Japanese Religion and Culture a 留

36051

山本　貴裕

A Global Perspective

2.00単位

1年

2023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 special attention to the global contexts in which these religious traditions were formed. To see the religio-cultural traditions at work, we will make a field trip to some local places of worship.

A presentation and a paper are required to earn a credit.

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: Are Japanese people irreligious?
2. Kami: What are they?
3. Buddhism Comes to Japan
4. Miyajima: A Devine Island
5. Tokyo and Kyoto: Cities Protected by Vengeful Spirits
6. Syncretization of Shinto with Buddhism: The Manifestation Theory
7. A Fieldtrip: Shrines, Temples, and Churches in the Neighborhood
8. True Pure Land Buddhism: A Tradition That Took Root n Hiroshima
9. Zen: Its Influences on Steve Jobs
10. Shogun vs. Buddhism/Christianity
11. For a Purer Japan
12. Creation of a Modern Japan Based on a New Shinto
13. Presentations by International Students 1
14. Presentations by International Students 2
15. Discussions

日本の宗教と文化

You will be required to read books and articles that are related to the topics covered in class and to make a presentation on one of 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

No exams

Participation in class counts for 30 percent of the grade, a presentation for 40 percent, and a paper for 30 percent.

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