RELI 3300. Introduction to East Asian Religions. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTRO E ASIAN REL.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or permission of department.
The history, beliefs, and practices of major traditions of China and Japan, particularly
Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Special attention will be paid to the evolution of
diverse forms within each tradition, and to the interactions of the different traditions.
Course Objectives:
(1) To illumine the hermeneutic issues involved in understanding religion across cultures.
(2) To introduce basic elements of major religious traditions of East Asia.
(3) To demonstrate the diverse factors that affect human life by observing the influence of
historic, geographic, and economic factors on the nature and evolution of Asian beliefs and practices.
(4) To illustrate that religious traditions evolve, and that such evolution can be understood by
reference to historical, intellectual, cultural and existential phenomena.
(5) To stimulate meaningful comparison, and contrast, of Asian traditions with those more
familiar to students from their own cultural heritage.
Course Outline:
The Academic Study of Religion
Issues in the Study of Asian Religions
Confucius
Mo-tzu's Criticism of Confucius
Mencius
Hsün-tzu
Confucianism, "Heaven," and History
Confucianism Today
SELF, SOCIETY, AND THE NATURAL ORDER: CLASSICAL TAOISM
SELF-PERFECTION THROUGH INSIGHT AND DISCIPLINE: LATER TAOISM
THE WESTERN STUDY OF BUDDHISM
THE BUDDHIST TRADITION: THE INDIAN ROOTS
THE INTRODUCTION OF BUDDHISM INTO CHINA
BECOMING A BUDDHA: DISCIPLINE AND "ENLIGHTENMENT" IN THE CH'AN TRADITION
SHINTO AND JAPANESE RELIGION
JAPAN'S ENCOUNTER WITH BUDDHISM
JAPAN'S DOMESTICATION OF BUDDHISM
THE ZEN TRADITION IN JAPAN: "WHAT ENLIGHTENMENT??"
PURE LAND BUDDHISM: THE BUDDHISM THAT WESTERNERS IGNORE
University Honor Code and Academic Honesty Policy
All academic work must meet the standards contained in the document titled A Culture of Honesty. All students are responsible for informing themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.
Nature and Limits of the Course Syllabus
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course. Changes and variations, announced to the class by the instructor, may be necessary.