Chinese Religions

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

An introduction to the origins and early development of religion in China, from the oracle bone divination of the Shang dynasty and the formation of the Yijing (Book of Changes) to the emergence of the Chan Buddhist tradition and contemporary religious life. By focusing specifically on the relationship between religious practices and religious ethics, this course seeks to identify and elucidate the beliefs, practices, and experiences that define the Confucian, Daoist, and Chinese Buddhist traditions. Attention will be given to the way in which these three traditions influenced each other in both thought and practice, and texts including the Daodejing and the Platform Sutra will be examined. The course will also look at the current religious climate in China, with special attention devoted to spirit mediumship and Zhengyi Daoist thought and practice.