About DILA

認識本校

History

Precursor institution: Chung-Hwa Research Center Buddhist Institute

1978 Master Sheng Yen is invited as an internationally renowned Buddhist scholar by the elder Zhang Qiyun to serve as the director of the Chung-Hwa Research Center Buddhist Institute.
1979 Active preparation of training programs for future talents begins.
1981 Enrolment of graduate students for three-year programs, with seminars on Buddhism, classes on Sanskrit, Pāli, and Tibetan, with an emphasis on English and Japanese as research languages, with the goal of cultivating talents capable of teaching the Dharma internationally.
1985 Due to changes in circumstances, the Chung-Hwa Research Center was restructured, and the Chung-Hwa Research Center Buddhist Institute stopped enrolling students. Master Sheng Yen subsequently established the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture in Beitou, acting as its first president.

Beginnings: the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture

1985 The Chung-Hwa Research Center was restructured, and the Chung-Hwa Research Center Buddhist Institute stopped enrolling students. Master Sheng Yen subsequently established the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture in Beitou, acting as its first president.
1986 The Beitou Chinese Buddhist Cultural Center was renovated into a new building to provide the school building for the Institute of Buddhist Studies.
1987 Following application with the Ministry of Education, it was officially established on July 1 of the same year. The first issue of the Journal of Chinese Buddhist Studies was also published that year.
1992 Professor Fang Ningshu takes over as director.
1996 Professor Li Zhifu takes over until December 2006. After that, Professor Li applied for honorary retirement, and Master Guo Zhao acted as the director for a full year.
2001 The first phase of the Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education in Jinshan is completed, allowing the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Culture to move in and the establishment of the Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha.With the establishment of the Sangha University, Dharma Drum’s educational endeavors reach a new milestone.
2007 On December 26, Master Guojing takes over as president of the institute.

Preparatory Office for the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences

1992
The application is submitted and the Ministry of Education investigates the construction site on Dharma Drum Mountain 09/19 An application was made to the Ministry of Education for the establishment of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Dharma Drum University), and a preparatory office is established. 10/28 The Ministry of Education assembles all relevant departments to form the " Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences Site Survey Team,” holding the first survey at Dharma Drum Mountain with the participation of Master Guoxing and Master Guojing acting as representatives.
1993
Purchase of the school’s site with the approval of the preliminary proposal, establishment of a preparatory committee, and appointment of the first preparatory director. 03/26 Purchase of 21 hectares of land for the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences, reported to the Ministry of Education for approval. 04/28 The Ministry of Education's "School Site Survey Team" visits the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences to survey the site. 07/21 The Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences applies for the preparatory project, which was approved by the Ministry of Education. 09/21 Organizing the Preparatory Committee of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences, with the founder, Master Sheng Yen as the chairman, Professor Fang Ningshu as the vice chairman, and Professor Li Zhifu and Dr. Wu Kuan as members. 09/22 Establishment of Preparatory Committee of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences with Professor Li Zhifu as the director and Dr. Wu Kuan as the deputy director to preside over the preparations.
1996
Construction plan approval 12/04 Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences “Application and Preparation Plan” approved by the Ministry of Education.
1997
The environmental assessment report for the establishment of the school is reviewed and approved. 07/28 The Environmental Protection Agency of the Executive Yuan “Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the Establishment of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences (final version)" is approved.
1998
Approved by the Ministry of Education 06/05 The Ministry of Education of Taiwan approves the establishment of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
2014
The Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences was officially approved to be established. Application for the establishment of the Dharma Drum School Foundation for the creation of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences approved by the Ministry of Education on the 13th of May 2013. After 22 years and four successive directors, the construction work is finally completed, and the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences is officially established.

Dharma Drum Buddhist College

2006
Preparation and formal establishment: Dharma Drum Buddhist Research College In 2006, following the amendment to Article 9 of the "Private School Law,” the establishment of a "religious training institute" belonging to a single religion is permitted. On April 8, 2007 (the Buddha's birthday), the "Institute and First President Inauguration Ceremony" is held, leading to the establishment of the first religious training institute in Taiwan to be incorporated into the higher education system. The Department of Buddhist Studies begins enrolling master’s degree students.
2008
Renamed: Dharma Drum Buddhist College Following the resolution of the meeting held by the Ministry of Education in March 2008 to formulate the “Draft Measures for the Establishment of Religious Research Colleges,” religious research colleges and their departments, institutes, and degree programs should be named after the religion to which the college belongs. It is no longer mandatory to use the word "research" in the school’s name. The Dharma Drum Buddhist Research College applies to the Ministry of Education to change its name to the Dharma Drum Buddhist College, beginning to recruit undergraduate students that same year. Due to the good results over the subsequent three years, during the 100th year anniversary of the Republic of China, the establishment of a doctoral program is approved by the Ministry of Education. The first doctoral students are enrolled that same year.
2014
Merger: Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, Department of Buddhist Studies In order to consolidate teaching resources and promote future development, the Dharma Drum Buddhist College is merged with the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences on the 1st of August 2014 under the name of Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. With access to a wide range of new educational resources under the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, the establishment of the Department of Buddhist Studies marks an important milestone.

Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts

2014
On July 28, 2014, the Ministry of Education holds a review meeting for the merger of the Dharma Drum College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Dharma Drum Buddhist College. Following the merger, the school is renamed the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts. The founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, Master Sheng Yen, has finally achieved his long standing wish to contribute to the promotion of education. The original "Dharma Drum Buddhist College" continues to recruit doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degree students under the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Art’ Department of Buddhist Studies.
2015
In the spring of 2015, the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts begins recruiting students for the four new master’s degrees, including "Life Education,” "Community Empowerment,” "Social Enterprise and Innovation,” and "Environment and Development." Enrollment begins in the fall of 2015.