GROUP PROJECT: REL 444/544 Medieval Japanese Buddhism

Due November 3

* Four Paragraphs: Not more than two pages (You may use parenthetical notation to indicate page numbers for textual references.)
* You will form groups on your own, not more than 4 students per group.
* Be sure to write your names, the name of the class, and title of group project at the top of the page.
* I also strongly encourage you to read the essays on my Writing web pages, especially "Four Keys to Writing in the Humanities," "Paper Writing Guidelines," "Checklist for Papers," "Writing: The Bridge between Consciousness and Unconsciousness," and "Clauses and Commas."

The main ideas of this project are collaborative research and writing.

Instructions: Each student will sign up to be part of a group by Week 3 (October 13), with not more than 4 students per group. Each group will select one of the topics listed below. Each group member will find one scholarly article or book chapter related to the topic the group selects. You can go to the library or look up an article online through the library article search: library.uoregon.edu. Then, your group will meet to discuss (either online through Zoom or in person) the article or chapter you found. As a group, you will decide to focus on between 2 and 4 of the articles you brought to your group. Then, each of you will write one paragraph each about one of the articles your group selected. Specifically, you will discuss how that article helped you to further, deepen, or enrich your understanding of another reading from the course that is part of the required reading list.

Thus, if there are four people in your group, then you will jointly submit a four-paragraph document (not more than 2 pages total) that discusses how the articles/chapters you read helped to further your understanding of another reading from the course. For example, if your group chose two articles from among the four that each of you brought to the group, then perhaps 2 will write one paragraph each on one article/chapter, and 2 will write one paragraph each on the other article/chapter. Don't worry if the four paragraphs flow together as a whole. However, after you have composed your four-paragraph document, you will discuss any edits that you as a group would like to suggest to the whole document and finalize the document. This will function as a peer review for each group. There is no problem if two or more groups select the same topic from below.

For purposes of grading, each member of the same group will submit the same four-paragraph document to the "Group Project" assignment of the Canvas site for this course. Each group will receive the same grade for the whole document.

1. The Relation between Shinto Kami and Buddhism.
As we have seen from the course, there are many ways in which the kami or Shinto gods and goddesses interact with Buddhist deities (buddhas and bodhisattvas), Buddhist institutions (temples), and Buddhist ideas and practices. Find any article or chapter that discusses the relation between Shinto deities and Buddhism and discuss how this helps you to understand this topic further.

2. Gender and Sexuality in Buddhism
As we have seen from this course, there are many configurations of gender and sexuality relevant to Medieval Japanese Buddhism and Buddhism generally. Find any article or chapter that discusses the nature and manifestation of gender and sexuality in Buddhism and discuss how this helps you to understand one of the required readings from the course further.

3. Buddhist Philosophy and Practice
As we have seen from this course, Buddhist philosophy such as is found in the two-fold truth or nondual compassion is often inseparable from Buddhist practice. Find any article or chapter that discusses the nature of Buddhist practice or philosophy that helps you to better understand an aspect of Buddhist practice presented in this course, such as Zen practice, Pure Land practice, or Shingon practice.
4. Buddhism and the Arts
Buddhism expresses itself in many ways including such artistic forms as Buddhist iconography (sculpture and painting), literature (fiction and poetry), the "Dō" or "Way" arts, such as the Way of Tea (Chadō), the Way of Calligraphy (Shodō), or the Way of Flower (Kadō, Ikebana). Find any article or chapter that discusses the relation between pre-modern Japanese Buddhism and art.