| Unit name | Mahayana Buddhist Literature in East Asia |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS30088 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| 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 examines key scriptures belonging to the so-called Mahayana or "great vehicle" Buddhism, and explores their role in impact on the East Asian Buddhist tradition.
Rather than directly discussing Mahayana Buddhist doctrines as abstract ideas or ideals, this unit explores Mahayana scriptures as literary objects and attempts to uncover how the Mahayana vision of the Buddhism, the cosmos, and the path to liberation was presented to its followers in the dramatic literature of its scriptures. We will pay especially close attention to the way that these scriptures use extended narratives, plot twists, humour, and other literary devices to convey their teachings and entice their readers.
At the same time, will see how sutra parables have inspired unique literary and visual narratives, and assess which teachings still provide an ethical blueprint for contemporary Buddhists worldwide.
Finally, we will assess the breadth and depth of these scriptures’ sway on East Asian culture, by reflecting on the different art forms, ritual practices, and literature pieces they inspired. To this end, we will engage with a variety of materials, practices, and ideas: from cave-temple frescoes and Buddhist miracle tales to modern literature and politics.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the significance of key Mahayana Buddhist scriptures.
2. Analyse Mahayana scriptures as literary documents
3. Explain how narrative and literary structures are used by Mahayana scriptures as teaching devices.
4. Assess the impact of the scriptures studied on the broader East Asian cultural context
Students will also be expected to show skills in critical thinking and in written communication appropriate to level H.
1 x two-hour seminar and 1 x one-hour tutorial weekly
1. Learning Journal: Students will submit 4 x 500-word interpretative reading responses (50%) [ILOs 1-4]
2. 3000-word essay (50%) [ILOs 1-4]
Stephen F. Teiser and Jacqueline Ilyse Stone, Readings of the Lotus Sutra (New York: Columbia University Press, 2009)
Watson, Burton. The Lotus Sutra. Translations from the Asian Classics. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993
Thurman, Robert A. F. The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti : A Mah_y_na Scripture. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1976.
Gomez, Luis O. Land of Bliss : The Paradise of the Buddha of Measureless Light : Sanskrit and Chinese Versions of the Sukha_vati_vyu_ha Sutras. Studies in the Buddhist Traditions. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1996.
Reeves, Gene (ed). 2002. A Buddhist Kaleidoscope: Essays on the Lotus Sutra. Tokyo: Kōsei
