Parading the Buddha: Localizing Buddha's Birthday Celebrations

In her debut work, Ven. Juewei examines Buddhist acculturation—how cultures adapt to and interact with other cultures—through the history of Buddha's Birthday celebrations. Ven. Juewei's research brings to life historical accounts of grand Buddha image processions during the Northern Wei dynasty around the resplendent capital Luoyang, then the largest city in the world. With a critical reading of A Record of Buddhist Monasteries in Luoyang as its focal point, Ven. Juewei provides an analysis of how Buddha's Birthday parades changed the politics, social makeup, and religious imagination of the people. Parading the Buddha also includes information about the Buddha's Birthday Education Project, where Ven. Juewei and numerous volunteers used this historical research to teach modern communities about the tradition of Buddha's Birthday celebrations and help inspire new approaches for adapting Buddhism to the West.