Selected strands of religious thought in China. This course will examine various Chinese religious traditions, in particular Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Rather than provide a comprehensive survey of all of the strands of Chinese religion (which is impractical in a ten-week quarter), this course emphasizes in-depth understanding through the study of primary religious texts supported by secondary readings in the relevant scholarly literature. The focus of our examination will be on the philosophical understanding of religious ideas in critical historical context. We will study key ideas within the context of various cultural and historical issues such as gender, class, and ritual.
1. Attendance: Required. Students can have one unexcused absence without penalty. Each class missed thereafter without prior permission will result in 1/2 grade penalty for the course grade.
2. Short exams: There will be two short, in-class exams, based on materials from the readings, lectures, and course web site.
3. Short papers: Students will write three short papers based on topics that will be provided by the instructor.
4. Final paper: Each student will hand in a medium length final paper of 4-6 pages double-spaced. Suggested topics will be provided. Students may choose to create their own topics with the consent of the instructor. In the case of the latter, a one-paragraph description of the topic must be submitted by email to the instructor one week prior to the due date.
5. Late policy on written assignments: Three grace days total will be allotted excluding the medium-length final paper for which no extensions will be given. For all other assignments, a cumulative total of three late days will be allowed without penalty. Thereafter, each late day will result in a two-point deduction from the course grade. Weekends are not counted against the grace days.
Email. Students should all have email accounts. Notices for the class will be posted by email.
Grades
1. Herbert Fingarette, Confucius-The Secular as Sacred (New York: HarperCollins, 1972).
2. D. C. Lau, tr., Lao Tzu-Tao Te Ching (New York: Penguin, 1963).
3. Burton Watson, tr., Zhuangzi (New York: Columbia University Press, 2003).
4. Burton Watson, tr., Hsun Tzu (New York: Columbia University Press, 1963).
5. Course Reader, Religious Studies 302 Chinese Religions, Fall 2000-01
Available at the Copy Shop, 539 E. 13th Street, Eugene, OR 97401, TEL 485 6253.
1. Wade-Giles Romanization System
2. Notes for Lecture: Ancient China
3. Map of Ancient China-Warring States Period
4. Confucius' World of Ideas (diagram)
5. Key Terms of Early Confucianism
(Note: All articles below are cited in footnote/endnote format.)
6. A. C. Graham, "A Conservative Reaction: Confucius," Disputers of the Tao (LaSalle, IL: Open Court, 1989), 9-22.
7. Philip J. Ivanhoe, "Reweaving the 'One Thread' of the Analects," Philosophy East & West 40:1 (January 1990) 17-33.
8. _____, "Confucian Moral Self-Cultivation and Mencian Extension," unpublished paper (Stanford University, 1996) 1-18.
9. D. C. Lau, trans. Mencius, 54-59, 68-69, 76-79, 100-101, 114-116, 166-167, 172-177, 192-193.
10. _____, "Comments on Lau's Translation of the Tao Te-ching" 1-4.
11. _____, "The Concept of de in the Daodejing," unpublished paper (Stanford University, 1995) 1-18.
12. Finding List for Footnotes from Ivanhoe Article on Chuang Tzu.
13. Philip J. Ivanhoe, "Zhuangzi on Skepticism, Skill, and the Ineffable Dao," Journal of the American Academy of Religion LX:4 639-654.
14. Helmut Wilhelm, "Death and Renewal," in his Lectures on the I Ching (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1979) 135-165.
15. Dan Lerman, "Language and the Nature of Distinctions: An Analysis of Hsun Tzu and Chuang Tzu [Zhuangzi], unpublished paper, (1996) 3-13.
16. Philip J. Ivanhoe, "A Happy Symmetry-Xunzi's Ethical Thought," Journal of the American Academy of Religion LIX:2 309-322.
17. Philip J. Ivanhoe, "Moral Understanding and Human Nature in Xunzi," unpublished paper, Stanford University, 1992, 1-17.
18. Robert A. F. Thurman, trans., The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1987) 56-63, 73-77.
19. Mark Unno, "Key Terms - Nagarjuna and Early Chinese Buddhism"
20. Taitetsu Unno, "Philosophical Schools-San-lun, T'ien-t'ai, and Hua-yen" in Buddhist Spirituality, ed. by Takeuchi Yoshinori (New York: Crossroad, 1993) 343-365.
21. Heinrich Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism: A History-India and China (NY: Macmillan Publishing, 1988) 85-94.
22. Philip Yampolsky, tr. The Platform Sutra of Hui-neng (NY: Columbia University Press, 1967) 125-153.
REL302 Chinese Religions - Class schedule including exams and papers
(CR: Course Reader; CR 1: Course Reader, 1st Selection)
Week 1 - The Background of Ancient China
1/09 Mon. Introduction to the Course-Chinese Religions: Whose Religions?
1/11 Wed. The Background of Ancient China: "Notes for Lecture: Ancient China," and other materials, CR 2-4.
1/13 Fri. Graham, "A Conservative Reaction: Confucius," CR 6.
Week 2 - Confucius: The Original Confucian?
1/16 Mon. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No class)
1/18 Wed. Confucius: Fingarette, The Secular as Sacred, 1-36; "Key Terms of Early Confucianism" CR 5
1/20 Fri. Confucius: Fingarette, The Secular as Sacred, 37-70.
Week 3 - Mencius: Confucianism and Human Nature
1/23 Mon. Confucius: Ivanhoe, "Reweaving the 'One Thread'," CR7.
1/25 Wed. Mencius: Lau, trans., Mencius, CR 9.
1/27 Fri. Mencius: Ivanhoe, "Confucian Moral Self-Cultivation," CR 8. Short Paper I due in class.
Week 4 - Lao Tzu: Return to the Tao
1/30 Mon. Lao Tzu: Lau, trans., Lao Tzu-Tao Te Ching, 57-100.
2/01 Wed. Lao Tzu: Lau, trans., Lao Tzu-Tao Te Ching, 101-143; Ivanhoe"The Concept of de in the Daodejing," CR 11.
Ivanhoe, "Comments on Lau's Translation," CR10.
2/02 Special Lecture: Richard Payne, Knight Library Browsing Room, 7:30 p.m. (attendance required)
2/03 Fri. No Class Meeting.
Week 5 - Zhuangzi: Skillfulness at Play
2/06 Mon. Zhuangzi: Watson, trans., Zhuangzi, 1-30; 31- 88 (focus pages: 31-49, 62-63, 78-81). Short exam A in class.
2/08 Wed. Zhuangzi: Watson, trans., Zhuangzi, 89-140 (focus: 94-95, 126-140).
2/10 Fri. TBA.
Week 6 - Hsun Tzu: Ritual and the Reform of Human Nature
2/13 Mon.Zhuangzi: Ivanhoe, "Zhuangzi on Skepticism, Skill," CR 13.
2/15 Wed. Hsun Tzu: Ivanhoe, "A Happy Symmetry-Xunzi," CR 16; Watson, tr. Hsun Tzu, 157-171.
2/17 Fri. Hsun Tzu: Ivanhoe, "Moral Understanding," CR 17; Watson, tr. Hsun Tzu, 157-171. 89-120
Week 7 - Buddhism: Indian Background
2/20 Mon. Hsun Tzu and Chuang Tzu [Zhuangzi]: Lerman, "Language and the Nature of Distinctions," CR 15; Watson, tr. 15-32, 79-88.
2/22 Wed. Early Indian Buddhism: The Buddha Gotama Short Paper II due in class.
2/24 Fri. Early Indian Buddhism: Nikaya: Wilhelm, "Death and Renewal," CR 14.
Week 8 - Buddhism: Indian Bodhisattva, Chinese Philosophical Schools
2/27 Mon. Mahayana Buddhism: Nagarjuna and Emptiness: "Key Terms - Nagarjuna," CR 19.
3/01 Wed. The Lay Bodhisattva Vimalakirti: The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti, CR 18.
3/03 Fri. The San-lun School: T. Unno, "Philosophical Schools," 343-350, CR 20.
Week 9 - Chinese Buddhism: Philosophical Schools and Zen Master
3/06 Mon. The T'ien-t'ai: T. Unno, "Philosophical Schools," 350-356, CR 20.
3/08 Wed. The Hua-yen: T. Unno, "Philosophical Schools," 356-364, CR 20. Short Exam B in class.
3/10 Fri The First Zen Master: Bodhidharma: Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism, CR 21.
Week 10 - Zen Buddhism: The Platform Sutra
3/13 Mon. Story of Hui-neng: Yampolsky, tr. The Platform Sutra, 125-134. CR 22.
3/15 Wed. Wisdom and Meditation: Yampolsky, tr. The Platform Sutra, 134-153. CR 22.
3/17 Fri. Last day of class. Final Papers due in class.