Events

19 Nov 2026

14:30 – 16:30

Online lecture: ZOOM ID: 964 5779 7423, Password: 999999

Prof. Jen-yu Lin (National Chung Hsing University)

Prof. Jen-yu Lin is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chinese Literature and Director of the Arts Center at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU). His research areas focus on Buddhist Literature and Culture, Dunhuang Manuscripts and Literature, as well as Folk Ballads, Popular Songs, and Customs.

Registration not required

cshb@cuhk.edu.hk, 3943 0646

On his path of advocating and practicing “Humanistic Buddhism,” Venerable Master Hsing Yun not only promoted Buddhist concepts through songs, but many of his musical works also became essential components guiding rituals and activities in the modern era.

Historically, this practical approach unfolded across several key stages: In the 1950s, he composed Western Land (〈西方〉) to replace the traditional four-line verse for the dedication of merit during collective chanting cultivation, and penned the Blessing Song for Buddhist Weddings (〈佛化婚禮祝歌〉) to accommodate the pivotal rituals of establishing “Buddhist Families.” In the 1970s, he authored the Ode to the Triple Gem (〈三寶頌〉), which condensed the essential meanings of various historical verses praising the Three Refuges into a format more accessible for singing and collective use. From 2000 onward, he created numerous lyrics for Sounds of the Human World (「人間音緣」) and openly solicited musical compositions, allowing the same lyrics to be adapted into diverse musical styles and flexibly utilized in various Dharma propagation and social events. This approach fully exemplifies the characteristics of “humanistic” and practical application.

Following a chronological framework, this lecture will analyze the inner connotations and practical applications of these lyrics, discussing their concrete significance and far-reaching influence.