Professor Dr. Jason Protass

Biography

Jason Protass is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Brown University. He specializes in the history of Chinese Buddhism during the eleventh to fourteenth centuries, particularly the Northern Song period. His notable works include the co-edited volume 'Countless Sands: Medieval Buddhists Environments' (2025) and the book 'Poetry Demon: Song-Dynasty Monks Verse Way' (2021), which explores the understanding of poetry among Buddhist monks. Protass has published several essays and chapters on Buddhist monks' poetry, including 'The Flavors Monks' Poetry: Witty Disparagement Influences' (2021) and 'Buddhist Fund-Raising Poems Lost Verses' (2023). His current research includes developing projects on the environmental history of Buddhism along China's rivers and the Chan teachings for laypersons during the Northern Song period.

Research Interests

Courses