Buddhism and Food Ethics

Call for papers

20 April 2024 (9:00am-5:00pm) 

The University of Oxford China Centre, Dickson Poon Building, Canterbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6LU 

The University of Oxford and Yin-Cheng Buddhist Studies Network are pleased to announce a one-day conference on Buddhism and Food Ethics to be held on Saturday 20th April 2024 at the University of Oxford China Centre

Food Ethics lie at the heart of many aspects of Buddhist practice. Traditionally consideration and debate concerning food ethics were played out in relation to the nature of Buddhist renunciation and identity, almsgiving (dāna) and merit making, serving of seniors, ancestors, deities and Buddhas, and so forth. In recent decades, food ethics has been transformed by concerns about climate change, the plastic catastrophe, waste management, modern-day slavery, endangered species, animal welfare, agri-business, the health impact of food and food security.  

Papers are welcome on any aspect of Buddhism and Food Ethics, historical or modern. Please submit your 300-word proposal to [email protected] by 6pm on 1 March 2024. 

All associated costs, including accommodation and meals during the conference, will be covered by the conference organizers. Depending on the funds available, travel expenses may also be partially or fully covered. The anticipated time slot for each paper is 20 minutes. Selected conference papers will be published in the Yin-Cheng Journal of Contemporary Buddhism.  

The conference is kindly funded by the Yin-Cheng Network for Buddhist Studies