Seiji Kumagai

Seiji Kumagai

Professor

Specialty field：Buddhist Studies; Tibetan and Bhutanese Studies

Seiji Kumagai studied Buddhist philosophy and received his Ph.D. in 2009 from Kyoto University. In 2011, he became an assistant professor at Hakubi Center for Advanced Research of Kyoto University. In 2013, he became Uehiro Associate Professor at Kokoro Research Center of Kyoto University. Since 2017, he has been a divisional director at Kokoro Research Center. Since 2023, he has been Professor of Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society (IFoHS) from then until present. He has been also invited by many universities as a guest professor/researcher such as Numata Professor (at University of Vienna in 2018). His field of research is Buddhist Madhyamaka philosophy in India, Tibet and Bhutan, and also that of Bon religion. He has also studied history of Tibetan and Bhutanese Buddhism. He published books such as The Two Truths in Bon (Kathmandu: Vajra Publications, 2011), Bhutanese Buddhism and Its Culture (Kathmandu: Vajra Publications, 2014), and Buddhism, Culture and Society in Bhutan (Kathmandu: Vajra Publications, 2018), and also many academic articles on the philosophy of Indo-Himalayan Buddhism and Bon religion.

Biography

2012-2013
Program-Specific Associate Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University
2013-2020
Uehiro Associate Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University
2017-present
Divisional Director (Uehiro Research Division), Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University (currently Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society)
2017-present
Institute for the Future of Human Society)
2018
Numata Professor, Department of Buddhology and Tibetology, University of Vienna
2020-2022
Associate Professor, Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University
2022
Associate Professor, Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society
2023-present
Professor, Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society

Books/papers

Books
Kenryo MINOWA, Seiji KUMAGAI, and Yoshihito MUROJI (2020)　Gendai Shakai no Bukkyo (Buddhism in Modern Society), ed. Toru FUNAYAMA, Kyoto: Rinsen Book Co. *Japanese Book

Seiji KUMAGAI (2018) Buddhism, Culture and Society in Bhutan, ed. Seiji KUMAGAI, Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2014) Bhutanese Buddhism and Its Culture, ed. Seiji KUMAGAI, Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.

Tsuguhito TAKEUCHI, Kazushi IWAO, Ai NISHIDA, Seiji KUMAGAI and Meishi YAMAMOTO (2014) Current Issues and Progress in Tibetan Studies: Proceedings of the Third International Seminar of Young Tibetologists, Kobe 2012 (Journal of Research Institute, vol. 51), Kobe: Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. 2014.

Marc-Henri DEROCHE, Joshua SCHAPIRO, Seiji KUMAGAI and Kalsang Norbu GURUNG (2011) Revisiting Tibetan Religion and Philosophy, (Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines 21), Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2011) The Two Truths in Bon, Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.
Journal Articles
Seiji Kumagai (2022) “How the Concepts of Buddha Nature and Original Enlightenment Were Interpreted by Shinran.” In Buddha Nature Across Asia (WSTB Vol. 103), Edited by Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Casey Kemp, Vienna: University of Vienna, pp. 123-138.

Seiji Kumagai (2022) “Early History of the Drukpa Kagyü School,” Oxford Encyclopedia of Religion. Oxford University Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.664.

Seiji KUMAGAI, Noriyuki MIURA, Hiromitsu AWANO, and Naoyuki UEDA (2021) “Psyche Navigation System Kousou” (Concept of Psyche Navigation System), Jinko Chino (Journal of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence), Vol.36, No. 6, pp. 684-694. *Japanese Paper

Seiji KUMAGAI (2020) “Bhutan ni okeru Jissen Bukkyo: Bhutan no Bukkyo to Kokumin Sokofuku (GNH) Seisaku” (Practical Buddhism in Bhutan: Buddhism and Gross National Happiness (GNH) Policy in Bhutan), in Gendai Shakai no Bukkyo (Buddhism in Modern Society), ed. Toru FUNAYAMA, Kyoto: Rinsen Book Co., pp. 91-163. *Japanese Paper

Ai NISHIDA, Yoshiro IMAEDA, and Seiji KUMAGAI (2020) “Tonko Shutsudo Tibetto Bun, Rinne Keitai Setsuji: Kodai Tibetto ni okeru Shoki Bukkyo Dendo Bunngaku Sakuhin” (A Tibetan Text Excavated from Dunhuang, The Sermon on the Form of Reincarnation: A Literary Work on the Early Transmission of Buddhism in Ancient Tibet), Circulaire de la Société Franco-Japonaise des Etudes Orientals, Vol. 43, pp. 1-18. *Japanese Paper

Seiji KUMAGAI (2020) “Life and Works of Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211), Founder of the Drukpa Kagyü School,” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion.
Oxford University Press. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.013.663.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2019) “Bonpo Abhidharma Theory of Material (rūpa),”Memoire of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko, Vol. 76, pp. 101-137.

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2018) “A Report on Some Physical Evidences and Oral Transmission about Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211) Collected at the Ralung Monastery and the Druk Monastery in Tibet,” In Vajrayana Buddhism in the Modern World: Proceedings of the Second Vajrayana Conference, 28-30 March 2018, Thimphu. Thimphu, Bhutan: Centre for Bhutan Studies & GNH Research, pp. 34-48.

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2018) “Hokuden Bukkyo ni okeru Soun Kubun ni tsuite no Ichi Kosatsu: Niso, Sanso, Shiso” (An Overview of the Classification of Perception (Saṃjñā) in Northern Buddhism), Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 66-2, pp. 878-884. *Japanese Paper

Ai NISHIDA, Yoshiro IMAEDA, and Seiji KUMAGAI (2018): “Chuo Bhutan no Shugoson Kyebu Lungtsen no Hoyo Giki (Honyaku Hen)” (Translation of the Propitiation Liturgy of Skyes bu lung btsan, the Protective Deity in Central Bhutan), Himalayan Study Monographs, Vol. 19, pp. 49-58. *Japanese Paper

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2018) “Introduction to the Biographies of Tsangpa Gyare (1161-1211), Founder of the Drukpa Kagyu School,” In Seiji Kumagai (ed.) Buddhism, Culture and Society in Bhutan, Kathmandu: Vajra Publications, pp. 9-34.

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2017) “The Bonpo Abhidharma Theory of Perception (Saṃjñā),” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 65-3, pp. 1185-1192.

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2016) “Indo kara Tibetto heno Chuganha no Tenkai” (Development of the Mādhyamika School from India to Tibet), Tibetto Bukkyo (Tibetan Buddhism), Tokyo: Sangha, pp. 96-109. *Japanese Paper

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2016) “Bonpo Abhidharma Theory of Five Aggregates,” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 64-3, pp. 150-157.

Seiji KUKMAGAI (2014) “Bhutan ni Okeru Bukkyo to Kokumin Soukoufuku (GNH)” (Buddhism and Gross National Happiness (GNH) in Bhutan), Shukyo Kenkyu (Journal of Religious Studies), Vol. 380, pp.25-52. *Japanese Paper

Seiji KUMAGAI (2014) “History and Current Situation of the Sa skya pa school in Bhutan,” in Bhutanese Buddhism and Its Culture, Kathmandu: Vajra Publications, pp. 127-139.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2014) “Bhutan ni Okeru Sakyaha Bukkyo” (Introduction of Buddhist Sa skya pa School in Bhutan), Himalaya Gakushi (Himalayan Study Monographs),Vol. 15, pp. 82-92. *Japanese Paper

Seiji KUMAGAI (2013) “Bonkyo ni Okeru Bukkyo Nitaisetsu no Juyou to Sono Tenkai” (Bonpos’ Absorption and Development of the Buddhist Theory of Two Truths), The Toho Gakuho (Journal of Oriental studies), Vol. 88, pp. 321-342.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2013) “Caractéristiques de la théorie des deux vérités en Inde et au Tibet,” Circulaire de la Société Franco-Japonaise des Etudes Orientals, Vol. 34-36, pp. 15-20. *French Paper

Seiji KUMAGAI, Gawa THUPTEN and Akinori YASUDA (2012) “Introduction to the Collected Works of the Founder of the Drukpa Kagyu (‘Brug pa bKa’ brgyud) School: Tsangpa Gyare (gTsang pa rgya ras, 1161-1211), ” Buddhism Without Borders: Proceedings of the International Conference on Globalized Buddhism,Bumthang, Bhutan May 21-23, 2012, Thimphu: Centre for Bhutan Studies, pp. 36-52.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2011) “The Two Truths of the bDen gnyis ’grel ba by mNyam med,” Acta Tibetica et Buddhica, Vol. 4, pp. 41-59.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2011) “The Two Truths of the Sa lam rang ‘grel by mNyam med,” Acta Tibetica et Buddhica, Vol. 4, pp. 23-40.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2011) “Bhāviveka’s Theory of the Absolute Truth,” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 59, No. 3, pp. 1187-1191.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2010) “The Two Truths Theory of the Bonpo Me ston Shes rab ‘od zer (1058-1132 or 1118-1192) – A Comparative Study -,” Report of Japanese Association for Tibetan Studies, Vol. 56, pp. 87-100.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2010) “Bonpo Interpretation of the Two Truths of Buddhist Philosophy Seen in an Anonymous Bonpo Treatise Theg ’grel (13th or 14th cen.),” Acta Tibetica et Buddhica, Vol. 3, pp. 155-171.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2009) “Development of the Theory of the ‘Two Truths’ in the Bon Religion,” East and West (IsIAO), Vol. 59, pp. 131-144.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2009) “La classification indo-tibétaine de l’école Mādhyamika : selon le Shes bya kun khyab de ’Jam-mgon Kong-sprul Blo-gros mtha’-yas (1813-1899),” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 57, No. 3, pp. 1273-1277. *French Paper

Seiji KUMAGAI (2008) “’Two Truths’ (satyadvaya) in the dBu ma bden gnyis (Satyadvayavibhaṅga) of the Bon Religion,” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 1164-1167.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2007) “Kusho Mujishosei Ronsho no Bunrui: 11 Seiki kara 15 Seiki Zenhan Made no Tibet Bunken wo Chushin ni” (The classifications of proofs on emptiness and absence of self-nature: through an examination of Tibetan works from the 11th through the first half of the 15th centuries), Report of the Japanese Association for Tibetan Studies, Vol. 53, pp. 11-24.

Seiji KUMAGAI (2007) “La classification des cinq démonstrations de la vacuité (śūnyatā) par Roṅ ston,” Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Vol. 55, No. 3, pp. 1040-1043. *French Paper