Scholars here present papers at an international conference on Buddhism in East Asia, discussing tradition, changes over time and modern challenges to the religion. Beginning with the history of the study of East Asian Buddhism, they deal with diverse topics: the role of monks and merchants in the dissemination of Buddhist philosophy, Buddhism vis-à-vis filial piety, Newar Buddhism and the new concept of ‘socially engaged Buddhism’. Referring to ancient scholarly treatises and scholars, they discuss some rarely studied topics like the Chan missionary enterprise that enabled colonisation of Taiwan, portraits of Chan eccentric monks and the paintings of Zen monk Sesshu Toyo as some of the finest examples of Japanese art, and the Tibetan storyteller tradition. The papers examine movement of Buddhist ideas and cults from Tang China to the Korean Peninsula.