Morten Schlutter, Department of Religious Studies

314 Gilmore Hall • Iowa City, IA 52242 • 319-335-2164

Curriculum Vitae
Morten Schlütter

Business Address:
Department of Religious Studies
311 Gilmore Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-2165
E-mail: morten-schlutter@uiowa.edu

EDUCATION

1998, Ph.D., Religious Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT.

1985, M.A., Chinese Studies, University of Copenhagen, East Asian Institute. Copenhagen, Denmark.

1982, B.A., Chinese Studies, University of Copenhagen, East Asian Institute. Copenhagen, Denmark.

Komazawa University, Department of Buddhist Studies. Tokyo, Japan.
1993-95 Research Fellow
1991 Visiting Researcher

National Taiwan University, Department of Chinese Literature. Taipei, Taiwan.
1982-83 Courses taken in Chinese literature, linguistics and philosophy

Nanking University, Department of History. Nanjing, China.
1980-81 Courses taken in classical Chinese literature and Chinese history

Foreign Language Institute. Peking, China.
1979-80 Courses taken in modern and classical Chinese language

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2004- Secondary appointment, International Programs, The University of Iowa

2003- Department of Religious Studies, The University of Iowa, Assistant Professor

2003 Yale University, Visiting Assistant Professor (Spring term)

2002 Ripon College, Adjunct Instructor (Fall term)

2001-02 University of California-Los Angeles, Visiting Assistant Professor

1999-01 University of Wisconsin-Madison, Visiting Assistant Professor

1998-99 Ripon College, Visiting Assistant Professor

1995-98 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, Lecturer (Assistant Professor)

1986-89 Yale University, Teaching Fellow

PUBLICATIONS

“Vinaya Monasteries, Public Abbacies, and State Control of Buddhism under the Northern Song (960-1127).” In Going Forth: Visions of Buddhist Vinaya, edited by William Bodiford. Honolulu: Hawai’i University Press, 2005.

“The Record of Hongzhi and the Recorded Sayings Literature of Song-Dynasty Chan.” In The Zen Canon, edited by Steven Heine and Dale S. Wright. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

“Kôan” and “Silent Illumination Chan” in Encyclopedia of Buddhism, editor-in-chief Robert Buswell. New York: Macmillan Press, 2003.

Review of Zen’s Chinese Heritage: The Masters and their Teachings by Andy Ferguson (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000), Journal of Chinese Religion, 2001.

“‘Before the Empty Eon’ versus ‘A Dog has no Buddha-nature’: Kung-an Use in the Ts'ao-tung Tradition and Ta-hui's Kung-an Introspection Ch’an.” In The Kôan: Texts and Contexts in Zen Buddhism, edited by Steven Heine and Dale S. Wright. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 168-199.

Review of Das Yulu des Chan-Buddhismus. Die Entwicklung vom 8.-11. Jahrhundert am Beispiel des 28. Kapitels des Jingde chuandenglu (1004) by Christian Wittern (Schweizer asiatische Studien. Monographien; Bd. 31. Bern; New York: P. Lang, 1998), Journal of Chinese Religion 28:177-177, 2000.

“Silent Illumination, Kung-an Introspection, and the Competition for Lay Patronage in Sung-Dynasty Ch'an.” In Buddhism in the Sung, edited by Peter N. Gregory and Daniel Getz. Honolulu: Hawai’i University Press, 1999, pp. 109-147.

“The Twelfth Century Caodong Tradition as the Target of Dahui’s Attacks on Silent Illumination.“ Annual Report of the Zen Research Institute of Komazawa University 6, 1995:1-35.

“China’s Three Teachings and the Thought of Emperor Xiaozong (r. 1162-1189),” East Asian Institute Occasional Papers, vol. 6, 1990: 151-161.

“A Study in the Genealogy of the Platform Sutra,” Studies in Central and East Asian Religions, vol. 2, Autumn 1989: 53-115.

WORK IN PROGRESS

When Chan Became Chan: Sectarianism, Patronage and the Quest for Enlightenment in Song-Dynasty (960-1279) Chan Buddhism. [Book project]

Monks, Monasteries and Society in Southern-Song China (1127-1279). [Book project]

“Lineage, Transmission, and the Power of the Abbot in Song-dynasty Buddhism.” [Article]

“The Evolution of the Platform Sutra and the Changing Notions of What Chan Should Be.” [Article]

CONFERENCE PAPERS

Presentation of essay “Transmission and Enlightenment in Chan Buddhism Seen Through the Platform Sutra.” Fifth Chung-Hwa International Conference on Buddhism, Taipei, Taiwan, March 4-6, 2006 (upcoming).

“State, Scholars and Transmission in Chinese Chan Buddhism.” Xilai Conference on Chinese Buddhism, Los Angeles, CA, June 2005 (invited).

“Windfalls and Pitfalls: The Use of Digitized Source Material in the Study of Asian Buddhism.” Annual Conference, Association for Asian Studies, 2005.

“The Functions and Meanings of Lineage in Song-dynasty Buddhism.” Annual Conference, Association for Asian Studies, 2002.

“Inheritance Certificates, Dharma Transmission and the Power of the Abbot.” Annual Conference, American Academy of Religion, 2000.

“‘Before the Empty Eon’ versus ‘A Dog has no Buddha-nature’: Competition and Fission in Sung-Dynasty Ch’an.” Annual Conference, Association for Asian Studies, 1999.

“When a Vinaya Monastery is not a Vinaya Monastery: Public and Hereditary Monasteries in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).” Annual Conference, American Academy of Religion,1996.

“Meditation and Enlightenment in the Twelfth-century Ts’ao-tung Tradition: Heretical Silent Illumination Ch’an?” Conference on Sung Buddhism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,1996.

“Caodong Chan Identity and Ideology in Twelfth Century China.” Annual Conference, American Academy of Religion, 1995.

“The Formation of the Early Caodong Lineage.” Conference on Medieval Zen in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Hsi-lai University, Los Angeles, CA, 1992.

“On the Genealogy and Evolution of the Platform Sutra.” Conference on The Sixth Patriarch’s Platform Sutra in Religious and Cultural Perspectives. Fo Kuang Shan Academy of Buddhism, Taiwan, 1989.

INVITED LECTURES

“The Accidental Creation of the Chan School.” CAPS Brownbag, University of Iowa, 2003.

“The Many Lives of Chan Texts.” Stanford University, 2002.

“Religion and Ideology in Modern China.” Ripon College, 1999.

“Buddhism in the West.” Ripon College, 1996.

“The Problem of Enlightenment and the Quest for Patronage: The Construction of Chan (Zen) Buddhist Identity in Early Modern China.” University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 1996.

“The Creation of the Chan School of Buddhism in Song China (960-1279).” Victoria University, New Zealand, 1996.

“Disputes over Practice and Enlightenment in Chinese Chan Buddhism.” Victoria University, New Zealand, 1995.

“Silent Illumination in Chinese Buddhism.” Yale University, 1991.

OUTREACH TALKS

“Demystifying East Asian Buddhism: From Cool Philosophy to Boring Superstition?” "Demystifying East Asia," Workshop for school teachers, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001.

“Chinese Perceptions of the United States.” Forum on United States and China, Ripon College, 2000.

“Religious Studies in the University.” Talk to high school students, Wellington, New Zealand, 1997.

“Theravada Buddhism,” “Mahayana Buddhism,” and “Zen Buddhism.” Public lecture series, Victoria University, New Zealand, 1997.

“What is Religious Studies?” Talk to high school students, Wellington, New Zealand, 1996.

“Taoism” and “Zen.” Public lecture series, Victoria University, New Zealand, 1996.

“Why Study the Humanities?” Talk to high school students, Wellington, New Zealand, 1995.

MAJOR GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND PRIZES

2000-01 Fellowship. National Endowment for the Humanities.

1993-95 Fellowship. Society for the Promotion of Buddhist Studies, Tokyo, Japan.

1985-90 Tuition Fellowship. Yale University, Graduate School.

1985-86 U.S. Study Grant. Danish-American Foundation.

1985 Gold Medal Prize for M.A. Thesis. University of Copenhagen.

1982-83 Tuition and Stipend Fellowship. Ministry of Education, Taiwan.

1979-81 Tuition and Stipend Fellowship. Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of China.

SERVICES TO THE FIELD

Reviewer of book manuscript for Hawai'i University Press, 2004.

Arranged and organized conference on Buddhism and Society in Song-dynasty China, UCLA, May 15, 2002.

Reviewer of manuscripts for East Asian History, Journal of Sung-Yuan Studies, and Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses.

Reviewer of fellowship applications for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

COURSES TAUGHT

Undergraduate courses:
32:005 Asian Religious Classics
32:010 Chinese Religions
32:006 Introduction to Buddhism
32:170 Topics in Asian Religions
32:196 Senior Seminar: Religious Biography

Graduate courses:
32:202 Seminar: Asian Religious Traditions
32:208 Asian Religions Colloquium: Asian Traditions of Monasticism
32:237 Seminar: East Asian Buddhist Scripture
32:265 Readings in Asian Religions

LANGUAGES

Danish, English, Chinese, German, Japanese, and French (in order of proficiency)

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

American Academy of Religion
Association for Asian Studies
Society for the Study of Chinese Religions

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