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Henry Shiu Named Shi Wu De Professor in Chinese Buddhist Studies

Jun. 01, 2020

Dr. Henry ShiuEmmanuel College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Henry Shiu as the inaugural Shi Wu De Professor in Chinese Buddhist Studies, effective July 1, 2020.

Dr. Shiu holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (2006). He is currently a Sessional Lecturer in the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health Program at New College; and Emmanuel College. Dr. Shiu’s teaching of Buddhist Contemplative Care represents a development of the principles of Engaged Buddhism. He brings expertise in the foundational areas that contribute to the Buddhist focus within Emmanuel’s Master of Pastoral Studies Program, including the foundational tenets and practices of Buddhism, Buddhist ethics, and Buddhist meditative traditions. As the coordinator of the Applied Buddhist Studies Initiative at Emmanuel College, he facilitated connections with the local and international Buddhist communities. His published research focuses on early Mahayana Buddhism and the transmission of Buddhism to China. He has recently completed articles about Buddhist women in the Chinese diaspora and about the construction of Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Canada. He is also the author of numerous scholarly works in Chinese, including his forthcoming book with Oxford University Press, The Cultural Interpretation of the Heart Sutra in India, China, and Tibet.

Dr. Shiu will lead the Buddhist focus within the Master of Pastoral Studies (MPS) program, which has flourished since its founding five years ago. This professional master’s program specializes in spiritual care and prepares graduates to be certified with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) and qualified to work as spiritual care providers in hospitals, educational institutions, prisons, other public institutions, and in Buddhist temples. Many of the courses are specifically designed for the study of Buddhism, but all courses are open to all students, in all degree programs.

The Shi Wu De Professorship in Chinese Buddhist Studies was established in 2015 through a $1.1 million donation from Buddhist Youth Alliance International to Victoria University. The gift and the professorship honour the legacy of the Venerable Shi Wu De of the Tai Bay Buddhist Temple of Toronto.

Unique in the landscape of Canadian theological education, Emmanuel College’s multi-religious curriculum has emerged out of the recognition that concepts of justice, goodness, and care are larger than any one particular religion or tradition can fully define by itself. “This endowment and Dr. Shiu’s appointment ensure that Emmanuel graduates will continue to meet the highest standards for informed leadership and compassionate spiritual care in our diverse society,” says Principal Michelle Voss Roberts. “We look forward to his leadership as a scholar, educator, and connector in the years to come.”

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