Join us for the book talk of Join us for a book talk by Dr. Henry C. H. Shiu, The Heart Sūtra: Revisiting Its Texts, History, and Meaning (University of Chicago Press, 2025).

This monograph offers a groundbreaking re-examination of one of the most significant Buddhist scriptures. Through meticulous comparison of Sanskrit texts and their Chinese and Tibetan translations, Dr. Shiu investigates longstanding debates around the Heart Sūtra’s origins—considering whether it may be a Chinese apocryphon—and situates it within the wider Perfection of Wisdom tradition. His work bridges Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan Buddhist scholarship, offering a fresh, revisionist interpretation that illuminates the Heart Sūtra’s historical development, ritual functions, and philosophical depth.

This event is sponsored by the “The RHNHFF BCS Program”, and the “Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society (TLKYCS)”, with generous support of “The Department of Asian Studies UBC”.

Important Information

• Date & Time： October 23, 2026 (FRI) 5:30 to 7:30 pm

• Venue：Liu Institute – Place of Many Trees | UBC

• Registration：https://buddhism.arts.ubc.ca/book-talk-revisiting-the..

 

Prof. Henry Shiu Bio

Dr. Henry C. H. Shiu, Professor in Chinese Buddhist Studies at Emmanuel College.

Dr. Henry Shiu has published widely on Buddhist philosophy and contemporary applications of the Dharma, including dementia care, ecological ethics, chaplaincy, and intercultural competency. His scholarship spans peer-reviewed journals, edited volumes, and multiple Chinese-language books on Western classical music and Buddhist texts. His work reflects a unique bridge between classical Buddhist philosophy and modern ethical practice