| Unit name | Japanese Religions: Practices and Beliefs |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS20220 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Lomi |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit introduces the Japanese religious landscape, by focusing on its key practices, beliefs, and movements. We will explore a variety of issues of Japan’s contemporary religious context (such as religious identity and affiliation), understand their origins, and analyse the lived dimension of its main traditions.
Each week will focus on a different theme—such as mountain worship and sacred geography, ascetic practices, pilgrimages, religion and politics. In terms of format, a one-hour lecture, introducing the topic, will be followed a two-hour seminar including both a documentary and a class discussion.
Students will have the chance of doing collaborative assignments, as well as developing further skills for independent work.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
(1) Recognise and show familiarity with the main Japanese religious traditions (Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism, Shugendo, New Religious Movements)
(2) Demonstrate an understanding of the role of religious practices and beliefs in contemporary Japan;
(3) Identify and discuss religious issues proper to the Japanese context
(4) Identify and present pertinent evidence to develop a cogent argument, both independently and as part of a group
(5) Demonstrate skills in independent and critical thinking, analysis, and argumentation, using evidence from primary texts and secondary sources.
Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
1 x 2000 words portfolio (formative) [ILOs 2-5]
1 x 2500-word summative essay (100%) [ILOs 1-5]
Ambros, Barbara. Women in Japanese Religions. New York: New York University Press, 2015.
Clarke, Peter B. Japanese New Religions: In Global Perspective'. London : Routledge, 2015. Covell, Stephen Grover. Japanese Temple Buddhism : Worldliness in a Religion of Renunciation. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2005 . Dolce, Lucia (ed.) Japanese Religions, Vol1-2. London: Sage. Hardacre, Helen. Shinto: A History. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. 2017. Hardacre, Helen. Shinto : A History. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. Hitoshi, Miyake. Shugendo': Essays on the Structure of Japanese Folk Religion. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2001.
