Lewis R. Lancaster

Faculty Profile

Dr. Lewis R. Lancaster is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at University of the West and Professor Emeritus of East Asian Languages at UC Berkeley. A renowned scholar of Buddhism, particularly Korean Buddhism, he has made significant contributions to the field through his extensive research, publications, and digital humanities initiatives. His scholarly publications include numerous books and articles on the Korean Buddhist Canon, early Ch’an Buddhism, the assimilation of Buddhism in Korea, and the history and interpretation of Buddhism in China, Mongolia, Tibet, and Thailand.

Dr. Lancaster’s academic career is distinguished by his pioneering work in applying technology to the study of Buddhist texts and traditions. He founded the Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative (ECAI), a groundbreaking project using digital tools to map the spread of Buddhism across cultures and time periods. He served as the Academic Curator of the Buddhist Maritime Silk Road exhibition (Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in Kaohsiung, Taiwan), offering a 360° pilgrimage to Buddhist temples along the Maritime Route. He also leads the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism Translation project, available in print and online.

Selected Publications

• Lancaster, Lewis R. Buddhist Encounters: Finding a Home in the Human Condition. Taipei: Fo Guang Cultural Enterprise Company, Limited, 2024.
• Lancaster, Lewis R. The Buddhist Maritime Silk Road. Fo Guang Shan Institute of Humanistic Buddhism, 2022.
• Scripture:Canon::Text:Context: Essays Honoring Lewis R. Lancaster.Edited by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2011.
• Lancaster, Lewis R. “Buddhism and the Digital Age.” Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic Buddhism= 西來人間佛教學報 4 (2003): 79-86.
• Dr. Lancaster’s publications are available at berkeley.academia.edu/LewisLancaster