Premodern Japanese Religions

This course surveys Shinto, Buddhism, Shugendo, and Christianity in premodern Japan, tracing their development from early kami worship through the early modern period. Students will examine themes such as the relationship between religion and the state, gender, material and visual culture, and cross-cultural exchange through historical texts, visual narratives, and ritual practices. Creative projects reimagine religious traditions and sacred spaces, using artistic expression alongside cultural and historical analysis to illuminate the role of religion in premodern Japanese society.