CRN 15426
Religious Studies 101 World Religions of Asia, Fall 2019 MCK 240c 11:00-11:50 MWF
Instructor: Mark T. Unno, SCH 334, TEL 346-4973, Office hours: Mon 10:00-10:45
a.m. & Wed 1:00-1:45 p.m.
Email: munno (at)
uoregon.edu Home Page: pages.uoregon.edu/munno/ Go to
this web site, NOT Canvas.
Introduction to selected strands of Asian Religions. This course examines key
concepts and practices from such Asian religions as Hinduism, Buddhism,
Confucianism, and Daoism. Since there is not time to provide a comprehensive
survey of all religions in Asia, this course provides a balance of some broad
coverage with in-depth examination of primary scriptures, scholarly analysis,
and contemporary issues. The focus of our examination will be on the
philosophical understanding of religious ideas supported by a critical
examination of historical context. We will study key ideas within the critical
context of various cultural and historical issues such as gender, class, and
ritual practices. As part of this study, we will also explore the contemporary
relevance of historically derived ideas and practices.
Requirements
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.
Attendance at weekly discussion sections is mandatory.
2. Short exams: Two short, in-class
exams, based on materials from the readings, lectures, and course web site.
3. Short papers: Three short papers
on the readings. More specific instructions will be provided on the course web
site.
4. Presentation: Students will make
a presentation on the readings for one of the section meetings. The presenter
should NOT summarize the reading but should use the presentation to discuss why
the selected ideas/passages in question are important for understanding the reading
and proceed to explain and well as raise questions about these ideas/passages.
The primary purpose of these
presentations is to launch the discussion, not to demonstrate breadth of
knowledge or to lead the discussion. Each presenter will prepare a handout with
2 questions and brief, corresponding quotations from the readings. More
detailed instructions will be provided on the course web site.
5. Medium-length 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 their section leader. 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.
6. Late policy on written
assignments: Three grace days total will be allotted excluding the
medium-length 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.
7. Email Protocol. Suggestion: Begin
the term using one of the following when addressing the instructor:
Dear, Hello, Hi + Prof. Unno, Mr. Unno
If you like, you might later change to: Hello Mark, Hi Mark, etc.,
when you have established a working relationship with the instructor. Do NOT
use: "Hey...." either with the instructor or with the GTF.
Learning
Outcomes
In this course, you will: 1) gain a sampling (not a survey) of primary
texts, ideas, and scholarly analyses of prominent strands and themes in Asian
Religions, 2) delve into the assigned readings, uncovering layers of potential
meaning and ramifications, 3) gain an understanding of the historical contexts
and possible contemporary relevance of the readings and course materials, and
4) further develop in your ability to write papers as well as read texts
closely and reason critically.
Grades
Required
Texts (RT) (Information listed here is
given in footnote/endnote format.)
1. Herbert Fingarette, Confucius-The Secular as Sacred (New
York: Waveland, 1972).
2. D. C. Lau, trans., Tao Te Ching
(New York: Penguin Books, 2003).
3. Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace (New York: Perseus Books,
2005).
4. Laurie
Patton, trans. The Bhagavad Gita (NY:
Penguin Books, 2014).
Course Reader (CR)
1. Ralph T.
H. Griffith, trans., The Hymns of the Rgveda (Delhi:
Motilal Banarsidass, 1973) 206, 633-4.
2. Shree Purohit Swami and W. B.
Yeats, trans., The Ten Principal Upanishads (Calcutta: Rupa, 1992)
90-92.
3. Joseph Campbell, Oriental
Mythology - The Masks of God (NY: Penguin, 1991) 343-364.
4. Peter Harvey, An Introduction
to Buddhism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990) 9-26.
5. Jay Garfield, trans., The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way:
Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika (New York:
Oxford University Press, 1995), 293-307.
6. Mark Unno, "Key Ideas:
Nagarjuna" and "Key Ideas: Philosophical Schools."
7. Robert A.
F. Thurman, trans., The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti
(University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1987) 56-63.
8. Taitetsu
Unno, "Philosophical Schools-San-lun, T'ien-t'ai, and Hua-yen," in Buddhist Spirituality,
ed. by Takeuchi Yoshinori (New York: Crossroad, 1995) 343-365.
9. Burton Watson, trans., Zhuangzi: Basic Writing (New York:
Columbia Univ Press, 1993), 1-7, 31-41, 44, 61-62, 114-117, 128-129.
10. Heinrich Dumoulin, Zen
Buddhism: A History-India and China (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1988)
85-94.
11. Hayao KAWAI, "Japanese
Mythology: Balancing the Gods," in his Dreams, Myths and Fairy Tales in
Japan (Daimon, 1995) 67-97.
12. Mark Unno, "Key Terms -
Philosophical Terms in the Zen Buddhist Thought of Dogen."
13. Norman
Waddell and Masao Abe, trans., "Shobogenzo Genjokoan," by Dogen Kigen, The Eastern Buddhist 5:2 (10/1972) 129-140.
14. Mark Unno, "Key Terms -
Pure Land Buddhism and the Philosophy of Honen and Shinran."
15. Mark Unno, "The Nembutsu as
the Teaching of No-teaching: The Natural Unfolding of Compassion-Wisdom," The
Pure Land 6 (1989) 45-65,
16. Nishitani
Keiji, "Ikebana," Kyoto Journal 4
(Fall 1987) 33-35.
17. Paula Arai, "Soto Zen Nuns
in Modern Japan: Keeping and Creating Tradition," Bulletin of the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture 14 (Summer
1990) 38-51.
18. The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), A
Policy of Kindness (Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion, 1990) 33-59.
19. Mu Soeng Sunim. Thousand Peaks:
Korean Zen-Tradition & Teachers. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1987. 28-48, 191-314.
REL 101
World Religions of Asia - Class Schedule Read
assigned texts by the class meeting date indicated.
(CR: Course
Reader; CR 1 = Course Reader Selection No. 1; RT: Required Text)
Week 1 -
Introduction; Hindiusm
10/2 Wed:
Introduction: Syllabus; Definitions of “Religion.”
10/4 Fri:
The Geography of Asian Religions; Vedic Religion. Read: Hymns of the Rgveda, CR 1
Week 2 -
Indian Religion: Vedic Religion the Bhagavad
Gita
10/07 Mon: Vedic Religion and Brahmanism. Read: Upanishads,
Bhagavad Gita (excerpt) CR 2 (Alt
version of Gita Ch. 2).
10/09 Wed:
L. Patton, trans., Bhagavad Gita, RT. Read book. (focus pages: vii-xxiv, 16-48, 70-100, 145-162).
10/11 Fri: Dance of Krishna and Gopis (Gita Govinda).
Read: J. Campbell, Oriental Mythology, CR 3.
Week 3 –
Early Indian Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism
10/14 Mon:
Early Indian Buddhism I - Shakyamuni Buddha. Read: Peter Harvey, Introduction
to Buddhism, CR 4.
10/16 Wed:
Early Indian Buddhism II - Nikaya Buddhism - Key
concepts; Mahayana Buddhism: Nagarjuna and the Two-fold Truth. Read: Jay Garfield, The Fundamental Wisdom of
the Middle Way; “Key Ideas: Nagarjuna and the Thought
of Emptiness,” CR 5, 6.
10/18 Fri:
Bodhisattva ideal. Read: The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti,
CR 7. Chinese Buddhism, "The Philosophical Schools." Read: "Key Ideas: Taitetsu
Unno, 'Philosophical Schools’," T. Unno, “Chinese Philosophical Schools,” CR 8.
Short paper
I due in class.
Week 4 -
Ancient China I: Confucianism
10/21 Mon:
The World of the Sage Kings. Read: Fingarette, Confucius:
The Secular as Sacred, vii-xi, 1-56 RT.
10/23 Wed:
Confucius and the world of ritual action. Read: Fingarette,
Confucius, 57-81 RT.
10/25 Fri:
Short Exam A; Confucius’ Orchestral Vision Short
exam A in class.
Week 5 -
Ancient China II: Daoism (Taoism): Laozi (Lao Tzu) and Zhuangzi (Chuang
Tzu)
10/28 Mon:
Laozi (Lao Tzu) - The Way: Read: Lao Tzu:
Tao Te Ching (Daodejing), 7-52,
53-96 (Book One) RT.
10/30 Wed:
Laozi & Zhuangzi - Read: Lao Tzu: Tao
Te Ching, 97-143 (Book Two) RT. Zhuangzi, 1-7, 31-41,
44 CR 9.
11/01 Fri:
Zhuangzi: Read: Zhuangzi, 61-62, 114-117, 128-129 CR 9
Week 6 - Medieval
China: Early Chan/Zen; Medieval Korea: Unified Silla Period; Early Japan
11/04 Mon:
Bodhidharma and Zen Buddhism. Read: Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism, CR
10. Short paper II due in class.
11/06 Wed:
Korean Buddhists: Chajang, Uisang,
and Wonhyo. Read: Thousand Peaks, pp. 28-38,
CR 19.
11/08 Fri:
The way of the kami - gods and goddesses. Read: Kawai, "Japanese
Mythology," CR 11.
Week 7 -
Medieval Japan I: Dogen and Zen Buddhism;
11/11 Mon: Dogen and Zen Buddhism.
Read: M. Unno, "Philosophical Terms in the Zen Buddhist Thought of Dogen," "Shobogenzo Genjokoan,"CR 12, 13.
11/13 Wed: Dogen and Zen Buddhism (continued).
11/15 Fri:
Shinran and Shin Buddhism. Read: Unno, "Key
Terms - Pure Land Buddhism," CR 14.
Short paper III due in class.
Week 8 -
Medieval Japan II: Shinran and Shin Buddhism; Modern
Tibet: XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso
11/18 Mon: Shinran and Shin Buddhism.
Read: Taitetsu Unno, Tannisho,
Foreword, 4-9, 14 (web site syllabus PDF link); M. Unno, "The Nembutsu of No-Meaning," 45-65 CR 15.
11/20 Wed: The XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin
Gyatso
Read: Dalai Lama, A Policy of Kindness, CR 18, 33-59.
11/22 Fri: Short
exam B in class.
Week 9 -
Modern Vietnamese Buddhism
11/25 Mon:
Thich Nhat Hanh. Read: Being Peace, 1-44 RT.
11/27 Wed:
Thich Nhat Hanh. Read: Being Peace, 45-90 RT.
11/29 Fri:
(Thanksgiving Break)
Week 10 -
Modern Manifestations: Japanese and Korean
12/02 Mon:
Soto Zen Nuns. Read: Nishitani, "Ikebana,"
Paula Arai, "Soto Zen Nuns," CR 16, 17.
12/04 Wed:
Seung Sahn. Read: Thousand Peaks, 191-314, CR
19.
12/06 Fri:
Final Lecture. Final
papers due in class.