5 October 2026 

The Research Centre for Translation of Buddhist Texts (RCTBT) at HSUHK is using AI, 3D modelling and humanities research to make Buddhist cultural heritage more accessible and interactive through translation, digital databases and virtual reconstruction.

Dr Siu Sai-yau, Director of RCTBT and Assistant Professor at the School of Translation and Foreign Languages, said the Centre uses digital technologies to reconstruct ancient translation bureaux, Buddhist monasteries, and cultural landscapes, creating immersive experiences for students and the public.

One of its latest projects, SITAJI: A Digital Gazetteer of Buddhist Monasteries and Ward Society in Tang Chang’an (《寺塔記・唐長安佛寺數位圖志》), recreates Tang-dynasty Chang’an and 11 Buddhist monasteries from historical sources.  Users can explore the ancient capital from a first-person perspective and learn through interactive tasks and encounters with historical figures.

The next phase will integrate large language models (LLMs) with  virtual characters, enabling real-time conversations with historical figures and Buddhist translators to support learning and cultural preservation.

RCTBT is also producing modern Chinese and English translations of the Abhidharmakośabhāṣya, directly from Sanskrit, supported by AI-assisted optical character recognition (OCR), text processing, terminology annotation and digital archiving.

Dr Siu said returning to the original Sanskrit source can help readers understand Buddhist thought more directly, while offering new ways to apply traditional translation practices in the AI era.