REL 444/544 Medieval Japanese Buddhism, Fall 2007 Mark Unno CRN15240/15241

Medieval Japanese Buddhism

Instructor: Mark T. Unno, Office: PLC 812, Tel. 346-4973, Email: munno@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Unno Home Page: http://www.uoregon.edu/~munno/
2:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m., CON 201; Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:00-4:00 p.m. PLC 812

Overview
REL 444/544 Medieval Japanese Buddhism for 2004-05 focuses on the selected strains of Japanese Buddhism during the medieval period from the thirteenth through the eighteenth centuries. The course weaves together the examination of religious thought and cultural developments in historical context. We begin the course with an examination of the Chinese Daoist classic Zhuangzi. While this might seem unusual in a course on Japanese Buddhism, as we shall see it reflects a classical influence in the formation of Japanese religion generally. We then go on to read works that introduce elements of Japanese Buddhist thought and cultural context including those dealing with the function of state religion and the worshipping the kami or native gods. Once some of the outlines of the intellectual and cultural framework of medieval Japanese Buddhism have been brought into relief, we will proceed to examine in depth examples of significant developments. In particular, we will delve into the work of Myoe Koben (1173-1232), a monk of the Kegon and Shingon sects; Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), Zen master and founding figure of the Soto sect; and Shinran, founding figure of Jodo Shinshu, the largest Pure Land sect, more simply known as Shin Buddhism.

Themes of the course include: Buddhism as state religion; the relation between institutional practices and individual self cultivation; ritual practices and transgression; gender roles and relations; relations between ordained and lay; religious authority and enlightenment; and two-fold truth and religious practice. The seminar format includes lecture, student presentations, and discussion.

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.
2. Short exams: There will be two short, in-class exams, based on materials from the readings, lectures, and course web site.
3. Medium papers & summaries: There will be two medium-length papers (3-4 pages) based on topics that will be provided by the instructor.
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 as 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. Final paper: Each student will hand in a final paper of 8-11 pages double-spaced (A longer final paper of 12-15 pages will be required for those who have registered for REL544.) 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 four days prior to the due date for the peer review draft.
Peer review draft for final paper: Drafts will be required for the final paper. Instructions to follow.
6. Late policy on written assignments: Three grace days total will be allotted excluding the final paper for which no extensions will be given. For the short papers, 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 accounts. Students should all have email accounts. Your email address will be used to communicate with you during the course.

Grades
Short exam A 10% Short exam B 10%
Short paper I 15% Short paper II 15%
Presentation 10% Discussion 10%
Final paper 30%

Assignment Schedule Exam A-10/4, Exam B-11/1, Paper I-10/18, Paper II-11/8, Final Paper 11/29.

Required Texts

1. Shinmon Aoki, Coffinman: The Journal of a Buddhist Mortician (Anaheim, CA: Buddhist Education Ctr, 2002).
2. John Stevens, One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poems of Ryokan (NY: Weatherhill, 1977).
3. Kosho Uchiyama, Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice (Boston: Wisdom, 2004).
4. Mark Unno, Shingon Refractions: Myoe and the Mantra of Light (Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications, 2004).
5. Taitetsu Unno, Tannisho: A Shin Buddhist Classic (Honolulu: Buddhist Study Center Press, 1987).
6. Burton Watson, trans., Zhuangzi (New York: Columbia University Press, 2003).
   Course Reader-REL 444/544 Medieval Japanese Buddhism (Spring 2005).