Buddhism in China & Japan
EAS 266 (8869) REL 266 (8496)
Fall 2007
Class Time and Location: MW 4:15–5:35 in HU
132
Instructor: Mark Blum
Office: HU 254E
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday
1:00–2:00;
Phone: 442-4183
e-mail: mblum@albany.edu
Textbooks:
Buddhism in China: A Historical Survey by Kenneth Chen (Princeton)
Japanese Buddhism: A Cultural History by Yoshiro Tamura (Kosei)
Zen Action/Zen Person by T. P. Kasulis
(Hawaii)
Prerequisites:
This is a survey course with no prior knowledge
of Asia and its philosophies or religious traditions required.
Course Description:
This course is an introductory look at the
culture, values, and history of the religion and cultural heritage of Buddhism
in China and Japan. We will consider both the philosophical doctrines that
emerged with representative schools of Buddhism as well as the context of
“native” Chinese and Japanese religion into which it came. We will
also look at how the internal structure of Buddhist values were negotiated with
established views of mankind and society in each society with an eye on how
Buddhism was changed in the context of these two cultures, as well as how
Buddhism ultimately changed those societies. Students are encouraged to
contribute to our collective learning experience by contributing other
viewpoints, such as artistic, economic, political, etc., as these topics will
never be excluded from our discussions, but due to time constraints will have
to play a supportive role.
There are many aspects to the Buddhist
experience in China and Japan, but we will focus on the ideas that have
traditionally defined the religion and how these ideas manifested historically
in scriptures, institutions, art forms, and the activities of influential
individuals.
Requirements:
1) You are expected to secure all required
books, attend all classes, and to have read the relevant reading assignment for
each class beforehand. There will also be a considerable amount of
material discussed that may have minimal treatment in the textbooks, and no
repeating of lectures for absentees is possible.
2) Each student must prepare a small research
project regarding an issue of interest to them in the context of Buddhist
culture in East Asia. The purpose is to give you a chance to dig deeper into
whatever interests you in this area of study. At end of the semester, you will
present a paper of no less than five and no more than ten pages. This must be
written entirely by yourself, must contain a bibliography of your sources, and
must give references for all quotations and opinions. Internet sources are discouraged.
You may only use internet sources if you can identify the author and
confirm his/her qualifications—this information must be included in your
bibliography for all internet sources or you will be graded down. Plagiarism
will result in zero credit for the assignment and notification sent to the
dean. You are encouraged to read the description of how to properly cite source
materials, what constitutes plagiarism, and other helpful guides for academic
writing on the department website under the title East Asian Studies Style
Guide. All topics must be approved by the instructor, but you have considerable
freedom in choosing what is of interest to you.
Research Topic Guidelines:
a) Permissible:
religious doctrine and philosophy; individual temples or monasteries; famous
individuals; Buddhist notions seen in family values, or Buddhist values in the
relationship between the individual and society; care and treatment of the
dead; Buddhist culture expressed in festivals, art, literature, Asian cinema,
theatre, politics, or economics; church–state relations; status of women;
ethics, relationship with other religions; monasticism; sectarianism; changes
in Buddhism in the 20th century; modern Buddhist movements in East Asia. You
may write on how Westerners understand a particular Buddhist notion only
if you compare this with the traditional view held in East Asia. Topics not
mentioned here are also possible with consent of the instructor.
b) Not Permissible:
Buddhist religious forms in America; Buddhism among immigrants in America, Buddhism
in Western movies, a summary of a talk you heard by the Dalai Lama, and the
like.
Grading:
Grades will be based on six elements: 1)
classwork (attendance, preparation, participation, homework, etc.) 2) midterm
examination, 3) research paper, 4) final examination. The examinations will
consist of identification questions and short essay questions that you select
from a larger group of questions.
Here is the grading distribution by category:
Classwork 20%
Midterm:
25%
Research
Paper 25%
Final
Exam: 30%
Schedule:
Readings from Buddhism in China (abbreviated BChina
), Japanese Buddhism: A Cultural History
(JBud), and Zen Action/Zen Person (Zen)
|
Date |
Topics |
Readings |
Wk |
|
8/27 |
Why study Buddhism? Which of the many Buddhisms is this one? |
none |
1 |
|
8/29 |
Indian Buddhism overview |
BChina 3–14 |
|
|
9/3 |
No Class: Labor Day Holiday |
|
2 |
|
9/5 |
The transmission of Buddhism outside of India |
BChina 15–20 |
|
|
9/10 |
Film |
|
3 |
|
9/12 |
No Class: Jewish Holiday |
|
|
|
9/17 |
Chinese religion & philosophy at the time of the arrival of
Buddhism: Confucianism & Taoism |
BChina 21–34 |
4 |
|
9/19 |
Buddhism arrives in China: the first 400 years |
BChina 27–81, 203-209 |
|
|
9/24 |
Kumārajīva and his impact; readings from the Lotus sutra |
BChina 81–93, handout |
5 |
|
9/26 |
Readings from the Diamond
sutra |
|
|
|
10/1 |
BChina ch. 4, 128-29. |
6 |
|
|
10/3 |
Readings from the Nirvana
Sutra |
ERes |
|
|
10/8 |
Buddhism in the south (Liang) and Buddhism in the north (N. Wei) |
BChina 121-134, 145-146, 153-180. |
7 |
|
10/10 |
The politics of religion: can Buddhism be good for China? |
BChina 135–144,
147–153; 184–194; 225–233 |
|
|
10/15 |
Midterm Exam |
|
8 |
|
10/17 |
Monastic institutions |
Bchina 153-158, 241-267 |
|
|
10/22 |
Chan/Zen school in Chinese & Japanese history |
BChina 350–364 |
9 |
|
10/24 |
Zen
in practice 1: Indian & Chinese sources |
Zen 3-38 |
|
|
10/29 |
Readings
from the Chan/Zen tradition |
ERes |
10 |
|
10/31 |
Zen
in practice 2: Dogen |
Zen 65-99 |
|
|
11/5 |
Zen
in practice 3: Hakuin |
Zen 99-124 |
11 |
|
11/7 |
Tientai/Tendai school in China & Japan |
BChina 303–313; JBud 73-78 |
|
|
11/12 |
Huayen/Kegon & Xuanzang & the Yogācāra/Hossō schools in China &
Japan |
BChina 235–238, 313–320;
320–325. |
12 |
|
11/14 |
Pure Land schools in China & Japan; |
BChina 338–350; JBud 79-89 |
|
|
11/19 |
Guest Lecture |
|
13 |
|
11/21 |
No Class
– school holiday |
|
|
|
11/26 |
Heian Buddhism |
JBud 59-71 |
14 |
|
11/28 |
Kamakura Buddhism |
JBud 91-112 |
|
|
12/3 |
Modern Buddhist movements in Asia; |
JBud 183-216. ERes |
15 |
|
12/5 |
Review |
ERes |
|
|
12/14 |
FINAL EXAM |
10:30~12:30PM in same room |
|