Guo Shan, vice-dean of the School for Development Research at YNU, delivers opening remarks at the lecture, on Nov 29. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Roger Casas, a researcher from the Institute for Social Anthropology at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, delivered a lecture at the Palm-Leaf Culture Research Center of Yunnan University (YNU), on Nov 29. 

Doctor Casas previously served as a program officer for UNESCO and has maintained a long-term commitment to cultural preservation and social development in the areas of Yunnan inhabited by the Dai minority. 

During his lecture, titled Buddhism, materiality and textual fetishism in the upper Mekong region, Casas shared his ideas on the communication and development of Buddhism, as well as its influence on local society, speaking in fluent Chinese. 

The lecture was presided over by Zhou Ya, director of the Palm-Leaf Culture Research Center, and Guo Shan, vice-dean of the School for Development Research at YNU, delivered opening remarks for the lecture. 

Sponsored by the School for Development Research, the event was hosted by the YNU Palm-Leaf Culture Research Center with the support of Yunnan Religion Association. The lecture attracted more than 50 attendees from Yunnan Committee on Religious Affairs, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Yunnan Nationalities University, Yunnan Normal University, and Yunnan University, as well as other universities and institutes. 

On the afternoon of Nov 29, Casas held a further discussion with representatives of the palm-leaf culture center and the research team for preservation of palm-leaf manuscripts in China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. 

At the meeting, Casas proposed his suggestions on passing down and preserving the palm-leaf manuscripts in China. A preliminary agreement to conduct collaborative research was also reached.

Roger Casas, researcher from the Institute for Social Anthropology at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, delivers his lecture, Nov 29. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

An attendee asks Roger Casas a question during the lecture. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]