
Bridget L. 2025 | BASIS Independent Fremont
- Project Title: Buddhism in the Bay Area: A Digital Documentation
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Ms. Sagal
Buddhism has played an instrumental role in Chinese culture for thousands of years. Ever since its introduction to China in the Han dynasty, it has undergone evolution and numerous changes, making it very different from its original Indian form and more adapted to traditional Chinese values and ideologies. It serves as an important cultural connection for many generations of the Chinese diaspora. After preliminary research using print and online sources, I will study how Buddhism Has evolved in the Bay Area, from the earliest waves of Chinese immigration to the present day, by comparing temples in the Bay Area to each other and to ones in China. By using photography as a medium, I will be able to visually document my research in a way that other digital mediums Cannot. In my final product, I will compile the photos I’ve taken over this period into a photo album, separated by location, with captions analyzing the differences between these temples and comparing them to the information I obtained from my preliminary research on Buddhism in China, in order to trace the evolution of Chinese Buddhism in the Bay Area.