RELIGION-STUDIES 30523
 Andrew O. Fort East Asian Office Hours
TBH 214 Religious Perspectives M-F 11-12
257-6448 or by appt.

In this course, we shall look at "religion" in China and Japan. We shall consider a variety of religious traditions (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Shinto) and their relationship with Chinese and Japanese culture. We shall consider what "religion" means in the East Asian context. Our goal will be to understand more fully how millions of people have understood ultimate reality, the world, and their place in it/them.
You are expected to come to all classes and to do the reading before class. Bring the books to class; we will sometimes go over the readings. There will be two exams (worth 50% of course grade) and two short (4-5 page) papers (worth 45%) reviewing two books. Each of these should demonstrate your knowledge of the material, and will also provide an opportunity to share more personal responses. You are also to make an entry in a computer journal weekly; the journal, class attendance and participation are worth 5%. Grades are in ten point increments; TCU does not allow pluses or minuses.
If you have a problem affecting your course participation, or must miss class, let me know. Feel free to see me, after class or by appointment.

The required books are in the bookstore; they are:
Chinese Religion, 5th ed., L. Thompson.
The Chinese Way in Religion, 2nd edition (called "reader" below).
Japanese Religion, 3rd ed., B. Earhart.
Religion in Japanese Experience, 2nd edition (called "reader"below).
Confucius: The Secular as Sacred, H. Fingarette.
Zen in the Art of Archery, E. Herrigel.
There will also be packet of copied readings.

COURSE MEETINGS

Aug. 23 Introduction to course

Aug. 28 The Chinese Worldview text: 1-17 reader: 5-11

Aug. 30 " " " text: 17-30
reader: 1-3, 12-24

Sept. 4 Religion and the Family
text: 31-44 reader: 25-6 READINGS 1 and 2

Sept. 6 Religion and the Community text: 44-66
reader: 35-6, 40-63, 67-9, 72-6

Sept. 11 Confucius (Master Kung) reader: 115-19 READING 3
Begin Fingarette (to p. 21, last full paragraph)

Sept. 13 Confucius Finish Fingarette, pp. 26-79

Sept. 18 Religion and the State
text: 67-79 reader: 77-88, 119-21
PAPER DUE ON CONFUCIUS

Sept. 20 Philosophical Taoism READINGS 4 and 5

Sept. 25 Indian Buddhism text: 101-06 reader: 128-37, 164-66

Sept. 27 Mahayana Buddhism text: 150-1 Japan reader: 54-60

Oct. 2 Chinese monastic Buddhism
text: 106-14 reader: 156-64, 171-72 READING 6

Oct. 4 Ch'an Buddhism reader: 141-56 READING 7

Oct. 9 Religious Taoism
text: 80-94 reader: 89-91, 95-102 READINGS 8 and 9

Oct. 11 Neo-Confucianism/Literati
text: 95-100, 115-7 reader: 123-27, 191-94

Oct. 16 EXAMINATION

Oct. 18 Festival Year and Modern China
text: 118-23, 134-7 reader: 64-7, 174-90

Oct. 23 Communist China text: 137-43
reader: 196-98, 203-7 READINGS 10 and 11

Oct. 25 Contemporary China and Korea text: 124-33 reader: 207-16


Oct. 30 The Japanese Worldview text: 1-17
reader: 6-13, 181-84, 205-12

Nov. 1 Shinto text: 22-50
reader: 13-25, 170-71, 34-38, 50-54, 234-36

Nov. 6 Nara and Folk Religion text: 52-71, 77-83
reader: 121-34, 201-4, 60-65

Nov. 8 Heian Buddhism/Amidism READING 12
text: 83-97 reader: 65-76, 81-3, 88-98

Nov. 13 Zen Buddhism text: 97-104 reader: 76-80, 99-102, 232-33

Nov. 15 Zen reader: 172-79 begin Herrigel

Nov. 20 Zen finish Herrigel
PAPER DUE 5 pm

Nov. 27 Kamakura and Tokugawa Religion text: 106-27, 134-47
reader: 113-15, 140-49, 161-64, 28-34

Nov. 29 Meiji and New Religions text: 150-82
reader: 150-56, 236-55, 270-83, 288-90

Dec. 4 Postwar/Contemporary Japanese Religion
text: 184-211 reader: 38-44,192-94, 263-67, 291-312


FINAL EXAM Tuesday, Dec. 11 8:30 a.m.