The Italian Zen Sōtō Shōbōzan Fudenji Institute: Religious organization recognized by Presidential Decree on July 5, 1999; Official Temple with Special Status, Sōtōshū Tokubetsu jiin, on October 1, 2009; Affiliated Temple, Ojikimatsu, to Daihonzan Eiheiji, on 08.12.2016; Temple affiliated with the Italian Buddhist Union. The Institute is the legal entity representing the moral and patrimonial interests of the Buddhist religious community of the Zen Sōtō tradition, which identifies with the mission of the Temple and Monastery of Fudenji, a permanent seminary. Founded in 1984, Fudenji is a center of spirituality, culture, and education, open to interreligious and intercultural dialogue and exchange at the local, national, and international levels. On October 1, 2009, it was recognized by the Sōtōshū Shumuchō as an Official Temple with Special Status (Sōtōshū Tokubetsu jiin). On December 8, 2016, it became an Affiliated Temple (Ojikimatsu) of Daihonzan Eiheiji. The Institute was recognized as a religious organization by Presidential Decree on July 5, 1999 (Official Gazette 23.09.1999) and is a member of the Italian Buddhist Union (U.B.I.). The Institute’s commitment to research and service are closely linked and give impetus to intense cultural, educational, and training activities, which over the years have produced a rich network of relationships with the local community in the institutional, academic, and interfaith spheres.

The Institute is visited annually by hundreds of Italian and foreign visitors. It is a destination for international delegations (European, American, Chinese, and Japanese) who take the opportunity to explore the rich tourist and cultural offerings of the neighboring cities and the Emilia region (from nearby Salsomaggiore Terme to Fidenza, Parma, and Bologna). Located in the hills of Parma, Fudenji combines a beautiful landscape with a favorable geographical location at the crossroads of many itineraries, such as the Via Francigena, the Terre Verdiane route, and the itinerary of the Castles of Parma and Piacenza. In 1989, the Course of Buddhist Theological Studies was established, which, aimed primarily at the training and qualification of religious teachers, monks, and lay people of the Zen Sōtō tradition, also serves as a cultural project that aims to enrich and deepen the contact and interaction between the main themes of Buddhism and Western thought. The course is open to everyone (lay people and religious) and is attended by Italian and foreign students.