麥文彪教授 Professor Bill M. Mak

中國科學技術大學訪問教授、劍橋李約瑟研究所研究員。加拿大麥吉爾大學語言學系榮譽學士畢業，主修梵語及東亞語言，香港大學佛學碩士，北京大學外國語學院文學博士（師承王邦維教授），京都大學古典印度學博士後期課程滿期退學。歷任香港大學佛學研究中心客座助理教授與日本京都大學東洋科學史副教授等教職。2009年起，於漢堡大學、劍橋大學、紐約大學、布朗大學、朱拉隆功大學等多所高等院校作訪問學者。研究領域包括梵文古籍、佛教文獻學、古代科學史和古代中印交流史。發表學術論文（英、中、日）四十多篇，近年出版著作包括《天と地の科学》East-West Encounter in the Science of Heaven and Earth ，2019年京都大學人文科學研究所出版、《交錯的東洋宇宙觀》Overlapping Cosmologies in Asia（E. Huntingtong合編），2022年Brill出版。

個人網頁：http://www.billmak.com

Room A304, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, East Campus,
University of Science and Technology of China,
Hefei, Anhui, China
CN-230026
Needham Research Institute
8 Sylvester Road
Cambridge, UK
CB3 9AF
email: billmak[at]ustc.edu.cn / bm574[at]cam.ac.uk
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Curriculum Vitae
BillM.Mak麥⽂彪 B.A. Hons (McGill), Ph.D. (Peking)
DOB 10th December, 1973
Nationality Canadian / Hong Kong,China
Specializations
and Interests
▪ History of science in Asia
▪ Trans-Eurasian and Sino-Indian cultural contact
▪ Manuscripts and codicology in Asia
▪ Buddhist philology, translation theories, interlinguistics
Employment/
Academic
Positions
▪ Professor, Department of History of Science and Technology and
Archeology of Science and Technology, University of Science and
Technology of China (2024.9–)
▪ Director of Chinese Research Center, The ISF Academy, Hong Kong.
(2022.10–2024.7)
▪ Principal Researcher, Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum,
Hong Kong (2021.3–12)
▪ Research Associate, Needham Research Institute, Cambridge (2019.11–)
▪ Associate Professor, Institute for Research in Humanities / Hakubi
Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University (2014.9–2019.3)
▪ Visiting Assistant Professor, Centre of Buddhist Studies, University of
Hong Kong, Hong Kong (2012.1–2013.5)
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Education ▪ Completion of Doctoral Program (Indological Studies, specialisation in
History of Science), Kyoto University, 2010-2013 (満期退学: 2013.3.31)
▪ Ph.D. in Indian Languages and Literature (Buddhist philology), Peking
University, 2005-2009 (Diploma: 2010.1.5)
Dissertation (in Chinese): A Philological investigation of Sadāpraruditaparivarta of Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra and its commentary according to
Haribhadra’s Abhisamayālaṃkārālokā 《般若經·常啼菩薩品》及其
註疏《現觀莊嚴光明釋》之⽂獻學研究
▪ Masters of Buddhist Studies (with Distinction), The University of Hong
Kong, 2003-4 (Diploma: 2004.12.2)
▪ B.A. (Hons.) in Linguistics, McGill University, 1992-1996 (Diploma:
1996.6.7)
Other Academic
experiences
▪ Visiting Professor, Department of Archeology and History of Science,
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Science and
Technology of China, China (2023.6–7)
▪ Visiting Research Scholar, Department of Egyptology and Assyriology,
Brown University, U.S. (2017.3–5)
▪ Visiting Research Scholar, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
(ISAW), New York University, U.S. (2016.8–2017.2)
▪ Visiting Research Fellow, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok, Thailand (2016.2–4)
▪ Adjunct Researcher, Unit of Synergetic Studies for Space, Kyoto
University, Japan 京都⼤学宇宙総合学研究ユニット (2015.4–2018.3)
▪ Foreigner Research Associate / Part-time Lecturer, Department of
Indological Studies, Kyoto University, Japan (2013.5 – 2013.8)
▪ Visiting Assistant Professor, Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University
of Hong Kong (2011.1–2012.4)
▪ Research Fellow, Asien-Afrika-Institut. Zentrum für Buddhismuskunde,
Hamburg University, Germany (2007.10–2008.7)
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Publications
▪ P46. [Forthcoming]Indian Astral Science in China – Amoghavajra’s Treatise on Lunar Mansions
and Planets and Gautamasiddhārtha’s Canon of Nine Seizers. Scientific Writings from the Ancient
and Medieval World Series. London: Routledge, 2025.
▪ P45. [In print] Foreign Astral Sciences in China: From Six Dynasties to Northern Song. Needham
Research Institute Monograph Series. London: Routledge, 2024.
▪ P44. “From Zero to Infinity — China’s Encounter with Indian Mathematics.” Inner Asia 26 (2024):
231–56. [refereed]
▪ P43. “Evidences for Early Indian and Buddhist Presence in South China Re-Examined — The
Case of Pui To in Tuen Mun.” In Mapping South China and the Maritime Silk Roads — Research
Seminar Occasional Papers, ed. Bill M. Mak. Hong Kong: Chinese Research Center, The ISF Academy,
2024. 23–34.
▪ P42. “Aquilaria and the Origin of Hong Kong.” Aquilaria – The ISF Academy Education & Research
Journal 2 (2024): 1–11.
▪ P41. “Indological Studies in Hong Kong and China — Past and Present.” Compendium of “Prajna”
series of Seminars on “Sanskrit and Buddhist Studies, published by the Consulate General of India (Hong
Kong & Macau SAR), April, 2024.
▪ P40. “Persian Astronomy in China.” Medieval History Journal, 27.1 (2024): 87–114. Special Issue:
China, India and Iran: Scientific Exchange and Cultural Contact Through the First Millennium CE.
Edited by Sally Church and Bill M. Mak, with “Introduction” by Bill M. Mak.
▪ P39. “Yavanajātaka.” In The Encyclopedia of Ancient History: Asia and Africa (Online), edited by D.T.
Potts et al., 2024. 1–5. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119399919.eahaa00596.
▪ P38. “The Hindu Temple in Hong Kong and its Nineteenth-Century Cemetery).” Journal of the
Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch Vol. 63 (2023): 115–50. [refereed]
▪ P37. “A 4th-Century CE Buddhist Note on Sanskrit-Chinese Translation: Dao’an’s Preface to the
Abridgement of the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra,” “An 8th-Century CE Indian Astronomical
Treatise in Chinese: The Nine Seizers Canon by Qutan Xida,” “Two 8th-Century CE Recensions of
Amoghavajra’s Buddhist Astral Compendium.” In Plurilingualism in Traditional Eurasian
Scholarship: Thinking in Many Tongues, edited by Glenn W. Most,, Dagmar Schäfer, and Mårten
Söderblom Saarela. Leiden: Brill, 2023. 339–375.
▪ P36. “Greek Astral Sciences in China.” In Overlapping Cosmologiesin Asia, edited by Bill M. Mak
and Eric Huntington. “Crossroads – History of Science and Technology across the Silk Roads” series.
Leiden: Brill, 2022.
▪ P35. Overlapping Cosmologies in Asia. Bill M. Mak and Eric Huntington (eds.). “Crossroads – History
of Science and Technology across the Silk Roads” series. Leiden: Brill, 2022.
▪ P34. “The First Two Chapters of the Paitāmahasiddhānta.” SCIAMVS 21 (2021): 141–214. [refereed]
▪ P33. “Greco-Indian Astrological Theories on Conception and Childbirth — Chapter 3 & 4 of
Mīnarāja’s Vṛddhayavanajātaka.” In Body and Cosmos: Studies in Early Indian Medical and Astral
Sciences in Honor of Kenneth G. Zysk, edited by Toke Knudsen et al. Leiden: Brill, 2021. 369-407.
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004438224_021
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▪ P32. “Unnan-dari-no bucchō-sonshō-darani hibun” 雲南・⼤理の梵語『仏頂尊勝陀羅尼』碑
⽂. In Ajia bukkyō bijutsu ronshū アジア仏教美術論集 ９—東アジア ４: 南宋・⼤理・⾦, edited
by Itakura Masaaki 板倉聖哲 et al., translated by Ueda Masahiro 上田真啓. Tokyo: Chūō kōron bijutsu
shuppan, 2020. (Revised Japanese version of P26)
▪ P31. “Muhūrta in Gārgīyajyotiṣa.” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies 印度學佛教學研究 68, no.
3 (2020): 1114–19. [refereed]
▪ P30. “Vedic Astral Lore and Planetary Science in the Gārgīyajyotiṣa.” History of Science in South
Asia 7 (2019): 52–71. [refereed]
▪ P29. 『仏国暦象編』におけるインド天⽂学について [The Indian Astronomy in the
Bukkokurekishōhen] (in Japanese). Bill Mak and Masahiro Ueda. In East-West Encounter in the
Science of Heaven and Earth 天と地の科学 —東と西の出会い, edited by Tokimasa Takeda and Bill
M. Mak. Kyoto: Institute for Research in Humanities, 2019. 441–457.
▪ P28. “Greco-Babylonian astral science in Asia - Patterns of dissemination and transformation.”
East-West Encounter in the Science of Heaven and Earth 天と地の科学—東と西の出会い, Tokimasa
Takeda and Bill M. Mak (eds.). Kyoto: Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University, 2019.
14–34.
▪ P27. [English translation] Esoteric Buddhist Astrology – The Japanese Sukuyōdō School ofIndian
Astrology by Yano Michio. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, 2019.
▪ P26. “Sanskrit Uṣṇīṣavijayadhāraṇī Inscriptions and Buddhist Funerary Practices in
Dali/Yunnan.” In Investigating Principles: International Aspects of Buddhist Culture - Essaysin
Honour of Professor Charles Willemen, eds. Lalji Shravak and Supriya Rai. Hong Kong: The BuddhaDharma Centre of Hong Kong, 2019. 245–276.
▪ P25. “The Buddhist transmission of Grahamātṛkādhāraṇī and other planetary astral texts.” Pacific
World (Third Series) 20 (2018): 223–256.
▪ P24. “The First Two Chapters of Mīnarāja’s Vṛddhayavanajātaka.” Zinbun 48 (2018): 1–31.
[refereed]
▪ P23. “Tithikarmaguṇa in Gārgīyajyotiṣa–Tithi Worship according to a Number of Early Sources.”
Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies 印度學佛教學研究 66.3 (2018): 985–991. [refereed]
▪ P22. “Garga and early astral science in India.” Geslani, Marko, Bill M. Mak, Michio Yano, and
Kenneth Zysk. History of Science in South Asia 5.1 (2017): 151–191.
▪ P21. “Bhaṭṭotpala and Scientific Learning in Tenth Century Kashmir.” Journal of Indological
Studies 30/31 (2019): 37–63. [refereed]
▪ P20. “Matching Stellar Ideas to the Stars: Remarks on the Translation of Indian jyotiṣa in the
Chinese Buddhist Canon.” In Cross-Cultural Transmission of Buddhist Texts: Theories and Practices
of Translation, edited by Dorji Wangchuk. Hamburg: Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies,
Universität Hamburg, 2016. 139–158.
▪ P19. 《古代中國與日本的”異域天學”：七曜日與天宮圖星占術》[The foreign astral science in
medieval China and Japan – Seven planetary weekdays and horoscopy] (in Chinese). In《中印关系研
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究的视野与前景》 Zhongyin guanxi yanjiu de shiye yu qianjing. Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe,
2016. 137–152. Reprinted with revision in 《风咏集——王邦维教授古稀寿庆⽂集》Fengyongji –
Wang Bangwei jiaoshou guxi shouqing wenji. Shanghai: Zhongxi shuju, 2021. 119-136.
▪ P18. “Astral Science of the East Syriac Christians in China during the late first millennium AD.”
Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 16.4 (2016): 87–92. [refereed]
▪ P17. “The Career of Utsuki Nishū in Hong Kong during the Japanese Occupation Period (1941–
1945).” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch 55 (2015): 57–82. [refereed]
▪ P16. “The Transmission of Buddhist Astral Science from India to East Asia - The Gandhāran and
Central Asian Connections.” Historia Scientiarum 24.2 (2015): 59–75. [refereed]
▪ P15. “Yusi Jing - A Treatise of ‘Western’ Astral Science in Chinese and its versified Version Xitian
yusi jing.” SCIAMVS 15 (2014): 105–169. [refereed]
▪ P14. “The ‘Oldest Indo-Greek Text in Sanskrit’ revisited - Additional Readings from the newly
discovered Manuscript of the Yavanajātaka.” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies 印度學佛教學
研究 62.3 (2014): 1101–1105. [refereed]
▪ P13. “The Last Chapter of Sphujidhvaja’s Yavanajātaka critically edited with Notes,” SCIAMVS 14
(2013): 59–148. [refereed]
▪ P12. “Hermeneutic and Polemical Tradition of Late Mahāyāna Buddhism: Citations and
hypothetical arguments in Haribhadra’s Abhisamayālaṅkārāloka (Ch.30-31).” Vijjāvimutti, edited
by Rangama Chandawimala Thero. Singapore: Buddhist and Pali College of Singapore, 2013. 157–178.
▪ P11. 仏教マントラの中国化の⼀例—普庵咒における悉曇字母について “Bukkyō mantora-no
chūkokuka-no ichirei — Fuanshu-ni okeru shittan jibo-ni tsiute” [The Siddham Alphabet in the
Mantra of Pu’an – A case of sinicization of Buddhist mantras]. Tōhō gakuhō 東⽅学報 88: 189–219,
2013. [refereed]
▪ P10. “The Date and Nature of Sphujidhvaja’s Yavanajātaka reconsidered in the light of some newly
discovered materials.” History of Science in South Asia 1 (2013): 1-20. [refereed]
▪ P09. “Indian Jyotiṣa Literature through the Lens of Chinese Buddhist Canon.” Journal of Oriental
Studies 48.1 (2015): 1–19. (Presented on 2012.1.8 at the 15th World Sanskrit Conference, New Delhi)
[refereed]
▪ P08. “Theravāda Buddhism as Part of the Buddhist Revival in Mainland China and Hong Kong –
Two Paradigms.” Buddhist Revival in Asia. Proceedings of Conference on the Buddhist Revival in Asia
(Dec 16, 2011, submitted in 2012). Singapore: Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre, Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies. 2015. 339–364.
▪ P07. “Silk Road Transmission of Astrological Lore to China - Indian, Chinese and Central Asian
elements in Mahāsaṃnipātasūtra (T397).” In Silk Road: Interwoven History. Vol. 2 Buddhism, edited
by Mariko N. Walter and James P. Ito-Adler (submitted in 2014). Cambridge, MA: Association for
Central Asian Civilizations & Silk Road Studies. 2021. 67–103.
▪ P06. “Magical Alphabet in the Indian and Chinese Minds – From the Garland of Letters to Master
Pu’an’s Siddham Mantra.” Brahman and Dao: Comparative Studies of Indian and Chinese
Philosophy and Religion, Studies in Comparative Philosophy and Religion series, edited by Douglas
Allen. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington. 2013. 209–230.
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▪ P05. “Theravāda Teachings and Meditation in Hong Kong.” International Journal for the Study of
Humanistic Buddhism 3 (2012): 19–38. [refereed]
▪ P04. “Haribhadra’s Commentary (Abhisamayālaṅkārālokā) on the Story of Sadāprarudita (Ch.
30-31 of Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā) - Sources and Construction of a Mahāyāna Soteriology.”
Ñāṇappabhā: Ven. Pategama Gnanarama Felicitation Volume, edited by Chandawimala Rangama
Thero. Singapore: Ti-Sarana Buddhist Association. 2011. 84–97.
▪ P03. “Kumārajīva and Prajñāpāramitā in China.” In Kumārajīva : Philosopher and Seer, edited by
Shashibala. New Delhi : Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. 159–177. 2011 (2015).
▪ P02. 《梵语名词复合词的分析－以依主释（偏正复合词）为中⼼》[An Analysis of Sanskrit
Complex Nominals - with focus on Tat-puruṣa (determinative) compounds].《语⾔学研究》Linguistic
Research 8 (2010): 106–123. [refereed]
▪ P01. “Ehi Passiko in the Pluralistic World: Challenges and Opportunities of Buddhism as a
World Religion in the 21st century.” First class award essay for the First World Buddhist Forum
(organized by the Buddhist Association of China, 13 April, 2006), in Hexie shijie congxin kaishi: shoujie
shijie fojiao luntan wenji–zhengwen huojiang juan 《和谐世界从⼼开始：首届世界佛教论坛⽂
集·征⽂获奖卷》. 2005. 333–345.
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Academic works
(conference presentations, lectures)
▪ W119. “Pedigree of a Tomb: The Variety of Sources and Production of Yunnanese
Uṣṇīṣavijayadhāraṇī Epitaphs.” Paper delivered at International Conference on History and Cultures
Along the Southwestern Silk Road: Texts and Images. Dali University. Dali, China. Jul 3–5, 2025.
▪ W118. “Zero and Place-value Arithmetic Operations in Early Chinese and Indian Mathematical
and Astronomical Texts: A Critical Review of the Extant Evidences.” Paper delivered at the
International Symposium on Traditional Chinese Mathematics in the Context of World Civilization.
Tianyuan Mathematics Research Center 天元数学国际交流中⼼. Kunming, China. Jun 22–27, 2025.
▪ W117. “In Search of Kunlun — Cultural Contact and Economic Ties between China and the
Malayo-Polynesian World from the 4th to the 14th centuries.” Paper delivered at the International
Conference On Kedah Tua (ICKT) 2025. Universiti Sains Malaysia. Penang, Malaysia. May 18–20,
2025.
▪ W116. “中印古代科技交流前沿探究：以”〇”的起源为例” [Frontier research on scientific and
technology exchange between ancient China and India—The Case of the Origin of Zero].
Presentation delivered in Chinese at the lecture series “Technology, History, Heritage” 科技历史遗产学
术沙龙. University of Science and Technology of China. Hefei, China. Apr 30, 2025.
▪ W115. “《云使》到《飞鸟集》: 印度⼈的⾃然与空间想象” [From Meghaduta to the Stray Birds:
Nature and Spatial Imagination of the Indians]. Presentation delivered in Chinese with poetry
recitation in Sanskrit and Cantonese at the Symposium 中外⽂艺视野下的⼈与⾃然对话—AI 时代的
美育系列讲座 [Dialogue between Human and Nature through the Perspective of World Literature—
Lecture Series on Aesthetic Education in the Age of AI]. South China Agricultural University 华南理⼯
⼤学, Guangzhou, China. Mar 14, 2025.
▪ W114. “佛教密宗與悉曇” [Esoteric Buddhism and Siddham]. Public lecture in Cantonese at the
Buddhist Lay Society of the Mantrayana School in celebration of the hundredth anniversary of Esoteric
Buddhism in Hong Kong ⾹港佛教真⾔宗居⼠林 密教傳⼊⾹港百週年瞻禮⼤會講座. Dec 8, 2024.
▪ W113. “印度“〇”与中国“〇”的相关问题 [Indian zeros and Chinese zeros]. Paper delivered in
Chinese at the 2024 Annual Conference of the Chinese Society for the History of Science and
Technology 中国科学技⽊史学会 2024 年学⽊年会. South China Agricultural University 华南理⼯
⼤学, Guangzhou, China. Nov 30, 2024.
▪ W112. “早期古代印度天⽂著作写本与校本研究—以 Yavanajātaka 与 Gārgīyajyotiṣa 为例”
[Manuscripts and editions of early Indian astronomical texts: Yavanajātaka and Gārgīyajyotiṣa].
Keynote speech in Chinese at the conference ⽂艺与科学的交织：2024 年印度学青年学术论坛.
Peking University. Oct 23–24, 2024.
▪ W111. “Zodiac-based Astral Science in the Yavanajātaka – Transformation and Development in
India and Other Parts of Asia.” Paper to be presented at the workshop “The Ancient Zodiac in a Cross-
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Cultural Perspective,” organized by the research project ZODIAC—Ancient Astral Science in
Transformation (ERC Advanced Grant No. 885478). Freie Universität Berlin. October 2–4, 2024.
▪ W110. “Foreign mathematics in the peripheries: The case ofIndian and Chinese zero-s in
Dunhuang and Southeast Asia.” Paper presented at the Conference: Dunhuang & Turfan Studies and
Silk Road Religious Civilization. Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou. 21–22 September, 2024.
▪ W109. “A Chronology of Early Indian Astral Science — Non-Indian Sources from other parts of
Asia.” Paper presented at the conference “International Conference on Science and Cultures along the
Silk Roads — Texts, Images, and Objects,” Hefei session, organized by the University of Science and
Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, China. June 24, 2024.
▪ W108. Co-chair of “International Conference on Science and Cultures along the Silk Roads —
Texts, Images, and Objects,” organized by the University of Science and Technology of China
(USTC), in collaboration with Quanzhou Maritime Museum and Shaanxi Normal University. Quanzhou,
Hefei, Xi’an. June 24-25, 2024.
▪ W107. “Early Indian Pre-Siddhāntic Astronomical Treatises — A Chronology.” Paper presented at
the conference “Favorable Constellation of the Stars”. Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at
NYU (ISAW), New York. May 2–3, 2024.
▪ W106. “关于佛经梵汉对勘问题的再探讨—以《⼋千颂般若经》为例” [A reconsideration of the
synoptic edition of the Chinese Buddhist translations with the extant Sanskrit recensions —
Examples from the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā]. Lecture in Putonghua at Peking University 北京
⼤学佛教典籍與藝術研究中⼼. April 3, 2024.
▪ W105. “ ‘南饶北季’的梵学以及京港两地‘东⽅学研究’的互动” [The Indological exchange
between Beijing and Hong Kong]. Lecture in Putonghua at Beijing Foreign Languages University 北京
外國語⼤學. April 3, 2024.
▪ W104. “古印度梵语天⽂历算——以 Yavanajātaka 为例” [Astronomical computation in Sanskrit
– Exam.” Lecture in Putonghua at 中國醫史⽂獻研究所. April 2, 2024.
▪ W103. “Zero on the Silk Roads — China’s Encounter with Indian Mathematics or vice versa?” 丝
路上的“零”——中国与印度数学之间相互影响再思“. Bilingual lecture delivered at the School of
International Studies, 若海论坛系列, Sun Yat-Sen University (Zhuhai campus). March 29, 2024.
▪ W102. “Evidences for early Indian Hindu and Buddhist presence in South China re-examined —
from Pui To in Tuen Mun to the Hindu Temple in Quanzhou.” Paper presented at The ISF Academy
Chinese Research Center Research Workshop, “Mapping South China and the Maritime Silk Roads” 华
南地域史與海上絲路, Hong Kong. January 26, 2024.
▪ W101. “Nakṣatrakarmaguṇa of the Gārigīyajyotiṣa — The Oldest Extant Source on the Indian
Lore of Nakṣatras According to Vṛddhagarga.” Paper presented atイント思想史学会第 30 回
(2023 年度)学術⼤会. The 30th Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of the History of
Indian Thought. Kyoto, Japan. December 23, 2023.
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▪ W100. “Maritime transmission ofIndian astral science in Southeast Asia — Notes on Indian
calendrics and time reckoning in Khmer and Javanese Inscriptions.” Joint paper with Kunthea
Chhom to be presented at the Symposium “Beyond the Spice Route: Knowledge Transmission and
Material Culture in Pre-Modern Maritime Asia (700–1400CE)”. King’s College, Cambridge (UK).
November 6–7, 2023.
▪ W99. “Sino-Indian Astronomical Knowledge Transmitted on the Silk Road — From Kumārajīva
to Amoghavajra.” Paper presented at the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) Silk
Road Forum & The 2nd Association for Trans-Eurasia Exchange and Silk Road Civilization
Development (ATES) Open Science Conference. Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China, August 23–25,
2023. Working Group Four: Silk Road Science and Technology Exchange. Dunhuang, China, August
26–27, 2023.
▪ W98. “Sino-Indian astronomical texts in translation – Authorial intention vs. readers’
interpretation.” Paper presented at the 16th International Conference on the History of Science in East
Asia (ICHSEA), panel of “Translating East Asian Sources: Historical Studies and Research Practice”.
Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, August 21–25, 2023.
▪ W97. “Flat Earth and Mount Sumeru: Can East Asian Buddhist cosmology be accommodated in
modern science?” Paper presented at the International Conference “Buddhism, Science and
Technology: Challenges to Religions from a Digitalized World” at the Inaugural Forum “Beyond
Civilizational Clash: The Coalescence of Human Civilizations.” The University of Hong Kong, Hong
Kong, August 10–11, 2023.
▪ W96. “The Bitterness that is wholesome — The history of unsavoury herbs and foodstuff in
medieval China.” Paper presented at the workshop “Exploring the Senses in Chinese History: Body,
Space, Spirit”. Needham Research Institute, Cambridge, June 22–23, 2023.
▪ W95. “Hindu Cemetery in Hong Kong – An Unusual History and its Post-colonial Legacy.” Paper
presented online at the CSASA-ACESA Annual Meeting (hybrid). York University, Toronto, May 28,
2023.
▪ W94. “From Zero to Infinity — China’s Encounter with Indian Mathematics.” Paper presented at
the conference “Science, Medicine, and Technology along the Silk Road” organized by the Tang Center
for Silk Road Studies. University of California, Berkeley, April 28–30, 2023.
▪ W92/93. 「古代印度天⽂學的研究⽅法與前景」(Methodology and prospect of research in
ancient Indian astronomy)、「沈⾹與東⽅異⾹—海上絲路⽂化史新探」(. Two lectures in
Putonghua delivered in the Department of History of Science and Scientific Archeology. University of
Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, April 2/4, 2023.
▪ W91. “Persian Astronomy in China.” Paper presented at the Needham Forum, Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, March 23, 2023.
▪ W90. “Exotic Aromatics and Astronomy — Early Sino-Indian Contact via Maritime Routes
through South China and Southeast Asia.” Paper presented at the First Biennial Conference on
China-India Studies. National University of Singapore, Singapore, January 13, 2023.
▪ W89. “La Sciencoj sur la Silkaj Vojoj” (The Sciences on the Silk Road). 73a Internacia Kongresa
Universitato (IKU), 105a
Universala Kongreso de Esperanto, Montreal, Canada. August 6 – 13, 2022.
▪ W88. Workshop “China,India, and Iran - Scientific Exchange and Cultural Contact” jointly
organised by the Needham Research Institute, Ancient India and Iran Trust, and the Faculty of Asian and
Page 10 of 23
Middle Eastern Studies, Cambridge University. Chief organiser and paper presenter. Cambridge, U.K.
October 8-9, 2021.
▪ W87.「南饒北季」―—回顧過去⼀百年來香港之東⽅學研究與中港兩地學界之互動 [Ji Xianlin
and Rao Zongyi: 20th-century Oriental Studies in Hong Kong and the academic interaction between
China and Hong Kong] (in Chinese). Paper presented online at the conference 中国东⽅学学科发展的
回顾与展望学术研讨会——纪念季羡林教授诞⾠ 110 周年 [Past and Present of Oriental Studies in
China – In Memory of Prof. Ji Xianlin’s 110th Birth Anniversary], Peking University. August 6, 2021.
▪ W8. 6Rāhucāra of the Gārgīyajyotiṣa – The Oldest Indian Eclipse Theory Extant and its
Transmission in Central and East Asia.” Paper presented online in the Symposium “Knowledge of the
heavens in transcultural perspective: the circulation of astronomy and astrology between civilizations,”
part 1/3 organised by Niu Weixing (USTC, Hefei) at the 26th International Congress of History of
Science and Technology, Prague. July 25-31, 2021.
▪ W85. “Kultura Renkontiĝo en Budhismo - La Estonteco de la Tri Budhanaj Tradicioj” [Cultural
Encounter in Buddhism – The Future of the Three Buddhist Traditions] (in Esperanto). 2a Virtuala
Kongreso de Esperanto. July 24, 2021.
▪ W84. “The Astral Science of the Persian Christiansin Tang China and the Buddhist reaction.”
Online respondent to the paper “The Christian Communities in Tang China: Between Adaptation and
Self-Identity” by Max Deeg (Cardiff). Buddhist Road ERC conference, Bochum, Germany. July 12-14,
2021.
▪ W83. “The Dissemination of the Concept of Planetary Weekdays in Asia.” Seminar Talk delivered at
the Robinson College, University of Cambridge, U.K. March 4, 2020.
▪ W82. “The (Non-)Transmission of the Jiuzhi li in China” Lecture and text-reading session delivered
at the Needham Research Institute, Cambridge, U.K. February 14, 2020.
▪ W81. “Buddhist Astronomy, a Misnomer?” Paper presented at the Conference “Buddhism and
Technology: Historical Background and Contemporary Challenges.” University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, Canada. September 20-22, 2019
▪ W80. “Muhūrta in Gārgīyajyotiṣa.” The 70th annual conference of the Japanese Association of Indian
and Buddhist Studies 日本印度学仏教学会第七⼗回学術⼤会. Kyoto, Japan. September 7-8, 2019.
▪ W79. “Jyotiṣa Materials in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa.” Paper presented at the Workshop “Interplay
between Jyotiḥśāstra and the Purāṇas.” University of Copenhagen, Denmark. May 18-23, 2019.
▪ W78. 雲南梵⽂⽂獻研究 [Research on Sanskrit documents in Yunnan] (in Chinese). Lecture delivered
at the Shanghai Normal University 上海師範⼤學, Shanghai, China. April 4, 2019.
▪ W77. “Source and transmission of the Gārgīyajyotiṣa - Eurasian astronomy from Babylonia to East
and Southeast Asia.” Lecture delivered at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. Pune, India.
January 28, 2019. [video link]
▪ W76. “Paitāmahasiddhānta and Its Sources.” Paper presented at the International Symposium on
Astral Sciences. IIT Bombay, India. January 24–26, 2019.
▪ W75. “The Oldest Extant Source on the Indian Lore of Nakṣatras According to Vṛddhagarga.”
Paper presented at the Second International Conference on History of Mathematics and Astronomy –
Science and Civilization in Ancient World. Northwest University, Xi’an, China. December 2 – 8, 2018.
Page 11 of 23
▪ W74. “Methods and Prospect of Research in Ancient Indian Astronomy” [in Chinese]古代印度天
⽂学研究的⽅法与前景. Lecture at Peking University. Beijing, China. November 27, 2018.
▪ W73. “The dissemination of the concept of the week and weekday computation in East Asia”.
Presenter at the symposium “Cultures, stars and numbers: Intercultural exchangesin East Asian
mathematics and astronomy.” Biennial Conference of the European Society for the History of Science.
London, U.K. September 15, 2018.
▪ W72. “Greek astral sciences in China.” Eurasian Connections - Annual Conference of the Center for
Global Asia, Shanghai New York University. Shanghai, China. August 19-23, 2018.
▪ W71. “Planetary science and time-reckoning in the Gārgīyajyotiṣa.” Panel chair and presenter at the
panel “Frontier research on the Gargīyajyoitiṣa,” The 17th World Sanskrit Conference. Vancouver,
Canada. July 12, 2018.
▪ W70. “Gargasaṃhitā and Vedic astral science in China – Early evidences of foreign transmission of
the science of the Heavens from the ‘West’.” Joseph Needham Symposium on Early Cultural &
Scientific Transmission across Eurasia with China. The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong
Kong University of Science and Technology. Hong Kong, China. March 26-27, 2018.
▪ W69. “Garga and the Astronomical Chapters of the Gārgīyajyotiṣa.” The 228th meeting of the
American Oriental Society. Pittsburgh, U.S. March 17, 2018.
▪ W68. “Visualizing time and space through foreign eyes in Medieval China – From the
Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna to Amoghavajra’s Xiuyao jing.” Lecture at the Geballe Research Workshop,
Asian Representations and Construction of Space (ARCS), Stanford University. Stanford, U.S. March
15, 2018.
▪ W67. “The edition of Gargasaṃhitā and its relation to the Buddhist astral texts”. Banaras Hindu
University. Varanasi, India. January 20, 2018.
▪ W66. “The transmission of Buddhist astral science across Asia.” Banaras Hindu University.
Varanasi, India. January 19, 2018.
▪ W65. “A Critical Edition of the Jyotiṣa Materials of the Gargasaṃhitā”. International Seminar -
Sanskrit Śāstra Literature: Perspectives & Relevance. University of Calcutta. Kolkata, India. January 15,
2018.
▪ W64. “The ‘science’ of astrology in Thai Buddhism: Past and present.” Panel chair and presenter at
the panel “Astrology and magic in Thai Buddhism”, SEASIA 2017. Chulalongkorn University.
Bangkok, Thailand. December 17, 2017.
▪ W63. “Greco-Babylonian astral science in Asia - Patterns of dissemination and transformation.”
Paper presented at the International Conference “Traditional Sciences in Asia 2017 — East-West
Encounter in the Science of Heaven and Earth,” 京都大学国際シンポジウム：天と地の科学—東と西の
出会い, Kyoto University. Kyoto, Japan. October 26, 2017.
▪ W62. “The Greco-Indian theories of daśā and Ptolemy’s Division of Time.” Lecture at Università di
Genova. Genova, Italy. September 11, 2017.
▪ W61. “Benefic and malefic planets in the Gargasaṃhitā and other early Greco-Indian astral texts”/
“Dorotheus and Duliyusi jing - Perso-Sogdian astrology in China.” Two lectures at University of
Bologna. Ravenna, Italy. September 7/8, 2017.
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▪ W60. “Diglossic continuum in Indian intellectual culture as seen in early jyotiṣa works.” Seminar
presentation in the working group “Thinking in Many Tongues” organized by Max-Planck-Institut für
Wissenschaftsgeschichte (Berlin). Università Ca’ Foscari. Venice, Italy. September 4, 2017.
▪ W59. Gārgīyajyotiṣa における Tithikarmaguṇa — 初期の諸⽂献にもとづくティティ儀礼. The
64th annual conference of the Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies 日本印度学仏教学
会第六⼗四回学術⼤会. Kyoto, Japan. September 2, 2017.
▪ W58. “Sanskrit inscriptions and manuscripts in Yunnan, a preliminary survey.” Lecture at the
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Division of Humanities. Hong Kong, China. August
30, 2017.
▪ W57. “The Buddhist transmission of Grahamātṛkādhāraṇī and other planetary astral texts.” Paper
presented at the panel “Buddhist Cosmology and Astral Science,” XVIIIth Congress of the
International Association of Buddhist Studies. Paper presenter and co-organizer of panel. Toronto,
Canada. August 21, 2017.
▪ W56. “Medieval Chinese descriptions of Sanskrit: Dao’an, Xuanzang, Huili and Yijing.” Seminar
presentation in the working group “Thinking in Many Tongues.” Max-Planck-Institut für
Wissenschaftsgeschichte. Berlin, Germany. May 9, 2017.
▪ W55. “Transmission of Greco-Babylonian planetary science and horoscopy in India and China.”
Inaugural Otto Neugebauer Lecture in the History of the Exact Sciences in Antiquity. Brown University.
Providence, U.S. May 2, 2017.
▪ W54. “The lineage of ‘foreign’ planetary worship in ninth-century China – ritualistic elements of
the Qiyao rangzai jue 七曜攘災決.” Paper presented at the panel “The Ritualization of Astrology in
Pre-modern Asia,” 2017 Annual Conference of the Association for Asian Studies. Toronto, Canada.
March 16, 2017.
▪ W53. “How Greek was Greco-Indian and Greco-Chinese astral science?” Conference paper.
Presenter and co-organizer of conference “Cosmos, East and West: Astral Sciences in South and East
Asia and their Interaction with the Greco-Roman World.” Institute for the Study of the Ancient
World, New York University. New York, U.S. February 27, 2017.
▪ W52. “Brahmins, Monks and Their Astral Lore — The Origin, Development and Transmission of
Greco-Indian Astral Science in South Asia and Beyond.” Public lecture. Institute for the Study of the
Ancient World, New York University, New York, U.S. January 31, 2017.
▪ W51. “Lingvo-politiko kaj Universalaj Alfabetoj en Ĉinio” [Language Politics and Universal
Alphabets in China, in Esperanto]. Esperanto Society of New York, New York, U.S. January 21, 2017.
▪ W50. “Fanyu qianziwen 梵語千字⽂ and Chinese-Sanskrit lexicons.” Seminar presentation in the
working group “Thinking in Many Tongues.” Max-Planck-Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte. Berlin,
Germany. December 14, 2016.
▪ W49. “Foreign astrology in disguise: Sources and transmission of Amoghavajra’s Xiuyao jing.”
Invited lecture. SOAS, London, U. K. December 9, 2016.
▪ W48. “Monks and magic: Greek and Indian astral divination in Tang China.” Invited lecture.
University of California, Riverside, U. S. November 28, 2016.
▪ W47. “Magical science of the West: Foreign astronomy and astrology in Tang China.” Invited
lecture. Temple University, Philadelphia, U.S. November 11, 2016.
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▪ W46. 「タイにおける天⽂学と占星術」(“Thai astronomy and astrology”) 第１４３回仏教天⽂
学研究会 (Buddhist astronomy research seminar no. 143). Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto
University, Kyoto, Japan. May 20, 2016.
▪ W45. “Les stèles bouddhiques de Pairi Daiza et le royaume médiéval de Dali (Yunnan).” Séminaire
. Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium. May 4, 2016.
▪ W44. “Siddham — Sacred Indian Script in Buddhist Asia.” Oriental Lecture Series 2016. Invited
lecture. Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium. May 3, 2016.
▪ W43. “Buddhist astral science in Asia – Origins, development and current practices.” Invited
lecture. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. April 29, 2016.
▪ W42. “Kumārajīva’s astral learning as seen in his translation/compilation of Dazhidulun.”
International seminar on Kumārajīva studies. World Buddhist University. Bangkok, Thailand. April 24,
2016.
▪ W41. “Astral Science from the Near East to China in the late first millennium AD –Dorotheus in
Pahlavī and Duli Yusi Jing in Chinese.” SEAC 2015 Annual Conference. Rome, Italy. November 9,
2015.
▪ W40. “Budhisma Kosmo” (The Buddhist Universe). Two additional AIS-courses: “Disvastiĝo kaj
transformado de la astraj sciencoj trans kulturaj limoj” (Dissemination and transformation of the
astral sciences across cultural boundaries); “Proto-scienco kaj religioj en Azio” (Protoscience and
religions in Asia). 68a Internacia Kongresa Universitato (IKU), 100a
Universala Kongreso de Esperanto,
Lille, France. July 25 – August 1, 2015.
▪ W39. “Zodiac in South and East Asia: Transformation and interaction with indigenous astral
science as seen from textual and iconographical sources.” The 14th International Conference on the
History of Science in East Asia. International Society for the History of East Asian Science, Technology
and Medicine (ISHEASTM) / École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales(EHESS), Paris, France.
Jul 6-10, 2015.
▪ W38. “A new edition of the Yavanajātaka based on the newly discovered manuscripts.” 16th World
Sanskrit Conference. International Association of Sanskrit Studies (IASS) / Silpakorn University,
Bangkok, Thailand.Jun 29, 2015.
▪ W37. “The astronomical knowledge of the Buddha, sages and foreigners - The Question of
Authority in Buddhist Astral Science in South and East Asia. The Twelfth Biennial History of
Astronomy workshop, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, U.S.A. Jun 24 - 28, 2015.
▪ W36. “Lingvo-lernado kaj Esperanto: Pragmataj kaj Idealismaj Lecionoj pri Homa Diverseco de
Umesao Tadao” 梅棹忠夫の⾜跡. La 6-a Publika Prelegkunveno memore al Japana Tago de
Esperanto 第 6 回「エスペラントの日」記念公開講演会. Organized by Japana Esperanto-Instituto
日本エスペラント協会. Esperanto-Domo en Tokio エスペラント会館, Tokyo, Japan. Jun 21, 2015.
▪ W35. “Greek Astral Science in China: Nestorians, Perso-Arabs, and the Jesuits.” (Speaker and
panel organizer). “Overlapping cosmologies and cosmographies in pre-modern Asia (1)”. The 19th Asian
Studies Conference Japan. Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan. Jun 20, 2015.
▪ W34. “The Legacy of Greek Astral Science in China, Japan and Southeast Asia – past and
present.” (poster presentation). International Workshop on Traditional Sciences in Asia (IWTSA 2015).
Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Jun 17 - 19, 2015.
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▪ W33. “The Evolution of Buddhism in Hong Kong and its Transformation during the Japanese
Occupation Period (1941–1945).” International Conference on the History of Hong Kong, The Hong
Kong Institute of Education. Hong Kong, Apr 10-11, 2015.
▪ W32. “Buddhism in Hong Kong during WWII” (in Cantonese) ⼆戰時的香港佛教。 Lecture at
Society of Hong Kong History. Hong Kong, Apr 8, 2015.
▪ W31. “Ritualistic cyclicity in Indo-Greek astral science – expressions for various modes of time
measurement in the Yavanajātaka.” Workshop on astral sciences, mathematics and rituals. Université
Paris 7 Laboratoire SPHERE, Mar 20, 2015.
▪ W30. “The Transmission and Transformation of Ptolemy, Dorotheus and other forms of GrecoBabylonian astral science across Eurasia.” Hakubi Seminar. The Hakubi Center for advanced
research, Kyoto, Japan. Feb 3, 2015.
▪ W29. 《占星四書》、《夜嚩那本⽣》與《⾀斯經》—— 印度希臘天⽂學東漸考 “Tetrablibos,
Yavanajātaka and Yusi jing — The Transmission ofIndo-Greco Astral Science from the “West” to
East Asia.” 第三屆梵學與佛學研討會 The Third Indological and Buddhological Conference, Chinese
Academy of Social Science, Beijing, China. Oct 16-19, 2014.
▪ W28. “The Transmission of Buddhist Astral Science from India to East Asia - The Gandhāran and
Central Asian Connections.” The XVII Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies.
Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria. Aug 20, 2014.
▪ W27. “Vision, Disillusion and Reconciliation: The Career of Utsuki Nishū in Hong Kong during
the Japanese Occupation Period (1941–1945).” The 18th Asian Studies Conference Japan. Sophia
University, Tokyo, Japan. Jun 21, 2014.
▪ W26. “Planetary theories, Ephemerides and Horoscopes: Reception ofIndian Astral Science in
China and Japan.” International Conference on Conceptualizing India-China Connection.” Fudan
University, Shanghai. Nov 4-5, 2013.
▪ W25. “The oldest Indo-Greek text in Sanskrit” revisited - additional new readings from the newly
discovered manuscript of the Yavanajātaka.” The 60th annual conference of the Japanese Association
of Indian and Buddhist Studies 日本印度学仏教学会第六⼗回学術⼤会. Matsue,Japan. Sep 1, 2013.
▪ W24. “The Book of Four Gates 四門經 and Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos.” The Reception of Greek and
Roman Culture in East Asia: Texts & Artefacts, Institutions & Practices. Freie Universität Berlin,
Germany. Jul 4-6, 2013.
▪ W23. “The History of Psuedo-planets in China (II): from 11th to 20th century C.E.” The 8th
International Convention of Asia Scholars: The East-West Crossroads. Macau. Jun 24-27, 2013.
▪ W22. 「ヤヴァナジャータカにおけるインド天⽂学について―新発見のネパール写本を中⼼
して」. “The Indian Astronomy in the Yavanajātaka” (In Japanese). 京都⼤学術数学研究会,
⼈⽂研北白川分館. Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto. Jun 2, 2013.
▪ W21. “The History of Psuedo-planets in China (I): from 2nd to 10th century C.E.” The Bright Dark
Ages: Comparative and Connective Perspectives. Workshop organized by the Asia Research Institute
(ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS). Singapore. Feb 27-28, 2013.
Page 15 of 23
▪ W21. “The transmission of Greek astral science to India reconsidered - Critical remarks on the
contents and the newly discovered manuscript of the Yavanajātaka.” イント思想史学会.
Conference of the Association for the Study of the History of Indian Thought. Kyoto, Japan. Dec 22,
2012.
▪ W20. “The Transmission of Astral Science from India to China - lunar mansions and luminaries in
Chinese Buddhist Texts.” 古印度天⽂學東漸考－漢譯佛經裡的”宿”和”曜”. (Presentation in
Chinese). Second Indological and Buddhological Seminar (China). “第⼆屆梵學與佛學研討會.
National Chengchi University. Taipei, Taiwan. Nov 9-11, 2012.
▪ W19. “The Hinduization of the Genethliacal Astrology – from Yavanajātaka to Bṛhajjātaka.” Paper
presented at Vedica Neapolitana. Lecture at the University of Naples . Procida, Italy. Oct 5,
2012.
▪ W18. “Matching stellar ideas to the Stars – Remarks on the translation of the Indian jyotiṣa terms
nakṣkatra, rāśi and graha in Chinese Buddhist Canon.” Paper presented at the symposium “CrossCultural Transmission of Buddhist Texts: Theories and Practices of Translation”. University of
Hamburg. Jul 23, 2012. (Funding provided by the “Kyoto Erasmus Program”).
▪ W17. “Theravāda teachings and meditation in Hong Kong.” Paper presented at the 3rd World
Buddhist Forum, Hong Kong. Apr 26, 2012.
▪ W16. “Sūryagarbhaparivarta and Candragarbhaparivarta of Mahāsaṃnipātasūtra -Indian
Jyotiṣa literature through the lens of Chinese Buddhist Canon.” Paper presented at the 15th World
Sanskrit Conference, Delhi. Section: Scientific Literature. Jan 9, 2012. (Funding provided by the “Kyoto
Erasmus Program”).
▪ W15. “Theravāda Buddhism as part of the Buddhist Revival in Mainland China and Hong Kong –
Two Paradigms.” Conference on the Buddhist Revival in Asia. Dec 16, 2011. Nalanda-Sriwijaya
Centre, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
▪ W14. “早期传⼊汉地的”般若经”写本与其翻译－略论《出三藏记集》序⽂内容与现存⽂字材料
之异同.” [Early Prajñāpāramitā manuscripts in China and their Chinese translations -
discrepancies between their descriptions in the “Prefaces” of Chusanzangjiji and the extent
versions] (Presentation in Chinese). Oct 21, 2011. 梵学与佛学研讨会. Indology and Buddhology
Conference, Xiyuan Temple, Suzhou, China.
▪ W13. “The Fate of Jyotiṣa (Indian Astrology/Astronomy) in Medieval China - The case of
Amoghavajra’s translation of Xiuyao jing, its translation, dissemination and subsequent demise in
China.” Oct 16, 2011. Workshop on the historical and cultural interactions between India and China. Cosponsored by Peking University, Nalanda University, Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre. Peking University,
Beijing, China.
▪ W12. “Master Pu’an’s alphabetical dhāraṇī - bastardization or sinicization?” paper delivered on
Jun 24, 2011 at the XVIth Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum
Buddhist College, Jinshan, Taiwan.
▪ W11. “Sadāprarudita reconsidered - principle of organization and narrativity of Prajñāpāramitā.”
Paper delivered on Jun 21, 2011 at the XVIth Congress of the International Association of Buddhist
Studies, Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Jinshan, Taiwan.
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▪ W10. “Kumārajīva and Prajñāpāramitā.” Paper presented in “KUMARAJIVA : PHILOSOPHER
AND SEER.” Conference organized by Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts, New Delhi. Feb 3-5,
2011. Conference proceeding. 82-95.
http://www.ignca.nic.in/kumarjiva/kumarjiva_abstracts_cvs/ab_bill_m.pdf
▪ W09. “仏教マントラの中国化の⼀例—普庵咒における悉曇字母について.” Report in Japanese
delivered at Kyoto University Institute for Research in Humanities 京都⼤學⼈⽂科学研究所「地域
化する仏教——研究の視点と可能性」共同研究班. Jun 18, 2011.
▪ W07/08. “The Making of a Sacred Text: The Chinese translations of Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras - from
Eastern Han to Modern Time” and “The Study of Prajñāpāramitā texts and Buddhist Philology -
Past and Future.” Two lectures delivered at the University of Hong Kong. 24th-25th Jan., 2011.
http://wisdom.buddhistdoor.com/cbsphoto/category/academic-lectures/
▪ W06.”有关佛经梵汉对勘的若⼲构想与意见－以《⼋千颂般若经》为例.” [Methodological issues
on analyzing Sanskrit-Chinese Buddhist texts- taking Aṣṭasāhasrikāprajñāpāramitā as an
example]. 梵汉对勘会议. Presentation delivered at Conference on Sanskrit-Chinese translation studies.
Beijing. Jun 22, 2010.
▪ W05 《〈般若经·常啼菩萨品〉及其注疏〈现观庄严光明释〉之⽂献学研究》. [A Philological
investigation of Sadāprarudita-parivarta of Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra and its commentary according to
Haribhadra’s Abhisamayālaṃkārālokā] (in Chinese). PhD thesis. Peking University, 2009.
▪ W04. “The Sadāprarudita cycle of Aṣṭasāhasrikā and its commentary according to Haribhadra’s
Abhisamayālaṃkārālokā.” Paper presented at the First International Sanskrit Manuscript Conference
第⼀届梵⽂贝叶经写本国际会议. Oct 18–19, 2008.
▪ W03. “The Varnamālā Mantra of Master Pu’an: Sources from the Vedas and Buddhist Tantric
texts” (In Chinese). Paper presented in 2006 conference of Guqin musicological research at Central
Conservatory of Music, Beijing. Oct 19, 2006. Revised in 2009 as《悉昙真⾔考：〈普庵咒〉所蕴涵
的⽂化信息》and published in 《北京⼤学 2009年研究⽣论坛得奖论⽂集》223–235.
▪ W02. “Reflections on the Perfect Language – Assumptions behind language and its functionsin the
Upanishads and John Wilkin’s ‘Philosophical Language.” Paper presented at the 11th Academic
Conference of Chinese Indian Literature Society, Beijing. October 18, 2006.
▪ W01. “Evolution of Siddham Studies in Chinese Buddhism.” MA thesis. Supervisor: Prof. Wang
Bangwei (Peking University). The University of Hong Kong, 2004.
Public outreach and other works
▪ 2024 “佛教密宗與悉曇” [Esoteric Buddhism and Siddham]. Public lecture delivered in Cantonese at
the Hong Kong Mantrayāna School for Lay Buddhists. Centenary anniversary celebration of Esoteric
Buddhism in Hong Kong. December 8, 2024.
▪ 2024 科技史英⽂论⽂写作：问题、⽅法与观念 [Academic Writing in History of Science:
Problems, Methods, and Approaches]. 3-part seminar at the University Science and Technology of
China. November, 2024.
Page 17 of 23
▪ 2024 “不空與《宿曜經》——密宗、天⽂、星曼陀羅” [Esoteric Buddhism, Astronomy, and
Star Mandala — Amoghavajra and his Xiuyao jing]. Public lecture delivered in Cantonese at the
Dharmalakshana Buddhist Institute 法相學會. Third of the 2024 Public lecture series “Philosophy,
culture, and arts of Esoteric Buddhism「密宗思想、⽂化與藝術」公開講座第三講, Hong Kong.
September 20, 2024.
▪ 2024 “Indological Studies in Hong Kong and China — Past and Present.” Lecture delivered at the
Consulate General of India (Hong Kong & Macau SAR) as part of the seminar series “Prajñā”, Hong
Kong. March 15, 2024.
▪ 2024 “The Wonders of Dunhuang and the Silk Roads.” Lecture delivered at the McGill Alumni
dinner, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. February 22, 2024.
▪ 2023悉曇梵字與悉曇學 [Siddham Sanskrit Characters and the Study of Sanskrit writing in China].
Public lecture in Cantonese at The Hong Kong Mantra School for Lay Buddhists ⾹港佛教真⾔宗
居⼠林. Hong Kong, August 13, 2023.
▪ 2018「知音の調べ、琴学の理論」 [Guqin Culture and Musical Theories of the Chinese Literati] ⼈
⽂研アカデミー2018・連続セミナー『技芸の伝統と学問：中国ユネスコ無形⽂化遺産』.
Public lecture in Japanese. Kyoto, Japan. 5 October, 2018.
▪ 2018 「國際漢學：現況與前景」[International Chinese Studies: Present and Future]. 泰順⽵里. ⽂
禮書院. Public lecture. Zhejiang, China. 25 August, 2018.
▪ 2017「欧米遊学報告—NY ⼤学・ブラウン⼤学共同研究に参加して」汎アジア科学⽂化班
研究会. 京都⼤学⼈⽂科学研究所. Workshop in Japanese. Kyoto, Japan. 25 June, 2017.
▪ 2016 “Master Pu’an’s alphabetical dhāraṇī 普庵咒 – bastardization or sinicization?” Presentation
delivered at the New York Qin Society. 6th November, 2016.
▪ 2012 “La stela scio de antikvaj popoloj - de Grekio ĝis Ĉinio” [“The astral knowledge of the ancient
peoples - from Greece to China”]. Publication in Esperanto. Kontakto 250.4 (2012). 10–11.
▪ 2011 Fanyu diandi 梵語點滴. Collection of articles on Sanskrit-Chinese etymology of Buddhist terms.
Magazine article. http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/cht/news/18785
▪ 2011 Xitan shiqu 悉曇拾趣. Collection of articles on Siddham and Sanskrit epigraphy in Japan.
Magazine article.http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/cht/news/19058
▪ 2011 “Reflections on Confession of a Buddhist Atheist (Stephen Batchelor)”. Book review. 17/01/11.
Mingkok. http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/17565
▪ 2011 “La Muziko de Gukimo 古琴ー古代中国の音楽”. Public lecture in Esperanto delivered at 第
59 回関西エスペラント⼤会 . Kobe, Japan. 19 June, 2011.
▪ 2010 “Intervjuo / Bill Mak”. (Interview in Esperanto by Simiz Josijas 清⽔義益) La Junuloj. 10/2010.
3–4. http://www.jej.jp/lj/lj_elektra_sona/LaJunuloj88.pdf
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▪ 2010 中国古琴について. Public lecture and guqin-recital in Japanese/Esperanto. Gallery “Mint”,
Kyoto. 02/10/10. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/esperanto_kioto/20101002
▪ 2010 “My Journey as a Buddhist”. 17/08/10. Magazine article. Bodhi Journal.
http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/13015
▪ 2010《中国 1946-76 知られざる歴史》. Public lecture on contemporary Chinese history in
Japanese/Esperanto. 第 59 回関東エスペラント⼤会. 調布市⽂化会館. Chōfu, Japan. 06/06/10.
▪ 2009 La Klasika Muziko de Gukimo. Public lecture on Guqin-music in Esperanto and recital.
Yamanashi, Japan. 11/10/09.
▪ 2008 “Okcidenteco en la cina lingva medio: akcepto kaj rezisto” [“The concept of the ‘West’ as
reflected in Chinese Language media: Acceptance and Resistance”]. Japana Esperantologio. N-ro 3
(2008). Edited by Watanabe Katsuyoshi. 17-36.
▪ 2008 Antikva Klasika Muziko de Gukimo (Guqin). Zamenhofa festo. Public lecture on Guqin-music
and recital. 名古屋市東⽣涯学習センター, Nagoya, Japan.12/12/08.
http://homepage2.nifty.com/nagoja-esperanto/info/257.pdf. Exchange with Kyosinji temple.
http://www.nagoya30.net/temple/kyosin/document/enlighten.html.
▪ 2008 Informationen über den Buddhismus. Public lecture on Buddhism in Esperanto. Interkultura
Centro Herzberg. Herzberg, Germany. 14/07/08.
▪ 2008 Traditionelle chinesische Musik live erleben. Public lecture on Guqin-music in English and recital.
Universität Hamburg. 21/05/08.
▪ 2008《国外禅修与佛迹》(Buddhist meditation practices and overseas pilgrimages). Lecture at
Peking University at the invitation of PKU Chan Society. 12/03/08.
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5fe7aa610100fbmz.html
▪ 2007 “Synergy or Collision:
University students encountering Buddhism in China”. Bodhi Journal. 3rd Issue (April, 2007).
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/journal/issue003-03.html
▪ 2007 Aug Organizer and assistance teacher of “20-days Sanskrit Program” at Baofeng Monastery
/ Jiangxi Buddhist College.
▪ 2007 Jun Invited speaker at Baofeng Monastery / Jiangxi Buddhist College. Topic: 1. Buddhist
philology and Sanskrit studies; 2. Studies on Sanskrit Script Systems.
▪ 2006 “La Pekina Universitato kaj Esperanto 北京⼤学与世界语”. 25/12/2006.
http://www.elerno.cn/elibro/la_pekina_universitato_kaj_esperanto.pdf
▪ 2006《佛教⽂献学的历史、发展与应用》Buddhist philology – history, development and
application. Public lecture at Bailin Monastery, Hebei Province. 05/10/06.
Awards/
Fellowship /
Scholarships
▪ Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole Fellow 饒宗頤學術館 院⼠, The University of Hong Kong,
Hong Kong (2021.10–2024.9)
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▪ Grantee for Critical Editions and Scholarly Translations of the Robert H. N. Ho
Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies, 2019.5–10
▪ Bye Fellow, Robinson College, University of Cambridge (2019.11–2021.9)
▪ Chulalongkorn University Royal Golden Jubilee Scholarship. Three-month
collaborative research grant (2016.2–4, Bangkok, Thailand)
▪ History of Science Society, FHS Asia Essay Prize, 2015 (2015.11.21, San Francisco,
USA)
▪ Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellow, Tokyo/Kyoto (2013.9–
2014.8)
▪ Japanese Government Monbukagakushō Scholarship (MEXT), 2008–13
▪ Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Research Scholarship, 2007.9–
2008.3
▪ The Government of China First Class Scholarship (Hong Kong, Macau, Overseas
Chinese), 2006–7
▪ Hualin Scholarship, Centre of Oriental Studies, School of Foreign Languages, 2007
▪ Peking University Law’s Foundation Scholarship, 2005–6
▪ Tung Lin Kok Yuen scholarship, University of Hong Kong, 2004
▪ Dean’s Honour Roll, McGill University, 1996
▪ Faculty of Religious Studies Award for Top Sanskrit Student, McGill University,
1994
▪ James McGill Scholarship, 1993–6
▪ J.W. McConnell Entrance Scholarship, McGill University, 1992–3
▪ MacDonald scholarship for Entrance into University Chemical Engineering program,
Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute, 1992
▪ Canadian Governor’s Medal for academic excellence and Ontario Scholar, 1992
Media
Reports
- “Les mystères de la stèle sacrée — Une incantation magique déchiffrée du sanskrit,” La
Libre Belgique. 4 Mai 2016, pp. 20-21.
- “Pairi Daiza offre une stèle du royaume de Dali à l’UCL” L’Avenir (Brabant Wallon).
4 Mai 2016, p. 2.
Funding
Experience /
Collaborative
Projects
- Co-investigator of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-inAid for Scientific Research (Scientific Research [A]), “A new paradigm for the
studies of Southeast Asian continental religions” 東南アジア⼤陸部宗教研究の
新パラダイムの構築. 日本学術振興会科学研究費助成事業（学術研究助
成基⾦助成⾦）基盤研究（A）. 2016.4-2021.3. JPY 32,240,000.
Page 20 of 23
- Co-investigator in seminar: “Thinking in many tongues: monolingual texts and
reading practices in plurilingual Eurasian societies”. Max Planck Institute for the
History of Science, Berlin. 2016.1-2017.12.
- Principal investigator of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fund
for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International
Research), “Overlapping cosmologies of pre-modern Asia”. 日本学術振興会科
学研究費助成事業（学術研究助成基⾦助成⾦）基盤研究（C）. 2016.4-
2019.3. JPY 6,890,000.
- Principal investigator of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Scientific Research [C]), “Overlapping
cosmologies of pre-modern Asia”. 日本学術振興会科学研究費助成事業（学
術研究助成基⾦助成⾦）基盤研究（C）. 2015.4-2018.3. JPY 4,680,000.
- Deputy team leader of Research group “East Asian Religious Culture and
Natural Science” and “Buddhist Astronomy Research Group,” Institute for
Research in Humanities, Kyoto University 京都⼤学⼈⽂科学研究所東⽅学研
究部共同研究Ｃ班「東アジアの宗教⽂化と自然学」(2015.4-2017.3).
Continuation of the “Buddhist Astronomy Seminar” 仏教天⽂学研究班
(Doshisha University, 2002-2015).
- Research group member of “Fundamental Research in Digital Humanities,”
Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University 京都⼤学⼈⽂科学研究
所東⽅学研究部共同研究Ｃ班「⼈⽂情報学の基礎研究」(2015.4-2016.3).
- Sponsorship funding for participation in International Association of Sanskrit
Studies (IASS) 16th World Sanskrit Conference by the Kyoto University
Foundation 京都⼤学教育研究振興財団国際研究集会発表助成. FY2015.
JPY 150,000.
- Research in Indian astral sciences in Chinese translation. Principal investigator.
Funded under Kyoto Erasmus Program. 京都エラスムス計画‐持続的社会発展
に向けた次世代アジア共同研究リーダー育成. January - July 2012. JPY ￥
358,530 (In two instalments: January 2012. JPY 160,000. July 2012. JPY
198,530).
-《⼋千颂般若经》梵汉对勘研究 (Sanskrit-Chinese comparative studies of the
Aṣṭasāhasrikā-Prajñāpāramitā). Principal investigator, in collaboration with the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Funded under 国家社会科学基⾦特别委
托项目- 梵⽂研究及⼈才队伍建设 (Sanskrit research and research team
development - Specially designated project of the Chinese Government Funding
for the Social Sciences). July 2010 - December 2013. RMB ¥120,000.
- Research on the Sanskrit palm leaves of Haribhadra’s Abhisamayālaṇkārālokā
kept in the Nepal-German Manuscript Preservation Project, Hamburg University.
Stipendienurkunde funded by Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst
(DAAD). September 2007 - March 2008. EUR 6,650.
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Teaching
Experience - Introductory Sanskrit (University of Hong Kong, 2011-13) [undergraduate, in
English]
- History of Translation of Buddhist Texts (University of Hong Kong, 2012-13)
[undergraduate, in English]
- Introduction to Indian Astronomy (Kyoto University, 印度天⽂学概論——
東洋⽂化学系ゼミナール, 2013–14) [undergraduate, in Japanese/English]
- Buddhist Astral Science (Chulalongkorn University, special seminar in Thai
Buddhism, 2016 [postgraduate, in English]. Chief instructors: Dr. Chanwit
Tudkeao and Dr. Arthid Sheravanichkul).
- Buddhism and Society (Chulalongkorn University), special topics in Buddhism
and Society: Buddhist Astral Science – Theory and Practice, 2016 [postgraduate,
in English]. Co-instructor: Dr. Sompornnuch Tansrisook.
- Cosmology and Astronomy in the Ancient World (Kyoto University, ILAS
seminar, 2018 [undergraduate, in English]. Co-instructor: Dr. Marcus Werner)
- Seminars in Buddhist Sanskrit Texts (Wenli Academy, 2019–22) [in Chinese
and Sanskrit].
- Introduction to the history of science and technology in ancient China 古代
中国科技史⼊门 (University of Science and Technology of China, 2023.7)
[postgraduate, 40 hrs, in English].
- Reading Ancient Indian Scientific Literature 古代印度科学⽂献导读
(University of Science and Technology of China, 2023.7, 2024.9) [postgraduate, 40 hrs, in
Chinese, Sanskrit].
Professional
Services
Co-editor. Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 2024–
External Examiner for Hui Pui Ying, A Critical Investigation into the
Computations of Chinese and Indian Calendars in Early and High Tang China [in
Chinese] M. Phil., The University of Hong Kong. 2018.
Membership ▪ International Association of Buddhist Studies, 2010–
▪ International Association of Sanskrit Studies, 2012–
▪ Royal Asiatic Society (Hong Kong Branch), 2012–
▪ インド思想史学会 Association for the Study of the History of Indian Thought
(Japan), 2012–
▪ 日本印度学仏教学会 The Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist
Studies, 2013–
▪ History of Science Society of Japan, 2015–
▪ Association for Asian Studies, 2016–
Page 22 of 23
▪ American Oriental Society, 2018–
▪ Canadian South Asian Studies Association, 2023–
▪ 中国科学技⽊史学 会 Chinese Society for the History of Science and
Technology, 2024–
Professional
Services
Personal
Interests
▪ Expert of Subject Committee, ाैितषम (Astronomy ् and Astral Science), 19th World
Sanskrit Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2024
▪ Member of the Advisory Board on History, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (1
September 2021 – 31 August 2024)
▪ Guqin (member of Deyin Qin Society 德偣琴社, 2003; student of Sou Si Ti) and
Classical Music (ATCL in Piano, 2002; student of Masakazu Otani 大谷正和,
Lillian Eyre, Mary-Lou Tremills)
▪ Chinese and Siddham calligraphy (student of Ngan Siu Mui, Ibata Shōhei, Kodama
Giryū)
▪ Astronomy (Hong Kong Sky Observers’ Association, 1984)
Languages ▪ English – Spoken / Written [fluent]
▪ Chinese – Spoken (Cantonese/Putonghua) / Written [fluent]
▪ Sanskrit – Reading (University and Traditional training)
▪ Pali – Reading (University and Traditional training)
▪ Tibetan – Reading (University training)
▪ Japanese – Spoken / Written (Kyoto University intensive program)
▪ French – Spoken / Written (U de Chicoutimi Immersion / DELF A2)
▪ German – Spoken / Written (University 1st year 86%; Goethe-Institut, Hamburg
B2)
▪ Esperanto – Spoken / Written (US ELNA Adv, ILEI nivelo-A) [fluent]
▪ Korean – Spoken / Written (University 1st year level Gr. A)
▪ Bahasa Indonesia – Spoken (intermediate) / Written (beginner)
▪ Old Javanese – Reading (beginner, EFEO, Jakarta/Trawas)
References
Available upon request
Page 23 of 23
Webpages
https://needham.academia.edu/BillMak
https://researchmap.jp/billmak
http://www.billmak.com