One of a kind: Study Shan Buddism at SOAS
by Naw Liang (Kyoto, Japan)

Mai soong kha!
While braving the extended summer in central Japan - it was 36C in Kyoto in late September - I was pleasantly surprised by an email out-of-the-blue. Anything to get my mind off sweating. A short, but encouraging email from a fellow Shan enthusiast and academic revealed that something exciting was afoot at SOAS: the launch of the first ever official Shan Buddhism course for 2010 fall term. I hope that I'll be able to make it back to London to participate. Fingers crossed...

Pioneering: SOAS launches inaugural Shan Buddhism course
The email was short, but certainly sweet. Several Shan researchers and academics resident at SOAS University of London have managed to produce, arrange and get official approval for SOAS' first Shan Buddhism course. Open to undergraduate (BA) and postgraduate (MA and other) students of Theravada Buddhism, the course is a pioneer for Shan-specific studies in the UK; those persons not registered as students can also attend after registering as occasional students.

The course, led by Shan Buddhism academic Dr. Conway (SOAS Research Associate and author of the Shan Culture, Arts and Crafts (2006) (see a review here) and Mr Jotika Khur-Yearn (Assistant Librarian for Southeast Asian Studies, SOAS Library and Researcher on Shan Buddhism and literature), the course will provide an introduction to Shan Buddhism, including:

• Histories of Shan Buddhism. Discussion of Shan Buddhist authorities, including textual, spatial and personal features of Shan religious identity;
• Discussion of the salient features of Shan Buddhist doctrine;
  
• Inspection of the aspects of Shan Buddhist practices, including ordination patterns, role of temple, media of transmission, festivals, soteriological, transformative, merit-making, communal and apotropaic practices;
  
• Introduction to the visual forms of Shan Buddhism, especially temple layout and architecture, sacred art and dress, etc; and
• Debate on recent and current threats to the practice and preservation of Shan Buddhism

Starting on 5 October (very shortly!), the two-hour lectures will be held on Tuesdays from 5-7PM over a period of 11 weeks (ending on 14 December 2010) in Room B104 of SOAS' Brunei Gallery Building. In addition to Dr. Conway and Mr. Khur-Yearn, a number of lectures will be conducted by visiting and distinguished Shan scholars (to be announced).

For now, further information can be obtained from:
Susan Conway (e: sc66@soas.ac.uk or tel: 020 7352 9890) or
Jotika Khur-Yearn (e: jk53@soas.ac.uk or tel: 020 7898 4173)
As the course is set to start shortly, those who wish to register should consider contact by telephone. Registration can be conducted at anytime, depending on availability.

This is an excellent opportunity, one that I wish I had had during my studies at SOAS some time ago. And, with interest in Shan studies growing exponentially of late, I am certain that this is only the first of many Shan Buddhism courses as well as the catalyst for other Shan area study courses in the future.

Jom lii kha,

Naw Liang