February 2016 Young-Key Kim-Renaud Lecture

Women and Buddhist Philosophy: Engaging with Zen Master Kim Iryŏp

Speaker: Dr. Jin Y. Park, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion, American University

February 19, 2016, 1:30-3 p.m.

Location: Rome Hall 459 (801 22nd St. NW, Washington, DC 20052)

This talk considers shared domain of women and Buddhist philosophy: what they share in common and how we characterize it. To this end, Professor Park will explore the life and philosophy of a twentieth century KoreanZen Master, Kim Iryŏp (1896-1971). A daughter of Christian parents, Kim Iryŏp was the first generation Korean feminist and a writer who became a Zen Buddhist nun. Iryŏp’s life and Buddhist philosophy demonstrates a multi-layered encounter between women and Buddhism, and further shed light on the meaning of autobiography, narrative identity, writing as testimony, and meaning construction in our daily existence.