Dr. Kevin Buckelew

Biography

Kevin Buckelew specializes in the study of Chinese Buddhism. He received his B.A. in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College and his Ph.D. from Columbia University's Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. His research focuses on Buddhism in premodern China, with special attention to Chan (Zen) Buddhism and its interactions with Chinese Buddhists and Daoists. Thematically, he is interested in embodiment, authority, gender, masculinity, agency, responsibility, work and labor, and the use of metaphor and figurative language. He has conducted research in China, Taiwan, and Japan with support from grants including the Fulbright program and Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai. His articles have been published in prominent journals such as the Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, T’oung Pao, History of Religions, and Numen: Journal of Chinese Religions. His book, "Discerning Buddhas: Authority, Agency, Masculinity in Chan Buddhism" (Columbia University Press), explores how Chan Buddhists made unprecedented claims to religious authority alongside the historical Buddha, affecting the Chan tradition's dominance during the Song dynasty. Buckelew also co-edited "Buddhist Masculinities" (Columbia University Press, 2023) and is currently working on a project entitled "Karma, Commerce, Conscience: Layman Pang and Moral Responsibility in Chinese Buddhism," which investigates the moral responsibilities addressed in traditional texts related to the Tang-period layman Pang Yun.

Research Interests