SYMPOSIUM> Advanced computational methods for studying Buddhist texts, April 27-28, 2023

Computational Humanities is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary field that uses computational and quantitative methods for processing, analyzing, and modeling complex data. Within Buddhist Studies, these methods have emerged as an important tool for those working with Buddhist texts, enabling large-scale analysis, facilitating preservation and increased accessibility, and providing new ways of visualizing and understanding data.

The symposium “Advanced Computational Methods for Studying Buddhist Texts” will bring together scholars conducting research on Buddhist texts by computational methods ranging from natural language processing, optical character and handwriting recognition, geographic information systems, cross-linguistic alignment, to content analysis.

Alongside providing an opportunity for researchers to present their most recent work and share their experiences, the symposium aims to facilitate discussion on the challenges, opportunities, and further applications of advanced computational methods for the field of Buddhist Studies.

The symposium is organized by Patrick McAllister (Institute for the Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia IKGA, Austrian Academy of Sciences), Rachael Griffiths (ERC project The Dawn of Tibetan Buddhist Scholasticism (11th-13th c.) TibSchol, IKGA), and Markus Viehbeck (Tibetan Manuscript Project Vienna TMPV, University of Vienna).