Dr. Stephan Licha

Biography

Stephan Licha is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School, specializing in Buddhist Studies, particularly Japanese Buddhism. He received his PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London in 2012, focusing on the intellectual history of Japanese Buddhism with an emphasis on the interactions of pre-modern tantric, Tendai, and Zen traditions within the global history of Buddhist modernism from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. He has published widely on these topics, including his recent monograph, 'Esoteric Zen: Tantric Teachings in Premodern Japan' published by Brill in 2023. Additionally, he coedited a volume titled 'Learning West, Learning East: The Emergence of the Study of Buddhism in Japan and Europe' published by Brill in the same year. Licha teaches various courses, including 'The Globalization of Japanese Religions: 19th Century to Present' and 'Buddhist Meditation: Tradition, Transformation, Modernization.'

Research Interests

Experience