From September 15 to 18, the 2026 Buddhist Debate Conference was held at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. With the theme of "Practicing the Sinicization of Buddhism," the event brought together 19 teams from 16 Buddhist academies across China.
During the conference, the 19 teams debated topics such as "Should Buddhist temples remain detached from worldly affairs or widely cultivate good affinities?", "With the advancement of technology, is suffering diminishing?", "Can AI replace Buddhist masters in answering questions and resolving doubts?", "Does human suffering arise more from external impermanence or from inner attachment?", and "In Buddhist practice, which matters more: emotional guidance or rational understanding?" The debaters drew on Buddhist scriptures and produced a stream of witty remarks, whether building rigorous arguments step by step or delivering sharp rebuttals with flashes of insight, fully demonstrating the dignity and wisdom of young Buddhists in the new era.
▲ Scene of the debate conference
After four days of exciting competition and careful deliberation by the judges, the team from the Buddhist Academy of China and the team from the Buddhist College of Minnan (Bhikkhuni Division) won the Golden Lotus First Prize for male and female monastics respectively; the team from Hangzhou Buddhist Academy and its Bhikkhuni Division won the Golden Lotus Second Prize for male and female monastics respectively; and the team from Shanghai Buddhist Academy and the Bhikkhuni Division of Lingdong Institute of Guangdong Buddhist Academy won the Golden Lotus Third Prize for male and female monastics respectively.
▲ Winners of the Golden Lotus First, Second, and Third Prizes (male monastics)
▲ Winners of the Golden Lotus First, Second, and Third Prizes (female monastics)
The Organizational Award went to Chongqing Buddhist Academy, Jiechuang Institute of Buddhist Studies, Qixia Mountain Branch of the Buddhist Academy of China, the Buddhist College of Minnan, Tiantai College of the Buddhist Academy of Zhejiang, Hanshan Institute of Jiangsu Buddhist Academy, Lingdong Institute of Guangdong Buddhist Academy, Jiangsu Buddhist Academy for Nuns, Sichuan Buddhist Academy for Nuns, Zhejiang Ciyun Buddhist Academy, Ci'en College of Jiangsu Buddhist Academy (Bhikkhuni Division), Putuoshan College of the Buddhist Academy of China (Bhikkhuni Division), and Hebei Buddhist Academy (Bhikkhuni Division).
Eleven Buddhist masters—Dexing, Dingping, Qin'en, Miaole, Yanzhi, Mingguang, Fadeng, Jingsheng, Guyi, Xianmo, and Taici—were named Outstanding Debaters.
▲ Eleven monastics receive the Outstanding Debater Award
The conference was hosted by the Buddhist Association of China, co-organized by Zhejiang Buddhist Association, and jointly undertaken by the Chinese Buddhist Sutra Exchange Center, Hangzhou Buddhist Association, Lingyin Temple, and Hangzhou Buddhist Academy.
