Dr. Michael Saso, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael R. Saso Ph.D.
Director, Sino-Asia Institute
Hawaii office: 2530 Dole St. A-310, Honolulu, HI 96822
michael_saso@yahoo.com
Born: Dec, 7, 1930
Professor Saso is a scholar of the religious practices of Japan and China, with a particular emphasis on Taoism. He has translated Japanese and Chinese religious texts and related works and has written several books on Asian religion. His knowledge of Taoism and Buddhism comes from within those communities: he is an initiated Taoist priest of the Zhengyi Sect as well as an ordained Tendai Buddhist monk.
His first ordination, however, was as a Jesuit. He left the order in the 1960s, and in 1968 married Nariko Akimoto, with whom he had two daughters. The marriage was later annulled. Saso requested reinstatement as a RC priest in 1997 and is now connected with the Sino-Asian Institute in Los Angeles, California, and serves in the Diocese of San Jose.
Education:
B.A. Santa Clara University: Classical Humanities, 1952.
M.A. Gonzaga University Spokane, WA: Philosophy, Anthropology, 1955.
Fu Jen University, Taiwan: Chinese Language and Culture, 1955-58.
Baguio /Ateneo de Manila: Religious Studies/Anthropology, 1958-62.
M.A. Yale University: Chinese Studies, 1963-64.
Sophia University, Tokyo: Japanese Language, 1964-65;
Kyoto University: Classical Chinese Literature, 1966-67;
Ph.D. London Univ. 1971; Taoism and Chinese Religion (thesis published: 1972)
Positions held, teaching and research:
Lecturer: London University, Extramural department, Chinese Studies, 1968-69.
Assistant Prof., Washington State University: Anthropology; 1970-74.
NSF Grant, Research on the Chinese Family 1972-74; 1975-77.
Associate Professor: University of Hawaii, History of Religion, Asian Religions, 1974-78.
Visiting Professor: Yale University, History of Religion, 1978.
Full Professor with Tenure: University of Hawaii, 1978-1990. Emeritus, 1990-present
Research Grant: The Korean Shaman, Smithsonian, 1981; HNEH, 1985
Japan Foundation Grant, Tantric Buddhist Studies, 1986-88.
Comparative Studies; Tantric Buddhism and Taoism in China, 1988-89. NSF.
Research Fellow: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 1990-1995.
Director, advisor: Institute of Asian Studies, Beijing, 1992-1996;
Research in Tibet 1992-2007; History of Tibet, Buddhist “Tangkha” Art
Advisor: The Beijing Center, 1997-98.
Director: Sino-Asian Institute, 1999-2008.
Diocese of San Jose, CA, 1997…; study and teaching in Asia.
Pilgrimages to Tibet, study scholarships; built 5 schools in China and Tibet, 1998-2006.
Sino-Asian Institute of America (SAIA), 2006-present.
Dean: Comparative Religions, International University Institute, Macao 2006, Beijing, 2004-2008.
Consultant: International University, Beijing, Kyoto, Los Angeles, 2007-2008; catalogued the Tohgendo Collection, Sanjo Doori, Kyoto, 2008-2009.
Publications: books; (articles in learned journals omitted)
1968 Taiwan Feasts and Customs, Hsinchu, Taiwan: Fu Jen Univ Press.
1972 Taoism and the Rite of Cosmic Renewal, Pullman: Washington State University press.
1975 Chuang-lin Supplement to the Taoist Canon (25 vols), Taipei: Chengwen Press.
1976 Buddhist and Taoist Studies, Honolulu: Univ of Hawaii press.
1978 The Teachings of Taoist Master Chuang. New Haven: Yale University (3rd edit., 2008).
1979 A Collection of Taoist Oral Teachings, Tokyo, Ryukei Shosha press (2nd edition, 2008).
1980-84 4 Video programs, DVD documentaries: 1) Taoism; 2) Tantric Buddhism; 3) Korean.
Shaman (NEH, & UH Korean Studies); 4) Chinese New Year Festival. (Funded by HNEH,).
1990 Blue Dragon White Tiger (Chinese Religion) Honolulu: UH Press.
____ Tantric Art & Meditation in Japan; (Tendai Tantric Buddhism), UH Press.
1991 The Agni-hottri Fire Rite of Tendai Buddhism, New Delhi, Aditya Press.
1992 Buddhist Studies in Modern China, Honolulu, Univ. of Hawaii Press.
1994 Chinese Religions and Mysticism; (J. Hinnells, World Religions, Penguin Press)
1995 A Taoist Cookbook; (81 meditations and vegetarian recipes) Boston: Tuttle Press.
1996 Gold Pavilion, Taoist Meditation, Boston: Tuttle Press
1999 Velvet Bonds: The Chinese Family, University of Hawaii press
2000 Zen is for Everyone, Honolulu: University of Hawaii press.
2004-2008 Cultural Festivals of Hong Kong and S. China, CHK Press, monthly;
2008 Comparative Mysticism (Mystic, Shaman, Oracle, Priest) (in press)
____ The Tangkha Buddhist Art of North Tibet (Amdo). (in press)
Seminars: history, philosophy, religion (offered in Beijing and Honolulu):
World History, a Comparison of western and Asian cultures;
A Cultural History of China and Tibet, (intensive seminar course 6 – 12 weeks)
Hist. of Asian Religions, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, Shinto, YY 5 Element philosophy
Upper Division & Graduate Seminars in Taoist Studies: Taoist Rites & Meditations; &
Buddhist Studies, Tantric Buddhism in Japan & Tibet, selected religious traditions.
History of World Religions; Judao-Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Daoist, S. Asia,
Korea, Native America, African religious traditions: Hinnells /Saso, Penguin Press, 2004.
Comparative Mysticism: (Mystic, Shaman, Oracle, Priest). (Textbook in press, 2008).
The Tohgendo Collection, Kyoto: DVD, 3 volumes, History of Asian Art in China, Japan,
Korea, and Tibet; “Conserving, identifying, and dating Asian art objects.”
Special Lecture and video/ DVD presentations with text and discussion:
Three Religions, One Culture, Buddhism Confucianism, and Taoism in China and E. Asia
Tibet today: the religion, customs, art, cultural and ethnic diversity of modern Tibet
Ethnic minorities of China: languages, cultures, customs of Yunnan, and Islamic China.
The healing traditions of Asia: Shiyatsu; Qigong, Zen meditation, Taiji & Bagua movement.
Mystic, Shaman, Oracle, Priest, World Religions, a cross-cultural study.
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Michael, if this is direct to you I sent you an e-mail.
I hope I can find the time to see if you are in Honolulu again. I will try.
Dear Dr. Saso,
I am wondering if your family came from Trabia, Sicily. My mother is the daughter of Jerome Saso, whose father Giuseppe Saso arrived in New York on King Wilhelm Kaiser in the early 1900′s. I have been researching this family for over 40 years and have extensive family data. I am still gathering more information and in the process plan to compile a record on the family at some future date. In Trabia where my side of the Saso’s were living, I traced the family back to the mid 1700′s. Unfortunately, I have hit a brickwall and not able to get back any further than the 1700′s. Any information you might have, if you wish to share it with me, would be appreciated. Sincerely, Dennis W. Simpson
Dear Dr. Michael Saso,
I am a buddhist. I am practicing the Buddha’s teaching according to Varjayana of Tibet. I am also studying and researching about Chinese Dao. I really love it. In your book “Taoist Master Chuang”, you indicated that there are some missing marterials from Cheng-i Tz’u T’an. May I ask that I can kindly have those missing materials from you? The “Taoist Master Chuang” book is very, very valuable. It can be kept for generations. But, the book will be incomplete withhout having those missing materials. Please help me. Thank you, Sir, so much.
Sincerely,
Phuc (Geoffrey) Nguyen
yes, we are from Trabia, Sicily, thank you so much for your e-mail, and forgive my long silence, I am just back from China, Tibet, and Japan, and am at last back on my wordpress site. We are actually from Segovia, in Spain, “murano” or sephardic Jews, expelled 3x from Spain, once in 1095, again in 1395 (during the “crusades”) and again under Ferdinand and Isabel. Our relatives also went to Bagdad, Istanbul, and Teheran, where they are still Jewish (the Istanbul Saso’s still wear the yamaka), and even to China, and Shanghai until 1949. Our family, both the Saso’s, and the Sanfelipo (grandmother’s) family, were/are “murano”, and were forced to become Catholic when we got to Palermo, and Trabia. If you look at the baptismal register, you will see that it says in Latin “Usuri Fuerunt”, ie, “they were usurers (jews)”, ie, Christains and Musilms were not allowed ever to take interest on lonaed money, but Jews were allowed to, which is why we/they were always caled “usurers” in baptismal records. The reason why it is hard to trace us to times earlier than the 1700′s is because our real ancestry was kept hidden. We all moved to Portland Oregon on 1908, and from thence to Santa Clara valley in California between 1930-1936. My name and biogrpahy also appears on Wikipedia, but one of these days I want to make them inlude our Jewish ancestry, of which we are very proud (that’s why we are so “smart”). Please write again, there us much more to say.
Hi, Barbara, at last I got back on WordPress, after spending so much time in Tibet and japan, and just now read your comment. I have neen to HN 2x, but was unable to get a reply from you to either e-mails or phone calls. I will be staying at Tendai Betsuin, 23 Jack Lane (off Pali Hiway) from May 29 thru June 12, Hope you can find a moment to say hello. Life is short, filled with good things, amongst which are our very occasional meetings.
Thanknyou for your message, Mr. Nguyen (Geoffrey). There is a whole book which contains Master Chuang (Zhuang)’s teachings and mijue documents in Chinese, please send me your address, I can mail one to you. It is called “Dokyo Hiketsu Shusei” in Japanese, or “Daojiao Mijue Jicheng” in Chinese.
Dear Cousin Michael,
I figured you were probably overseas and I understand how busy you are. Thank you for getting back to me and sharing your side of the family. Several years ago I attended one of the Saso reunions in Pacifica, the gentleman who hosted the reunion has since past away, occasionally I do hear from his brother Steve Saso. I was introduced to that side of the family by Laural Ragona, who lives in Napa, California. At the reunion we had a long discussion about our ancestors, and the subject of where they originated from. Most of the people there agreed the Saso’s were not originally Italians, but middle eastern. We thought Lebanonese or Jordanian, but as you pointed out, through your research and I have to agree, we are descendants of Jewish ancestors.
Not only were the Saso’s very intelligent, the men were very handsome and the women extremely beautiful. It is no wonder we find cousins marrying eachother in this family. If you would like, I could send you an invitation to view the records I have on the Saso’s in ancestry.com. I would need to have you send me your regular email to send you the invitation. Over the years, the family grew and there are so many Saso’s living on the American continent, that it is hard to tie them all together, but we are all related. The difference between Saso and Sasso is the Sasso’s living on the mainland are supposidly not related. Whereas the Saso’s are all Sicilians steming from a common ancestor who wasn’t Italian at all, but middle eastern and with a different surname.
Off the subject matter. I have a half sister, whom I never met, her name Meke Ka. My father married a Korean and had a daughter who was born in Yokohama, Japan about 1948. My father was stationed at Sagamo Prison and was there when Tojo and several other Japanese war prisoners were held there for war crimes. From there he was sent to Korea. My father mastered the Korean language, the first Southern to do so, and was part of the team to translate for the peace accord after the conflict was winding down. I have always hoped to find her, but fear I will not be able to, considering the fact that I have very limited information about her. I don’t even know her married surname is.
What is also interesting is my father’s mother’s maternal grandmother, Amelia Catherine Harbin descends from the Harbin family of Yeovil, England. Apparently one of the Harbin’s migrated to Northern China and thus the city of Harbin, China was founded. At least that is what I have been told. They say Harbin is one of the most coldest places in Asia, the weather during the winter can get way below 20 degrees below zero. I had a girlfriend who was born and raised in Harbin, and I was just about ready to go there to visit her family, but things just didn’t work out to let me go. And I missed my opportunity.
I am always opened to learning more about our ancestors. I have been researching the family for over 40 years. Unfortunately, mid 1700′s and I am stuck. It would be nice to learn the original surname, before it became Saso. I supposed the family suffered tremendously when Fernand and Isabella were in power. Christopher Columbus was also of Jewish Descent, and good thing he kept that hushed, or America might not have been discovered until years later, by someone else. Unfortunately, Columbus allowed his men to kill the men, rape the women and kidnapped the children for slaves once he came to America.
I am wondering if you knew Dr. Samuel Saso who had a dentisty in San Jose, before his death? His father Michele Saso, was my great-grandfather’s, Giuseppe Saso’s brother.
I also noticed the surname Saso is used in the Philippianes. Several migrants to California tell me it was a Spanish name, which makes sense because they were living in Spain before arriving in Trabia. They couldn’t tell me when they moved to the Philippines.
It is enjoyable hearing from you, and I do look forward talking more with you.
Dear Dr. Saso,
I am unable to locate any copies of ” Taoist Master Chuang” for purchase. Would you be able to assist me in obtaining a copy ? Many Thanks,
David
There is a third edition currently in the works. Hopefully it will be ready for distribution by fall.
dear Dr.saso,
i am an indian student,who studiying in M A Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policey, jamia millia islamia,new delhi.i would like to do my further studies in the field of tibetan refugees in india.i would like to get guidence from you.
regards
Rajeevmangottil.
I am honored by your request, Rajeev, I do know some Tibetan people and monks in India, and will make contacts with them, then get back to you at once. Please use my e-mail, michael_saso @yahoo.com
I’ve just stumbled across all of this information and am so excited! I am very interested in learning more about my ancestors. My father was born in Sciarra, Italy (just outside of Palermo). His name was Pietro Saso. His parent’s were Irena & Francesco Saso.
I live in Thousand Oaks, California – just outside of Los Angeles.
Would love to hear from you.
Thank you for getting in contact, Camille, I am in Honolulu attending meetings, return to Los Angeles on Sunday, my e-mail address is michael_saso@yahoo.com , when I get back I can send you the picture taken in Portland, Oregon, in 1908, when the entire Saso and Sanfelipo clans arrived in Portland Oregon from Trabia, Sicily. Yes, we are all related, and the history is truly fascinating. We have relatives in many places, all with the same name Saso, will send more when I return on Sunday.
Dear Professor Saso,
I know of you through Ruth Vickers. For the past several months I have tried to get a hold of you to let you know that Ruth has past on. If you are the Professor Saso from the early 1980′s that Ruth talked of then you will know that she was a very special person to many people. Her worked touched many people.
Sincerely,
Alan Holmes
Thank you, Alan, yes, I heard that Ruth passed, and will offer Mass again for her tomorrow, easter Sunday. What wonderful days when we were at UH, good students, classes, thnk you for getting in touch!
Hi. This is Yoting Chen’s Speaking. Miss you! My old friend!
Now I am staying at Sydney, until Nov. this year.
Reading Your Website, I am surprised. So wonderful! So great!
Love you, My old friend!
Best regard !
How great to hear from you, Chen Jiaoshou! what an honor! yes, we are working very hard to publish the rest of the 三山滴血派祕訣本，that were in Zhuang Dengyun’s collection, as well as making a dvd of the entire 莊林續道臧。So few foreign scholars realize that the orla tradition in Daoism is more important than the written, and that the Daoist Canon 道臧 is incpmplete. Your inout is very necessary, hope we can talk more.
Hello Michael, it’s Gerardo your old student from CSUMB. i hope all is well with you, i have been doing great.
i now have a young daughter married and just finninshed my masters in social work. i’ll be heading to your old playing ground of hawaii for a break in the next week. over all life is pretty good.
how are you, and the old crew.
i see you still in Makau, i hope the weather is a little cooler than the last time i visited. LOL.
Gerardo
Hi, Gerardo! congratulations on new baby, your MA, and great life! I left macao long ago, have been in China, and kyoto, research and other work. Am giving a Vipassyana retreat here in Honolulu, return to LA on the 16th, hope we can meet up soon. Hi to Miranda and your artist brother Nick as well!