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The Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture back in HeidelbergAfter a long hiatus since 2019, the first post-Covid Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture in Heidelberg was successfully held on February 26, 2025. The event marked a significant return to academic and cultural exchange between Kyoto University and Heidelberg University. The Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture Series is jointly organized by Kyoto University European Center (KUEC) and Heidelberg University Office Kyoto (HUOK) since 2017. The lecture was delivered by Associate Professor Takahiko Kameyama from the UEHIRO Research Division at the Institute for the Future of Human Society, Kyoto University. The topic, “The ‘Body Mandala’ in Japanese Buddhism: An Analysis of East Asian Philosophy from a New Perspective,” provided a profound exploration of Buddhist views on the body. |
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The Lecture
Professor Kameyama’s lecture discussed the Buddhist view of the body, which includes mental states, divine entities, gestures (mudras), and mandalas, challenging the idea of the body as purely physical. He explored the interconnectedness of all existence as seen by Tendai and Shingon Buddhist monks like Kūkai, Annen, and later concepts such as the five viscera mandala. This interconnectedness is captured in the paradoxical statement: “They (bodies) are not the same, yet they are the same; not different, yet different.”
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| Welcome address by Chiyoko Kanno (KUEC) and Sabine Schenk (HUOK) |
Lecture by Professor Kameyama |
Prof. Dr. Michael Radich of the Heidelberg Center for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University, provided insightful commentary on the lecture. He related the key insights from Professor Kameyama’s talk broader notions of the understanding of the body in Buddhism. He praised the lecture as a way to overcome presumptions and current views on the matter, calling for openness toward researching such ideas. Prof. Radich urged the audience not to view these ideas as merely reflections of their own thoughts.
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| Associate Professor Takahiko Kameyama | Prof. Dr. Michael Radich |
Audience Engagement
Despite the complexity of the topic, the audience remained deeply engaged throughout the lecture. The Q&A session was filled with diverse and learned questions, touching on various aspects of the topic, as well as its implications for religious thought and philosophy.
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After the event, participants formed groups to discuss the lecture’s themes further, engaging with each other and the lecturers in lively conversations.
Participation and Future Prospects
With nearly 30 participants, including students, scholars, and an engaged public, the event was a resounding success. The return of the Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture series promises to continue enriching scholarly dialogue between the two universities, promoting mutual exchange of knowledge, understanding, and collaboration.
Further Information
- The Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture Series
- Program of the 22nd Nichi-Doku Joint Lecture “The ‘Body Mandala’ in Japanese Buddhism: An Analysis of East Asian Philosophy from a New Perspective”
