writer and a more adept communicator, philosopher, and scholar. I will be more attuned to understanding how Chan Buddhism principles can inform and integrate into narratives, as well as more expertly examine and determine the significance of Chan Buddhist rituals in recollection and memory-making. My analyses will culminate in at least three tangible texts: 1) A document postulating on how memory develops and is formed within the Chan Buddhist ideology; 2) Interviews regarding the Journey to the West and its Chan Buddhism influences; 3) Artistic renditions of sculptures and/or art, including spatial drawings and analysis on how the original spirit of Buddhist temples can be maintained after reconstruction.

Faculty Supervisor:

Annabel Lyon

Student:

Partner:

Sun Yat-Sen University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education; New and Digital Media

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: