Japanese Religion and Culture a 留

36058

山本　貴裕

A Global Perspective

2.00単位

1年

2022年度前期

Despite the fact that a majority of Japanese people, when asked to name their religious identity, say they have “no religion,” they ARE very religious in many ways and their religiosity underlies various cultural phenomena, both old and new, in Japan. In this course, we will trace the historical development of Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity in Japan, paying attention to the global contexts in which they took shape. To see the religio-cultural traditions at work, we will make field trips to some local places of worship.

Evaluations are given for presentations and reports in class.

1.To be able to understand the diverse religio-cultural history of the Japanese.
2.To be able to understand the religio-cultural influences brought to Japan from other countries including those some of the international students are from.
3. To be able to explain the meanings of various religious and cultural symbols in present-day Japan.

[Abilities to Be Acquired] Knowledge & Understanding, Communication

1. Introduction: Religion and 宗教
2. The Separation of Shintoism from Buddhism: To Be a “Civilized Nation”
3. Kami and 神: The Indigenous Concept of Gods and Those from China
4. The Introduction of Buddhism: A Beginning of Shinto
5. Syncretization of Shinto with Buddhism: The Manifestation Theory
6. A Fieldtrip: Shrines, Temples, and Churches in the Neighborhood
7. True Pure Land Buddhism and Protestantism: A Tradition in Hiroshima Formed
8. Zen: Its Influences on Steve Jobs
9. Deification of Human Beings: The Beginning of Ghost Stories
10. Natural Calendars: Edo, Kyoto, and Itsukushima Shrine
11. A Field Trip: Miyajima
12. The Japanese Views of the Land: The Periphery or the Center
13. The Introduction of Christianity: An Encounter with the West
14. “Shinto” Formed: From the Syncretic Environments in the Medieval Period
15. A Summary: Japan and the World

Each session consists of a lecture and a presentation by students.

日本の宗教と文化

You will be required to read parts of assigned books and to make presentations on them. It will take approximately 60 minutes to prepare for or review each session, and at least 120 minutes to prepare a presentation.

None

Wilfred Cantwell Smith, The End and Meaning of Religion; Jun’ichi Isomae, Religious Discourse in Modern Japan: Religion, State, and Shinto

Exams not done during regular exam period.　

The evaluation is based 30 percent on participation in discussion in class, 40 percent on presentations in class, and 30 percent on a paper.

We will be making references to Japanese “anime” and films in the course. Your suggestions are very welcome.