Research Unit

Ghent Centre for Buddhist Studies

Acronym
GCBS
Duration
19 April 2019 → Ongoing
Group leader
Other information
Research disciplines
  • Humanities
    • Study of Buddhism
Description
The Ghent Centre for Buddhist Studies (GCBS) was founded in 2007 at Ghent University, within the department of Languages and Cultures as the first academic centre for Buddhist studies in Belgium. The buddhological research in Ghent is rooted in a longtradition of expertise that began in the early 20th century with the works of prof. dr. Louis de La Vallée Poussin (1869-1938). Since then an increasing number of researchers have focused on a broad range of Buddhological fields. Given the fact that Buddhism took shape throughout its spread from India via China to Tibet and Japan, the GCBS aims to enable scholars and students to engage in the study of philosophical, doctrinal and socio-cultural aspects of Asian Buddhist traditions. The members of the GCBS are working interdisciplinary as well as on highly specialized fields. In addition a major task of the GCBS is to offer a international research forum where colleagues can meet and discuss.