Biography Across the Ancient World

Edinburgh Buddhist Studies

A panel discussion about the emergence of the biographical genre across different parts of the ancient world.

New College, The University of Edinburgh

Telling stories of the lives of important people feels like a universal human activity, but biography as a genre begins to flourish only in the one or two centuries either side of the start of the Common Era, when it suddenly becomes the focus for composers as far apart as the ancient Mediterranean and early China. Whether it’s the first biography of Jesus or Buddha, the interrelated accounts of Chinese historical figures or the story of Mani’s life and travels, what motivates communities to focus on the life of key people and develop their stories? What is the relationship between biography and history, or between biography and devotional practice or doctrinal development? How does autobiography relate to this flourishing of literary and narrative practice, and does visual culture develop new types of human portrayals at the same time? Join us for what promises to be a fascinating panel discussion, with short papers from four experts and then a wider discussion. Featuring:Prof Helen Bond (Divinity) on early Christian biographyProf Joachim Gentz (Asian Studies) on early Chinese biographyProf Charles Hallisey (Harvard) on early Buddhist biographyDr Philippa Townsend (Divinity) on the biography of ManiChaired by Prof Naomi Appleton and supported by the ECBS

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