CURRICULUM VITAE
Joseph A. Adler
Professor of Asian Studies
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH 43022

PRIMARY AREAS	SECONDARY AREAS
Neo-Confucianism	Japanese Religions
Chinese Religions	Buddhism
History and Phenomenology of Religion

EDUCATION

1984	Ph.D. Religious Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara      Dissertation: "Divination and Philosophy: Chu Hsi's Understanding of the I-ching"      Committee: Tu Weiming, Robert Gimello, Ninian Smart, Richard Comstock
1979-80	Inter-Campus Exchange Student, University of California, Berkeley
1977	M.A. Religious Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara      Major field: China and Japan      Minor field: Ancient Mediterranean
1970	B.A. Biology, University of Rochester

TEACHING

1987-	Kenyon College      Professor of Asian Studies (2008- )      Professor of Religious Studies (2002-08)      Associate Professor of Religion (1994-2002 )      Assistant Professor of Religion (1991-94)      Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion (1987-91)
1996-97	International Division, Waseda University (Tokyo)      Visiting Professor
1986-87	University of Southern California      Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion and East Asian Languages and Cultures
1983-86	Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine      Instructor in Chinese Philosophy (part-time)
1981-83	University of California at Santa Barbara      Instructor in Religious Studies (three courses)

PUBLICATIONS

Books:

2002	Introduction to the Study of the Classic of Change, by Chu Hsi (translation, with Introduction and notes) (Provo: Global Scholarly Publications).
2002	Chinese Religious Traditions (Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall).
1990	Sung Dynasty Uses of the I Ching, co-authored with Kidder Smith, Jr., Peter K. Bol, and Don J. Wyatt (Princeton: Princeton University Press).

Articles/chapters:

In press	"Translating and Interpreting Taiji," in David Jones and He Jinli, eds., Zhu Xi Now (Albany: SUNY Press)
In press	"Confucianism" and "Confucius," in J. Gordon Melton, ed., Religions of the World : A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd ed. (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO).
2008	"Zhu Xi's Spiritual Practice as the Basis of his Central Philosophical Concepts," Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy, vol 7, no. 1: 57-79.
2008	"Divination and Sacrifice in Song Neo-Confucianism," in Jeffrey L. Richey, ed., Teaching Confucianism (NY: Oxford University Press): 55-82.
2007	"Chinese Religions," in Jonathan Fenby, ed., The Seventy Wonders of China (London: Thames & Hudson)
2006	"Daughter/Wife/Mother or Sage/Immortal/Bodhisattva? Women in the Teaching of Chinese Religions," in AsiaNetwork Exchange, vol. XIV, no. 2 (Winter 2006): 11-16.
2005	"Chinese Religion: An Overview," in Lindsay Jones, ed., The Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed. (NY: Macmillan):1580-1613 (rev. and exp. version of 1987 article).
2004	"Varieties of Spiritual Experience: Shen in Neo-Confucian Discourse," in Tu Wei-ming and Mary Evelyn Tucker, eds., Confucian Spirituality, vol. 2 (NY: Crossroad): 120-148.
2004	"The Qianlong Emperor and the Confucian Temple of Culture (Wen miao) at Chengde," in James A. Millward, Ruth W. Dunnell, Mark C. Elliott, and Philippe Forêt, eds., New Qing Imperial History: The Making of Inner Asian Empire at Qing Chengde (London: RoutledgeCurzon): 109-122.
2003	"Zhu Xi yu Bushi" (Zhu Xi and Divination), in Tian Hao (Hoyt Tillman), ed., Songdai Sixiang Shilun (Essays on Song Intellectual History) (Beijing: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences): 304-348
1999	"Zhou Dunyi: The Metaphysics and Practice of Sagehood," in Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom, eds., Sources of Chinese Tradition, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (NY: Columbia University Press): 669-678.
1998	"Response and Responsibility: Chou Tun-i and Neo-Confucian Resources for Environmental Ethics," in Confucianism and Ecology: The Interrelation of Heaven, Earth, and Humans, ed. Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Berthrong (Cambridge: Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions): 123-149.
1981	"Descriptive and Normative Principle (li) in Confucian Moral Metaphysics: Is/Ought from the Chinese Perspective," Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, vol. 16, no. 3: 285-293.

Book Reviews:

2005	Xinzhong Yao, ed., RoutledgeCurzon Encyclopedia of Confucianism, 2 vols., in Religious Studies Review, vol. 30, no. 4: 267-268.
2003	"The Confucian Body." Feature review of Thomas A. Wilson, ed., On Sacred Grounds: Culture, Society, Politics, and the Formation of the Cult of Confucius. In China Review International, vol. 10, no. 2: 351-362.
2003	Edward Hacker, Steve Moore, and Lorraine Patsco, I Ching: An Annotated Bibliography. In Journal of Chinese Religions, no. 31: 238-239.
1999	Irene Bloom and Joshua A. Fogel, eds., Meeting of Minds: Intellectual and Religious Interaction in East Asian Traditions of Thought: Essays in Honor of Wing-tsit Chan and William Theodore de Bary. In Journal of Chinese Religions, no. 27: 132-135.
1995	Hoyt Cleveland Tillman, Confucian Discourse and Chu Hsi's Ascendancy. In Asian Thought and Society, vol. 20, no. 58-59: 148-150.
1993	Wm. Theodore de Bary, The Trouble with Confucianism. In Journal of Chinese Religions, no. 21: 137-142.
1990	Donald J. Munro, Images of Human Nature: A Sung Portrait. In Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, vol. 50, no. 2: 707-717.
1989	Wing-tsit Chan, Chu Hsi: Life and Thought. In Bulletin of Sung-Yüan Studies, no. 21: 98-101.
1987	Daniel K. Gardner, Chu Hsi and the Ta-hsüeh: Neo-Confucian Reflection on the Confucian Canon. In Bulletin of Sung-Yüan Studies, no. 19: 35-41.

PAPERS AND LECTURES

2008	"Divination as Spiritual Practice in Song Confucianism," American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting (Chicago).
2006	"Confucianism as Religion / Religious Tradition / Neither: Still Hazy after All These Years," American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.)
2006	"Zhu Xi's Spiritual Practice as the Basis of his Central Philosophical Concepts," Neo-Confucianism and Global Philosophy Conference, Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, Wesleyan University.
2005	"Daughter/Wife/Mother or Sage/Immortal/Bodhisattva? Women in the Teaching of Chinese Religions," ASIANetwork Annual Meeting (Whittier, California)
2002	"The Tao Te Ching: Introduction to an Exhibition by Peggy Kwong-Gordon," Olin Gallery, Kenyon College.
1999	"The Interpenetration of Stillness and Activity in Chu Hsi's Appropriation of Chou Tun-i," Association for Asian Studies Annual Meeting (Boston).
1999	Response to paper by Rodney Taylor, "Of Animals and Man: The Confucian Perspective;" Conference on Religion and Animals, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Cambridge
1997	"Varieties of Spiritual Experience: Shen in Neo-Confucian Discourse," Confucian Spirituality Conference, Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions (Cambridge); and American Academy of Religion (San Francisco).
1996	"Thinking About Religion in Japan," Lecture Series, Waseda University (Tokyo)
1996	"Chou Tun-i and 'Moral Responsiveness': Confucian Resources for Environmental Ethics," Confucianism and Ecology Consultation, Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions (Cambridge).
1992	"The Mind of the Sage: Chu Hsi's Appropriation of Chou Tun-i," Association for Asian Studies (Washington D.C.); and New England Symposium on Chinese Thought (York, Maine)
1990	"Universalism and Particularism in Chinese Ethics: Reflections of an Ancient Debate in Chinese Society Today," International Studies Faculty Forum, Kenyon College.
1989	"Chu Hsi's Uses of the I-ching," Columbia University Regional Seminar on Neo-Confucian Studies (New York).
1985	"Chu Hsi and the 'Original Intention' of the I-ching," Association for Asian Studies (Philadelphia), and Southern California China Colloquium, Symposium on Religion and Ideology in the Chinese Tradition (UCLA).
1982	"I-hsüeh and Hsin-hsüeh: Chu Hsi's Study of the I-ching and his Philosophy of Mind," Workshop on Chu Hsi's Philosophy of Mind and Nature, International Conference on Chu Hsi (University of Hawaii, Manoa).
1982	"I-ching Divination as a Form of Self-Cultivation in Chu Hsi's Neo-Confucianism," American Academy of Religion, Western Branch (Stanford University), and American Oriental Society, Western Branch (Arizona State University).

UNPUBLISHED TRANSLATIONS

2008	Zhu Xi's commentary on Zhou Dunyi's Taijitu
2009	Zhu Xi's commentary on Zhou Dunyi's Taijitu shuo
2009	Penetrating the Book of Change (Tongshu), by Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073), with Commentary and further discussions by Zhu Xi (1130-1200) (revised and expanded)
1979	"Dialogue of the Fisherman and the Woodcutter" (Yu qiao duiwen), by Shao Yong (1011-1077).

WORK IN PROGRESS

Reconstructing the Confucian Dao: Zhu Xi's Appropriation of Zhou Dunyi. With translations of Zhou Dunyi's chief works, Zhu Xi's commentaries, and Zhu Xi's discussions of them with his students.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY

2009	Consultant (on two chapters) for Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions, 8th ed. (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, forthcoming)
2007	Respondent on panel, "Korean Contributions to Neo-Confucianism," American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
2006	NEH panelist, Division of Preservation and Access, Washington, D.C.
2006	Organized panel, "The Religious Status of Confucianism," American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C.
2004	"Chinese Religions:" video interview with Dr. James Catanzaro for online course, "Religions of the World"
2004	Attended conference sponsored by the Japan Study Program and the Asian Studies Development Program: "Environment, Culture, and Development in East Asia," Ohio Wesleyan University.
2004	Attended 3rd International Seminar on Dunhuang Art and Society: Luoyang, Lanzhou, and Dunhuang, China.
2003	Attended conference on "Daoism and the Contemporary World" (Boston).
2002	Attended International Symposium on the History of the Jewish Diaspora in China: Nanjing and Kaifeng, China (chaired one panel)
2001	External reviewer, Department of Religion, Bucknell University
2001	Evaluated grant proposal for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
1999-2001, 05, 07	Attended AsiaNetwork Annual Meetings (Tacoma, Lisle, Cleveland, Whittier)
1996	Symposium: "Digital Images in Support of Teaching," sponsored by The Five Colleges of Ohio, Ohio Wesleyan University.
1994	NEH Summer Institute: "Reading the Manchu Summer Palace at Chengde: Art, Ritual, and Rulership in 18th Century China and Inner Asia," University of Michigan.
1993	Summer Institute in Academic Information Resources, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Kenyon College
1992	GLCA Course Design and Teaching Workshop, Kenyon College
1992	Organizer of panel, "Confucian Uses of History: Sung, Ming, and Ch'ing," Association for Asian Studies, Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C.).
1992-99	Panel chair at AAR Annual Meetings: "The Religious Dimensions of Confucianism" (San Francisco, 1992), "Confucianism as a Living Tradition" (Washington, D.C., 1993), "Confucianism in Dialogue" (Chicago, 1994), "Confucian Spirituality and Mysticism" (Orlando, 1998), "Interpretations of the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean" (Boston, 1999).
1991-2000	Organizer and chair of steering committee (co-chair since 1994), Confucian Traditions Group (program unit of the American Academy of Religion)
1991-	Pre-publication reviewer for Princeton University Press, Oxford University Press, State University of New York Press, Seven Bridges Press, Routledge, Westview Press, McGraw-Hill, University of Virginia Press, Philosophy East & West, Journal of Asian Studies, Dao, International Journal for Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, Manusya: Journal of Humanities.

LANGUAGES

• Classical Chinese
• Mandarin Chinese
• Japanese
• French  

COURSES TAUGHT

Chinese Religions Confucian Thought and Practice Daoism Japanese Religion Zen Buddhism Buddhist Thought and Practice Buddhist Asia in Comparative Perspective The Silk Road Religious and Social Change in East Asia Religion and Nature Religion and Science Comparative Mysticism Introduction to the Study of Religion (semester) Experience and Expression of Religion (year) Approaches to the Study of Religion

Interreligious Dialogue New Religious Movements Independent Study courses:     Chinese Popular Religion     Divination in Chinese Society     Ancestor worship in Taiwan     Traditional Chinese Medical Theory     Reading in Classical Chinese     Buddhism and Japanese Education     Religion and Law     Indian Philosophy     Buddhist Philosophy     Buddhist Sutras     Mongolian Religions

HONORS AND AWARDS

2008-09	Scholar Grant, Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation: For Zhu Xi / Zhou Dunyi book project
2000	ASIANetwork Freeman Foundation Student-Faculty Fellowship: Funding for collaborative project with a Kenyon student to study and videotape ancestor worship in Chinese homes in Taiwan.
1997, 2002	Teaching Initiative Grants for travel to China, Kenyon College
1997	Research Grant for travel to Taiwan, Waseda University (Tokyo)
1995	Research Grant, Pacific Cultural Foundation (Taipei)
1992	GLCA/ACM Travel Grant for Research in Japan (Summer, 1992)
1990	Language and Research Fellowship, Inter-University Program in Chinese Language Studies in Taipei and the Academia Sinica Committee on Scientific and Scholarly Cooperation with the U.S.A.: Six months of language study and research in Taipei
1988, 91, 92, 96, 98, 2004, 05	Faculty Development Grants, Kenyon College
1982-83	Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
1982-83	Research Grant, Pacific Cultural Foundation (Taipei)
1982	Conference Fellowship, International Conference on Chu Hsi (Honolulu), Center for Asian and Pacific Studies of the University of Hawaii and the American Council of Learned Societies
1975-76, 1978-79, 1981-82	University of California Regents Fellowships

ADMINISTRATIVE/COMMITTEE WORK (at Kenyon unless otherwise noted)

2007-	International Studies Steering Committee
2004-07	Director, Asian Studies Program
1996-98, 2004-07	Advisory and Selection Committees, Japan Study Program (Earlham College)
2003-05	Grievance Committee
2002	Represented Kenyon College at a planning meeting at ACM (Associated Colleges of the Midwest) offices in Chicago to discuss a new study-abroad program in China
2001-04, 2005-06	Faculty Liason, Luce Scholars Program
2000-2002	History of Religions Committee, American Academy of Religion
1989-	Asian Studies Committee
1995-2001, 2003-2006	International Education Advisory Committee
2000-2001	Newman/Woodward Award Committee
1998-2000	Committee on Academic Standards
1997-2000	Chair, Department of Religion, Kenyon College
1997-98	Chair, Faculty Lectureships Committee
1996-97	Resident Director, GLCA/ACM Japan Study Program, Associate Dean of the International Division, and Visiting Professor, Waseda University, Tokyo.
1993-94	Chair, Resource Allocation Subcommittee of Faculty Executive Committee
1992-94	Faculty Executive Committee
1991-92	Faculty Affairs Committee
1990-92, 1995-96	Faculty Lectureships Committee
1987-91	Academic Computing Advisory Committee

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

• American Academy of Religion
• Association for Asian Studies
• Society for the Study of Chinese Religions

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Revised 11/5/09