Cambridge Inter-religious Exchange Programme
The Cambridge Inter-religious Exchange Programme is a new venture that has the aim of developing practical understanding between western Christianity and Chinese Buddhism through conversation and artistic exchange. It was born out of several visits to China by the Reverend Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of King's College, and Professor Alan Macfarlane, social anthropologist, Fellow of King's, and recent visits by two senior Chinese monks to Cambridge. The exchange of ideas, observation of and participation in religious practices and the shared experience of religious music of the two traditions, alongside convivial meals together, has proved to be a stimulating and fruitful environment for learning and understanding.
The project's vision is to facilitate cross-cultural and inter-religious learning in areas that support personal wellbeing and artistic creativity as well as academic research. There will be further visits and works will be published in both English and Chinese. This programme is chaired by Dr Stephen Cherry and is organised, hosted and supported by Rivers Project at King's College and the Vanishing Worlds Foundation under the overall direction of Professor Alan Macfarlane.
Cambridge Inter-religious Exchange Programme 2019
This was the first such symposium to be held as part of this programme. Members of two different religious and cultural backgrounds discussed the subject of 'time wisdom'. Drawing from each background’s own thoughts and ideas enabled us to paint a bigger picture and approach the subject from a fresh perspective.
In addition to the symposium, the 2019 Cambridge Inter-religious Exchange Programme included several other events:
A calligraphy exhibition: 'The Quiet Glimmer of the Zen Lanterns'
by Venerable Master Yue Zhen
During the opening of the exhibition there was a drama performance, Time, of selected scenes from William Shakespeare's plays and also readings inspired by time from Marcel Proust and T. S. Elliot.
The book launch of the Chinese version of Stephen Cherry's book, Beyond Busyness: Time Wisdom in an Hour
East Meets West: A Concert of Music and Poetry, by English Voices
The concert included the reading of several Buddhist poems and the choral performances of two Chinese poems set to music composed by distinguished Cambridge composers: John Rutter and Tim Brown. The poems are Second Farewell to Cambridge written by Xu Zhimo in the 1920s and Hearing a Jade Flute On a Spring Night in Luoyang by Li Bai (701–762).
Schedule
Thursday, 26th September 2019
2:00-3:00pm The Opening Ceremony of the Calligraphy Exhibition
'The Quiet Glimmer of the Zen Lanterns'
Venue King’s College Chapel
Chair The Reverend Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of King’s College
Director Zilan Wang & Xun Xiaoya
Event Hostess Sophie Song
2:00-2:15pm Welcome Speeches (English/Chinese)
Dr Stephen Cherry
David Paskett, former president of The Royal Watercolour Society
Venerable Master Yue Zhen, Abbot of Taoguang Temple, China
2:15-2:25pm Drama Performance
‘Time’ selected from Shakespeare’s plays performed by performers from the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival
2: 30-2:50pm Readings
TBC by Marcel Proust read by Professor Christopher Prendergast (English)
Buddhist Sutra read by Venerable Master Jie Qing (Chinese)
Four Quartets by T. S. Elliot read by Professor Alan Macfarlane (English) & Sophie Song (Chinese)
Second Farewell to Cambridge by Xu Zhimo
read by Lady Patricia Mirrlees (English) & Michael O’Sullivan (Chinese)
3:00-5:30pm Symposium The Mysteries of Time - Finding Wisdom in Buddhism and Christianity
Audit Room, Old Provost Lodge, King’s College, Cambridge
3:00-3:20pm Tea Break with Celebration Cake
3:20-3:30pm Welcome Speeches
Professor Alan Macfarlane FBA, Fellow of King’s College
Zilan Wang, Director of Rivers Project, King’s College & Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Cambridge 3:30-4:00pm Keynote Speeches (English with Chinese translation)
Dr Stephen Cherry, Chairman of the Symposium
4:00-5:30pm Keynote Addresses
4:00-4:25pm Professor Alan Macfarlane
4:30-4:50pm Yue Zhen
4:55-5:10pm James Lin, Senior Assistant Keeper, Fitzwilliam Museum
5:15-5:30pm Questions & Answers
Interpreter Wenyan Lu
6:00-6:30pm ‘East Meets West: A Concert of Music and Poetry’
by English Voices
Venue Clare College Chapel
Director Zilan Wang & Xun Xiaoya
Event Hostess Sophie Song, Vice-Director of Cam Rivers Arts
Readings
The Hymn of Three Treasures by Yue Zhen
Just Let Me Go’ by Yue Zhen
read by Tim Brown (English) & Venerable Master Zhi Guang (Chinese)
Repertoire
3' Molihua - arr. Chen Yi
3' My True Love Hath my Heart - John Rutter
4' Jade - Tim Brown
4' My Soul There is a Country - Hubert Parry
6' Second Farewell to Cambridge - John Rutter
Artistic Director Tim Brown & Richard Wilberforce
Tenor Soloist Bo Wang
Flutist Lin Lin
7:00-9:00pm. Welcome Banquet
Venue Sticks'n'Sushi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our warmest thanks are due to the following individuals and representatives of organizations, all of whom have given us their great support in preparing and presenting the Calligraphy exhibition 'Silent Glimmer of the Zen Lanterns' and ‘The Mysteries of Time - Finding Wisdom in Buddhism and Christianity’, the first symposium of Cambridge Inter-religious Exchange Programme. Without their generosity, practical advice, encouragement and expertise, this international event would not have taken place.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
The Provost and Fellows of King's College, Cambridge
Professor Alan Macfarlane FBA, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge
The Reverend Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of King’s College
Venerable Master Yue Zhen
Dr James Lin, Senior Assistant Keeper of Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Professor Herbert E. Huppert FRS, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge
Professor Christopher Prendergast FBA, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge
Professor Jean Michel Massing, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge
Professor Oliver Linton FBA, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
Phil Issac, Domus Bursar of King's College, Cambridge
David Paskett, the former president of the Royal Watercolour Society
Joanna M Kosek, Head of Pictorial Art Conservation, British Museum
Jingxian Qiu, Senior Conservator of Paintings, British Museum
Lady Patricia Mirrlees
Michael O'Sullivan, former director of British Council, China
John Rutter CBE, Honorary Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge
Tim Brown, former director of Clare College Choir, Cambridge
Dr David Crilly, artistic director of Cambridge Shakespeare Festival
Lucy Hamilton, Editor-in-chief of Literature, Cam Rivers Publishing
Richard Wilberforce, artistic director of English Voices