Marketing & Communications
Division of University Relations and Development
News Release
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SDSU to Host Rare Public Performance Celestial Masters Daoist priest and scholar of religion to lead “Pacifying the Dragon” ritual Contact: SAN DIEGO (Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007) — On Sunday, November 18, San Diego State University will offer a unique glimpse into the living richness of Chinese religion and culture. In a very rare public performance, Celestial Masters Daoist priests from Taiwan will perform the “Pacifying the Dragon” ritual. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 2 p.m. at Scripps Cottage.
Chinese scholar and Daoist Priest Li You-kun will lead the unique ceremony symbolizing the establishment of universal ecological harmony between humanity and nature. “This ceremony would be a rare sight even for a Chinese audience,” said Julius N. Tsai, Ph.D., professor of religious studies at SDSU. “One might only see it at a significant anniversary of the founding of a temple.” The performance will utilize 500 pounds of rice to design a 20-foot-long dragon, which is symbolic of the divinities of earth. In Chinese communities, the rite is generally performed following the construction or renovation of a temple. The event, which will also include introductory remarks from scholars of Daoism and Chinese religion, is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, an international gathering of religious studies scholars taking place in San Diego over the weekend. The main international focus of this year’s conference is on China. Support for the event comes from SDSU’s College of Arts & Letters, SDSU Department of Religious Studies, The Charles Wei-Hsun Fu Foundation, SDSU Institute of Chinese Studies, SDSU Arts and Letters Alumni Chapter, The Many Paths Fund of Religious Studies, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, Sing Tao Buddhist Association, Vien Dong Market, Global Unified Chinese Associations from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, DDH Enterprise, Inc. and the American Academy of Religion. Further information about the day’s events can be found at www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/relstweb/. San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s approximately 35,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu. ###
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