Hsiao-Lan Hu

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Professor of Religious Studies
Director of the Women's & Gender Studies Program

Hsiao-Lan Hu
Contact Info:
Campus: McNichols Campus
Building: Briggs
Room: 333
Phone: 313-578-0351
Hsiao-Lan Hu
Areas of Expertise:
Asian Religions
Buddhism
Gender and Religion
Religious Social Ethics

Degrees

  • Ph.D. with distinction in Religion, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • M.A. in Religion, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • B.A. in English, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • B.A. in Philosophy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Biography

Hsiao-Lan Hu taught at Temple University before joining the University in 2008. Hu has published widely in several areas and is an internationally recognized scholar in Buddhist-feminist social ethics and socially engaged Buddhisms, Buddhism and intersectionality issues (gender, race, and sexuality), Buddhist-Christian dialogue, and Buddhist and pluralist pedagogy. Ze teaches broadly in several areas as well, such as Asian religions, Buddhism, religious social ethics, and women and gender issues in religions. Hir courses won the Jesuit Summer Stipend for Course Development twice: in 2010 for Religions and Global Wellbeing, and in 2015 for Religions and Sci-Fi. Several of Hu's courses, including Religions and Sci-Fi, earn Women's & Gender Studies (WGS) credits. Ze assumed the directorship of WGS in 2020 and is the current Vice President of Sākyadhitā: International Association of Buddhist Women, the largest organization of Buddhist women in the world.

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    Publications, refereed:

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Networking as Equals? Engaged Buddhists’ Egalitarian Ideals and Hierarchical Habits.” In Grappling with the Global Ethic: Multi-Religious Perspectives on Global Issues, edited by Myriam Renaud, 27-45. Routledge, forthcoming in 2021.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “The Teaching of Anātman and the Commitment of Bodhisattva: On the Attachment to Binaries and the Gendered Self.” Hsuan Chuang Journal of Buddhist Studies (March 2020): 23-74.; 

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “The White Feminism in Rita Gross’ Critique of Gender Identities and Reconstruction of Buddhism.” In Buddhism and Whiteness, edited by George Yancy and Emily McRae, 293-308. In the Philosophy of Race series. Lexington Books, 2019.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Syncretism and Exclusivism: Characteristics of Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism in Relation to the Racial Integration in Lansing Buddhist Association.” Sheng Yen Studies, No. 9 (2017): 349-382.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “What Is Wrong With Us? What Is Wrong With the World? A Buddhist Perspective.” Journal of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies, No. 37 (2017): 17-27. 

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “The Next Obstacles for Buddhist-Feminist Scholar-Practitioners: Rita Gross’ Self-Identities and Legacies.” In Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchange & Social Action: 15th Sākyadhitā International Conference on Buddhist Women, edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 283-288. Hong Kong: Sākyadhitā International Association of Buddhist Women, 2017.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Pluralistic Pedagogy for Pluralism.” In Teaching Interreligious Encounters: Comparative Theology and Theologies of Religious Pluralism, edited by Alexander Hwang and Marc Pugliese. In the American Academy of Religion Teaching Religious Studies Book Series. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2017.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Buddhism and Sexual Orientation.” In Oxford Handbook to Contemporary Buddhism, edited by Michael Jerryson. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Deconstructing Fixed Identity Categories and Cultivating Appreciation for Diversity: Teaching Buddhism and Feminism.” In Teaching Buddhism, edited by Todd Lewis and Gary DeAngelis. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Bhikṣunī Chao-Hwei’s Buddhist-Feminist Social Ethics.” In The Bloomsbury Research Handbook to Chinese Philosophy and Gender, edited by Ann Pang-White, 377-397. In The Bloomsbury Research Handbooks to Asian Philosophy series, edited by Ram-Prasad Chakravarthi and Sor-hoon Tan. London and New York: Continuum/Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Avalokiteśvara’s Embrace of Diversity: Respect and Empathy.” In Compassion and Social Justice: 14th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 161-167. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, 2015.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Cong Guanyin xingxiang suo zhanxiande zunzhong yu tonglixin tan dui duoyuan de yongbao” (從觀音形象所展現的尊重與同理心談對多元的擁抱; Avalokiteśvara’s Embrace of Diversity: Respect and Empathy).” In Cibei yu shehui zhengyi: Di shi’si jie Sakyadhita guoji fojiao shan-nuren dahui (慈悲與社會正義:第十四屆Sakyadhita國際佛教善女人大會; Compassion and Social Justice: 14th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women), translated and edited by Taiwan shan-nuren bienyi xiaozu (Sakyadhita Taiwan translation team), 124-129. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, 2015.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Kamma, No-Self, and Social Construction: The Middle Way Between Determinism and Free Will.” In Asian and Feminist Philosophies in Dialogue: Liberating Traditions, edited by Jennifer McWeeny and Ashby Butnor. New York: Columbia University Press, March 2014.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Identity and Samsāra.” In Buddhism at the Grassroots: 13th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 66-72. Kailua, Hawai'i: Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, 2013.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Dharmic Views and Dharmic Practices.” In Unifying Buddhist Philosophical Views, pp. 178-185. Bangkok, Thailand: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Press, 2012.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. This-Worldly Nibbāna: A Buddhist-Feminist Social Ethic for Peacemaking in the Global Community. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, November 2011.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Mother Nature and the Nature of Mothers: On the Environmental Impact of Gender Essentialism.” In Leading to Liberation: 12th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, edited by Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 65-72. Bangkok, Thailand: Sakyadhita, 2011.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Ziran-zhi-mu yu muxing: Xingbie benzhilun dui huanjing de chongji” (自然之母與母性:性別本質論對環境的衝擊; Mother Nature and the Nature of Mothers: On the Environmental Impact of Gender Essentialism). In Dao-xiang-jietuo: Di shi’er jie Sakyadhita guoji fojiao shan-nuren dahui (導向解脫:第十二屆Sakyadhita國際佛教善女人大會; Leading to Liberation: 12th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women), translated and edited by Taiwan shan-nuren bienyi xiaozu (Sakyadhita Taiwan translation team), 43-46. Bangkok, Thailand: Sakyadhita, 2011.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Rectification of the Four Teachings in Chinese Culture.” In Violence Against Women in Contemporary World Religion: Roots and Cures, edited by Daniel C. Maguire and Sa’diyya Shaikh, 108-130. Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press, 2007.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan, with the assistance of Theresa Yeh. “Yearning for Justice and Mercy: Visions of Hells in the Nineteenth-Century Chinese Pao-chüan [precious scrolls].” In Considering Evil and Human Wickedness, edited by Daniel E. Keen and Pamela Rossi Keen, pp. 177-197. Oxford, UK: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2004.

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    Publications, non-refereed:

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Welcoming People of Color.” Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Project. The Alliance of Buddhist Ethics, June 2020.  

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “The Teaching of Anātman and the Commitment of Bodhisattva: On the Attachment to Binaries and Gendered Self.” In The 2nd International Conference on Religious Culture & Gender Ethics Conference Proceedings, 37-67. Taoyuan, Taiwan: Department of Religion and Culture, Hsuan Chuang University, and Hongshi Buddhist Cultural and Educational Foundation, 2019.


    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Queering Identities: Resource and Resilience.” Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies Blog on Timely Issues, March 7, 2019. 

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Beyond Interreligious Dialogue and Abstract Pluralism: In Memory of John C. Raines.” Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies Blog on Teaching, September 26, 2018. 

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Mara, Samsara, et Identité.” Bouddhisme au Feminin, January 17, 2016. 

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Māra, Samsāra, and Identity.” Sakyadhita: International Association of Buddhist Women, Vol. 23 (Winter 2014): 6-9.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan. “Three Teachings in One.” In The World Book of Faith, edited by Jürgen Mettepenningen. Belgium: Lannoo Publishing House, forthcoming in September 2015. Simultaneously published in English, French, German, and Dutch.

    Hu, Hsiao-Lan, with the assistance of William Cully Allen. Taoism. Langhorne, Pennsylvania: Chelsea House Publications, 2005.

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    Conference Paper Presentations, refereed:

    “Dharma Drum Mountain’s Version of Humanistic Buddhism.” The American Academy of Religion 2017 Annual Meetings, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., November 18-21, 2017.

    “The Next Obstacles for Buddhist-Feminist Scholar-Practitioners: Rita Gross’ Self-Identities and Legacies.” The 15th Sākyadhitā International Conference on Buddhist Women, Hong Kong, June 22-28, 2017.

    “Each Understands in Accordance with His/Her Type: A Buddhadharma-Inspired, Student-Centered Pedagogy.” The American Philosophical Association Central Division Meetings, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A., March 1-4, 2017.

    “Syncretism and Exclusivism: Characteristics of Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism in Relation to the Racial Integration in Lansing Buddhist Association.” The Sixth International Conference on Sheng Yen’s Thought, Taipei, Taiwan, July 1-3, 2016.

    “Avalokiteśvara’s Embrace of Diversity: Respect and Empathy.” The Fourteenth Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, Jogyakarta, Indonesia, June 23-30, 2015.

    "Buddhist Reasons for Supporting Marriage Equality.” 2015 International Conference on Asian Studies: Taiwan and China in the Global Context. University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, March 29, 2015.

    “ ‘The Buddha Speaks with but One Voice, and Each Sentient Being Understands in Accordance with His/Her Type’: A Buddhadharma-Inspired Pedagogy.” The American Academy of Religion 2014 Annual Meetings, San Diego, California, U.S.A., November 22-25, 2014.

    “Buddhist-Feminist Social Ethics and Bhiksunī Chao-Hwei.” The American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meetings, San Diego, California, U.S.A., April 17-20, 2014.

    “ ‘May I Stand in Solidarity with the Deprived in Resistance of Oppressive Power’: Bhiksunī Chao-Hwei and the First Buddhist Same-Sex Weddings.” The American Academy of Religion Midwest Regional Meetings, Ada, Ohio, U.S.A., April 4-5, 2014.

    “Avalokiteśvara and an Androgynous Model of Leadership for Buddhist Women.” Co-presented with Carol L. Winkelmann. The American Academy of Religion Midwest Regional Meetings, Ada, Ohio, U.S.A., April 12-13, 2013.

    “Identity and Samsāra.” The Thirteenth Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, Vaishali, India, January 5-12, 2013.

    “Queering Avalokiteśvara: From the Thirty-Three Forms in the Lotus Sūtra to Minority Identities in Today’s World.” In the “Buddhists Shifting Gender Paradigms through Teaching, Chanting, and Transcending” session co-sponsored by the Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflections Group and the Feminist Theory and Religious Reflection Group. The American Academy of Religion 2012 Annual Meetings, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., November 17-20, 2012.

    “Dharmic Views and Dharmic Practices.” The Second International Association of Buddhist Universities Academic Conference: Buddhist Philosophy and Praxis, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya, Thailand, May 31 to June 2, 2012.

    “Māra, Identity, and Bondage: A Psychological Reading of Fear at Advanced Meditative States.” The American Academy of Religion Midwest Regional Meetings, Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.A., March 30-31, 2012.

    “Complicity and Conscientization.” The American Academy of Religion 2011 Annual Meetings, San Francisco, California, U.S.A., November 19-22, 2011.

    “Mother Nature and the Nature of Mothers: On the Environmental Impact of Gender Essentialism.” The Twelfth Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women: Leading to Liberation, Bangkok, Thailand, June 12-18, 2011.

    “Co-Arising, Complicity, and Conscientization.” The American Academy of Religion Midwest Regional Conference, Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.A., April 1-3, 2011.

    “Teaching As a Confucian-Daoist-Buddhist-Feminist.” The American Academy of Religion Midwest Regional Meetings, Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.A., April 1-3, 2011.

    “Buddhist Global Ethics as Seen in International Buddhist Conferences.” The American Academy of Religion Midwest Regional Meetings, Rock Island, Illinois, U.S.A., March 25-26, 2010.

    Kamma, No-Self, and Social Construction: The Middle Way between Determinism and Indeterminism.” The American Philosophical Association Eastern Division One Hundred Fifth Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., December 27-30, 2008.

    “A Feminist Exegesis of Non-Self: On Classical Buddhist Understanding of Personhood and Identity.” Metanexus Conference on Subject, Self, and Soul: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Personhood, Madrid, Spain, July 13-17, 2008.

    “The Personal Is Political, and Vice VersaKamma As Non-Self Volitional Action.” The American Academy of Religion Mid-Atlantic Regional Meetings, New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A., March 27-28, 2008.

    “Roots of Violence Against Women in East Asian Cultures.” Ethics Section: Violence against Women Rooted in Religion: A Comparative Study. The American Academy of Religion Annual Meetings, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., November 27-21, 2006.

    Dhammic Approach to Texts and Traditions: Co-Arising, Conditionality, and Performativity.” The American Academy of Religion Mid-Atlantic Regional Meetings, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., March 16-17, 2006.

    “The Functions of the Sangha—in the Light of the Nikāyas and the Doctrine of Dependent Origination.” The American Academy of Religion Mid-Atlantic Regional Meetings, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., March 18-19, 2004.

    “Yearning for Justice and Mercy: Visions of Hells in the Nineteenth-Century Chinese Pao-chüan [precious scrolls].” Fourth Global Conference on Perspectives on Evil and Human Wickedness, Prague, Czech Republic, March 21-26, 2003.

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    Conference Paper Presentation, invited:

    “Buddhism and Liberation of Gender and Sexual Minorities.” Interreligious Consultation on Dialogue and Liberation, co-organized by the Council for World Mission and the World Council of Churches, Nairobi, Kenya, October 22-25, 2019.

    “The Teaching of Anātman and the Commitment of Bodhisattva: On the Attachment to Binaries and Gendered Self.” The 2nd International Conference on Religious Cultures and Gender Ethics, Buddhist Hongshi College, Hsinchu, Taiwan, May 25, 2019.

    “Networking as Equals? Engaged Buddhists’ Struggle Against Hierarchical Habits.” Grappling with the Global Ethic: Multi-Religious Perspectives on Global Issues, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, April 23-24, 2018.

    “What Is Wrong With Us? What Is Wrong With the World? A Buddhist Perspective.” Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies Annual Meetings, Atlanta, Georgia, November 20, 2015.

    “The Forms of Avalokiteśvara and the Forms of Human Suffering.” International Seminar on Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra and Human Suffering: Classical, Modern and Contemporary Approaches, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, May 27-June 1, 2013.

    “Earth as Mother, Woman as Mother: On the Environmental Impact of Gender Essentialism.” International Conference on Religion, Gender, and Ecology with Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, June 27, 2010.

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    Conference Roundtable Panelist, refereed:

    Conference on Buddhist Ethics. Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.A., June 2-4, 2020. (postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19)

    “Buddhism, Queer Theory, and Trans* Theory.” Co-Sponsored by the Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Unit and the Queer Studies Unit. The American Academy of Religion 2019 Annual Meetings, San Diego, California, U.S.A., November 23-26, 2019.

    “Buddhism and American Belonging: Gender, Race, and Intersectionality.” Co-Sponsored by the Asian North American Religion, Culture, and Society Unit, the Buddhism in the West Unit, and the Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Unit. The American Academy of Religion 2019 Annual Meetings, San Diego, California, U.S.A., November 23-26, 2019.

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    Conference Roundtable Panelist, invited:

    Conference on Buddhist Ethics. Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.A., June 204, 2020.

    “Queer and Trans Theory in Buddhism.” Queer and Transgender Studies in Religion, University of California—Riverside, Riverside, California, U.S.A., February 21, 2020.

    Conference on Buddhist Ethics. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., June 7-10, 2018.
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    Conference Workshop Presentations, refereed:

    Female Role Models for Buddhist Sci-Fi Nerds?” To be co-presented with Rotraut Jampa Wurst. The 16thSākyadhitā International Conference on Buddhist Women, Blue Mountain, Australia, June 23-28, 2019.

    “Find Your Path: Buddhist Women and Science Fiction.” Co-presented with Rotraut Jampa Wurst. The 15th Sākyadhitā International Conference on Buddhist Women, Hong Kong, June 22-28, 2017.

    “Nerdvana, the Final Frontier: A Workshop on Infinite Space and Possibilities.” Co-presented with Rotraut Jampa Wurst. The 14th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, June 23-30, 2015.

    “Buddhist Women and Leadership.” Co-presented with Carol Winkelmann. The 13th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women, Vaishali, India, January 5-12, 2013.

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    Invited Public Talks:

    “Buddhism in American Cinema.” Lansing Buddhist Association, Perry, Michigan, March 23, 2019. 

    “World Religions and Gender Issues.” Female Buddhist Leadership for Social Transformation Program Planning Committee, International Network of Engaged Buddhists. Luminary Nunnery, Taoyuan, Taiwan, May 16, 2018. 

    “Bhiksunī Chao-Hwei’s Buddhist Social Activism: From Solidarity with the Disadvantaged to Marriage Equality.” Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, June 13, 2017.

    “Key Concepts of the Buddha-Dharma.” Lansing Buddhist Association and Lotus Voice Therapies, East Lansing, Michigan, February 24, 2017.

    “Basics of Buddhist Teachings: The Ennobling Eightfold Path.” Lansing Buddhist Association and Lotus Voice Therapies, East Lansing, Michigan, February 10, 2017. 

    “Kuan-Yin (Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara): Empathy and Empowerment through Many Images.” University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, September 15, 2016.

    “Solidarity with the Deprived: Buddhism, Same-Sex Marriage, and Social Activism in Taiwan.” Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, February 3, 2016.

    “Buddhism and Same-Sex Marriage.” Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, February 3, 2016.

    “McMindfulness and the Noble Eightfold Path.” Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan, July 23, 2014.

    Kamma, No-Self, and Social Construction: Between Determinism and Free Will.” Graduate Institute of Religious Studies, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan, May 21, 2014.

    “Buddhism in America – 2013.” Zen Buddhist Temple, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 16, 2013.

    “Zai zhuanye yaoqiu yu zhiyuan fuwu zhijian (在專業要求與志願服務之間; Between Professionalism and Volunteerism).” Keynote speech, Dharma Translation Workshop, Taipei, Taiwan, June 15, 2013.

    “Religious Diversity and East Asian Traditions.” Adrian Sisters, Siena Literacy Center Detroit, Michigan, March 10, 2013.

    “Fojiao shehui lunlixue yu quanqiu lunli (佛教社會倫理學與全球倫理; Buddhist Social Ethics and Global Ethic).” Dharma Drum Buddhist College, New Taipei City, Taiwan, May 24, 2012.

    “Xuefo yu Foxue (學佛與佛學; Learning to Be a Buddha and Buddhist Studies).” Mind-Illuminating Buddhist Study Group, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 8, 2006.

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