Intro to Japanese Civilization and Culture

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course traces the development and cultural impact of the diverse religious traditions of Japan, focusing on Buddhism, Shint¿, Confucianism, folk traditions, and New Religious Movements. The format of the course will combine lecture and discussion. Students will attend each session with a copy of their notes on each of the readings assigned for that day. Time in class will also occasionally be devoted to preparation for the final presentation and final paper. Since a great deal of religious action in Japan is organized around specific sites, early in the term students will select a particular sacred site on which they will produce a final presentation and a ten-to-twelvepage research paper. Time will be set aside in class for students to discuss preliminary ideas with each other and with the instructor. The paper will be due at the end of the term. Student presentations will provide materials for the final quiz, which will be given on the last day of class.