REL 303 Japanese Religions, Fall 2026 – 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; Japanese Kami worship, Shinto, and State Religion

09/28 Mon: Introduction: Syllabus; What is “Japan”? What is “Religion”? What is “Japanese Religion”?
09/30 Wed: The World of the Kami: Gods and Goddesses. Read: Kawai, "Japanese Mythology," CR 1 (Focus: 69-77).

 

Week 2 – The Formation of State Religion; Japanese Shamanism; Buddhism Background
10/05 Mon: The Formation of State Religion

Kitagawa, “The Shadow of the Sun: A Glimpse of the Fujiwara,” CR 2; “Shinto,” Wikipedia entry: “Shinto,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto (Read through “Cosmogony”); Blacker, The Catalpa Bow, 104-139, CR 3.

10/07 Wed: Buddhism Background

Early Buddhism: The Buddha and His Teachings; Mahayana Buddhism “The Buddhism of the Great Vehicle”

Read: Peter Harvey, An Introduction to Buddhism, CR 4; The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti, CR 5 (Focus pages: 58-63).

Week 3 – Medieval Japanese Buddhist Stories and Ideas

10/12 Mon: Two Tales: The Tale of the Heike and the Changelings (Torikaebaya)

Read: The Tale of the Heike, CR 6 (focus 1-6, 17-19, 23-37); “Torikaebaya: A Tale of Changing Sexual Roles” CR 7.

10/14 Wed: Lafleur, The Karma of Words, CR 8 (focus 48-54).                  

Week 4 – Myōe the Dreamkeeper; Medieval Japanese Art of the Way of Tea

10/19 Mon: Unno, Shingon Refractions, CR 9.                                                                      Short exam A

10/21 Wed: Ludwig, “The Way of Tea: A Religio-Aesthetic Mode of Life,” CR 10.

Week 5 – Dōgen and Zen Buddhism: Medieval Origins and Modern Manifestations

10/26 Mon: Read: Unno, "Philosophical Terms in the Zen Buddhist Thought of Dogen," "Shobogenzo Genjokoan,"CR 11;  Heine, Zen Poetry of Dogen, CR 12; Ruch, “The Other Side of Culture in Medieval Japan, CR 13 (focus 500-511)..  
10/28 Wed: Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, RT (also Knight Lib).                              Short paper I due

Week 6 – Shinran and Shin Buddhism: Ancient Influences and Medieval Origins

11/02 Mon: Read: Shukman, "Light and Dark: Koans and Dreams," CR 14; Unno, The Original Buddhist Rebel, CR 15.           

11/04 Wed: Read: Unno, Tannisho, 4-9, 14, CR 16; Unno, “The Nembutsu of No-Meaning,” CR 17.

Week 7 - Zen Buddhism – A Contemporaray Irish-American Account

11/09 Mon: Veteran’s Day (No class)

11/11 Wed: The Zen life of Maura “Soshin” O’Halloran

          Read: Maura “Soshin” O’Halloran, Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind, RT (also Knight Lib).  

Week 8 – Shin Buddhism – A Contemporary Japanese Account

11/16 Mon: Aoki the Coffinman and the film Departures                                                    Short paper II due
Read: Aoki Shinmon, Coffinman, “Preface, 1-72, RT; Film: Departures.      

11/18 Wed: Discussing the Memoir and Film
Read: Read: Aoki Shinmon, Coffinman, 73-131, RT.    

Week 9 – Stories of Transformation: The Fox Deity and Modern Anime

11/23 Mon: Inari: The Fox as a Trickster Deity: Film, Paprika.                                           Short exam B

11/25 Wed: Discussing the “My Own Inari” and Paprika

Read: Karen Smyers, “My Own Inari,” CR 18.

Week 10 - Modern Manifestations: The Zen Rock Garden and Zen Arts

11/30 Mon: “Sekitei” (Rock Garden) by Yasushi Inoue, a modern Zen romance?

          Read: Yasushi Inoue, “Sekitei,” CR 19; Nishitani, “Ikebana” CR 20.

12/02 Wed: Wrap-up lecture and discussion                                                                         Final papers due