The faculty and students of the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University are delighted to congratulate our alumna, Ziling Wan, on receiving the 2026 Khyentse Foundation Best Graduate Student Award, a prestigious honor recognizing her outstanding academic achievements and exceptional promise in the field of Buddhist Studies.

After completing her B.A. and M.A. degrees at the Department of Buddhist Studies, Fo Guang University, Wan pursued advanced studies at the University of Arizona in the United States. She successfully defended her doctoral dissertation in April 2026 and was awarded a Ph.D. in East Asian Studies in May 2026. In addition, she earned an M.S. in Geographic Information Systems Technology from the same university in May 2026, demonstrating remarkable interdisciplinary academic excellence.

The award ceremony for the 2026 Khyentse Foundation Best Graduate Student Award was held on May 8, 2026, in recognition of her distinguished contributions to Buddhist Studies and scholarly research.

Wan's doctoral dissertation, titled Writing Miracle Tales in Early Modern China: Chan Master Huishan Jiexian’s (1610–1672) Representation of the Supernatural World, examines the significant roles of ritual practice and supernatural belief in early modern Chinese Chan monastic life. Focusing on the Xianguo suilu (Record of Present-Life Karmic Retribution)—the first miracle tale collection compiled by a Chan master—the study explores how miracle narratives functioned within Buddhist communities of the period.

Wan's research has received substantial support from major academic funding bodies, including the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange and the Khyentse Foundation. Her scholarly accomplishments have also been recognized through the Young Scholar Award from the China Times Cultural Foundation and the Taiwanese Overseas Pioneers Grant from Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council.

The Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University takes great pride in Wan's achievement and extends its heartfelt congratulations. We wish her continued success in her academic endeavors and Dharma work, and look forward to her future contributions to Buddhist scholarship and international academic exchange.

Personal website: zilingwan.com