AST/REL 135 Religions of Japan Berea College Fall Term 2015 Section A: MW 8-9:50 (Draper 311) Section B: TR 8-9:50 (Draper 114) Dr. J. L. Richey Asian Studies/Religion richeyj@berea.edu Tel. x3186 Draper 204-C Office hours: TR 12-2 or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION I think the only Japanese religion is being Japanese. -- Donald Richie Japan is a nation of approximately 127 million people (or about 1/3 the U.S. population) who inhabit an archipelago that is about the size of California or France (or about 4% of U.S. total land area). Intense population pressures, a tumultuous social history, an intimate relationship with both mountains and ocean, powerful influences from the Asian mainland (especially China and Korea), frequent natural disasters, and a dizzying process of modernization underway since the mid-19 th century have produced a culture that both shares much in common with its East Asian neighbors and appears (especially to itself) to be unique on the global stage. Religiously, Japan has been and continues to be defined by Buddhist, Confucian, and Shintō traditions as well as by the interplay between these traditions. This course includes readings in the classical primary texts of each tradition as well as attention to ritual and practice. Works of Japanese art, literature, and cinema will supplement these primary texts. Prerequisite: GSTR 110 Perspective Credit: International (Non-Western) and/or Religion COURSE MATERIALS 1. Wm. Th. De Bary, et al, eds., Sources of Japanese Tradition, vol. I, 2nd ed. (New York: Columbia University Press, 2001) [SOJT] 2. Matsuo Bashō, The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches, trans. Nobuyuki Yuasa (London: Penguin Books, 1967) 3. George J. Tanabe, Jr., ed., Religions of Japan in Practice (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999) [RJP] 4. Other materials accessible via Moodle [M] or otherwise distributed by the instructor All students will be asked to complete Instructor Evaluation Questionnaires (IEQs) electronically at the end of the term. You are expected to participate in this process. 1
COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Prepared participation in all class sessions. The instructor reserves the right to reduce the final grade of any student who misses class, arrives late, leaves early, sleeps or uses social media during class, fails to bring assigned materials to class, or is otherwise unprepared or disruptive. Excuses for absences should be sought in advance, but may not necessarily be granted. 2. Submission of 8 reading responses (average = ¼ of final grade, graded pass/fail). These should consist of your comments and questions (not summaries) related to a particular week s readings (and/or, on occasion, in-class videos), emailed directly to the instructor by 8 a.m. on the dates indicated in the calendar. They must be at least 250 words in length and be written in clear, errorfree English prose. You may decide the weeks in which you submit responses. Responses cannot be made up or submitted multiply (i.e., more than one per week). 3. Prepared participation in 1 text seminar (= ¼ of final grade, graded pass/fail). 4 text seminars are scheduled throughout the term. Each entails discussion of a particular Japanese literary text that relates to Japanese religious culture. Attendance is only required of students assigned to particular sessions by the instructor; others may attend if they wish. 4. Completion of 2 oral examinations (each = ¼ of final grade, letter-graded). These examinations will be administered individually and privately in the instructor s office on the dates indicated in the calendar. Berea College will provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities to make all learning experiences accessible. If you believe you need accommodations based on the impact of a disability or health condition, please contact Lisa Ladanyi (Disability & Accessibility Services, 111 Lincoln Hall, 859-985-3237, lisa.ladanyi@berea.edu) to initiate a conversation about your options. Accommodations are not retroactive, so please avoid any delays. COURSE CALENDAR Because this syllabus serves two different sections, each class session is listed under two dates (Monday/Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday). Please note the appropriate date for your section and make sure that you have completed the assignment(s) for that date by the time that class begins. W 8/26 R 8/27 Introduction to course (no preparation required) M 8/31 T 9/1 READING RESPONSE #1 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Matthew Coslett, Japan: The Most Religious Atheist Country [M] Helen Hardacre, Are the Japanese People Religious? [M] Between Two Worlds: A Japanese Pilgrimage (also available as reserve DVD 294.344 B565) W 9/2 R 9/3 Excerpts from Wèizhì (History of the Kingdom of Wei) (SOJT 6-8) Excerpts from Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan) (SOJT 14-15, 27-28) 2
M 9/7 T 9/8 READING RESPONSE #2 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Records of the Customs and Lands of Izumo (RJP 113-116) Legends Concerning Susa-no-o (SOJT 23-27) The Great Exorcism of the Last Day of the Sixth Month (SOJT 34-36) New Year s Rituals at Tsubaki Grand Shrine (also available as reserve DVD 299.561 N532 1997) W 9/9 R 9/10 TEXT SEMINAR I (required only for those assigned by instructor) Discussion of Murakami Haruki, Super-Frog Saves Tōkyō [M] M 9/14 T 9/15 READING RESPONSE #3 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! The Lotus Sūtra and The Vimalakīrti Sūtra (SOJT 55-62) W 9/16 R 9/17 Hagiography and History: The Image of Prince Shōtoku (RJP 316-333) En the Ascetic (SOJT 343-353) M 9/21 T 9/22 READING RESPONSE #4 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! The Founding of the Monastery Gangōji and a List of Its Treasures (RJP 299-315) Buddhism and the State in Nara Japan (SOJT 114-120) W 9/23 R 9/24 Empress Shōtoku, Edict on the Great Thanksgiving Festival (SOJT 341-342) The Merger of Buddhist and Shintō Deities (SOJT 121) Buddha in the Land of the Kami (also available as reserve DVD 952.01 B927 1989) M 9/28 T 9/29 READING RESPONSE #5 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Excerpts from the Confucian Analects (books 1, 2, and 4) [M] The Confucian Monarchy of Nara Japan (RJP 293-298) September 16 Respect for the Aged Day Keirō no Hi 敬老の日 September 23 Autumnal Equinox Day Shūbun no Hi 秋分の日 W 9/30 R 10/1 TEXT SEMINAR II (required only for those assigned by instructor) Discussion of Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, Dragon: The Old Potter s Tale [M] M 10/5 T 10/6 READING RESPONSE #6 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Sūtra Copying Manual [M] Shisha no sho (The Book of the Dead) (also available as reserve DVD 791.437 B7235 2008) 3
W 10/7 R 10/8 Kūkai and His Master (SOJT 162-164) The Founding of Mount Kōya and Kūkai s Eternal Meditation (RJP 354-359) M 10/12 T 10/13 W 10/14 R 10/15 M 10/19 T 10/20 W 10/21 R 10/22 READING PERIOD (NO CLASS SESSIONS) ORAL EXAMINATION #1 (meet individually in Draper 204-C) TEXT SEMINAR III (required only for those assigned by instructor) Discussion of Izumi Kyōka, The Holy Man of Mount Kōya [M] MOUNTAIN DAY (NO CLASS SESSION) INSTRUCTOR AWAY (NO CLASS SESSION) M 10/26 T 10/27 READING RESPONSE #7 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Genshin, The Essentials of Salvation (SOJT 217-222) Genshin s Deathbed Nembutsu Ritual in Pure Land Buddhism (RJP 166-175) Hōnen, One-Page Testament (SOJT 226) The Lamentation and Self-Reflection of Gutoku Shinran (SOJT 226-227) W 10/28 R 10/29 Women and Japanese Buddhism: Tales of Birth in the Pure Land (RJP 176-184) Preaching from Pictures: A Japanese Mandala (also available as reserve DVD 294.343 P922 2006) M 11/2 T 11/3 READING RESPONSE #8 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! The Death of Atsumori [M] Seami Motokiyo, Atsumori [M] November 3 Culture Day Bunka no Hi 文化の日 W 11/4 R 11/5 Eisai, Kōzen gokokuron (Propagation of Zen for the Protection of the State) (SOJT 311-313) Excerpts from Dōgen, Bendōwa (How to Practice Buddhism) (SOJT 320-325) M 11/9 T 11/10 READING RESPONSE #9 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Excerpts from Yoshida Kanetomo, Yuiitsu Shintō myōbō yōshū (Essentials of Prime Shintō) (SOJT 346-356) Excerpts from Kitabatake Chikafusa, Jinnō shōtōki (Chronicle of the Direct Descent of Gods and Sovereigns) (SOJT 358-363) 4
W 11/11 R 11/12 The Imperial Rescript on Education [M] Nationalistic Shintō: A Child s Guide to Yasukuni Shrine (RJP 334-339) Spirits of the State (also available as reserve DVD 299.561 S759 2007) M 11/16 T 11/17 READING RESPONSE #10 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Contemporary Zen Buddhist Tracts for the Laity (RJP 487-498) Land of the Disappearing Buddha (also available as reserve DVD 297.4 L848 2001 Disc 4 v. 9) W 11/18 R 11/19 TEXT SEMINAR IV (required only for those assigned by instructor) Discussion of Yoshimoto Banana, Blood and Water [M] M 11/23 T 11/24 READING RESPONSE #11 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Bashō, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, pp. 51-64, 71-90 W 11/25 R 11/26 THANKSGIVING VACATION (NO CLASS SESSIONS) M 11/30 T 12/1 READING RESPONSE #12 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Jolyon Baraka Thomas, Shūkyō Asobi and Miyazaki Hayao's Anime [M] Mononoke hime (Princess Mononoke), part 1 (also available as reserve DVD 791.433 P957 1997) W 11/30 R 12/1 Mononoke hime (Princess Mononoke), part 2 (also available as reserve DVD 791.433 P957 1997) M 12/7 T 12/8 READING RESPONSE #13 ACCEPTED BY 8 A.M.! Levi McLaughlin, What Have Religious Groups Done After 3.11? [M] Kawakami Hiromi, God Bless You, 2011 [M] W 12/9 R 12/10 Shimada Hiromi, Japanese Religion Comes Full Circle: Millennials in Search of Their Spiritual Roots [M] Shōnen Onmyōji (Boy Yin-Yang Master), episode 5: Takeru yōi o shirizokero [Forcing Back the Ferocious Monsters] ORAL EXAMINATION #2 (meet individually in Draper 204-C) Section A: Section B: R 12/17 -- 3 P.M. 5 W 12/16 -- 1 P.M.