RELIGIONS IN JAPAN 2credits（Spring） For a final paper you can choose any topic related to the main theme of 日本における宗教 2 単位（春学期） the class, but keep it as narrow as possible. Questions/Comments： Professor,Faculty of Letters NAKORCHEVSKI, ANDRIY Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions by email 文学部教授 ナコルチェフスキー， アンドリイ [email protected] Course Description： This course is designed to introduce students to the history, teachings and practice of Japanese religions, mainly Shinto, Buddhism in its various forms and so called folk believes. First we will try to get a better understanding of religion as a universal phenomenon and then examine its local representations in Japan in historical perspective through discussing their basic theoretical and practical aspects. We will also examine representative samples of primary texts in translation, watch documentaries and do some field research by visiting shrines and temples in central Tokyo. Students will be required to make a short presentation on an assigned topic at least once during the semester and submit a final paper. Textbooks： We will use the book of Ellwood, Robert. Introducing Japanese Religion. Routledge. 2007 (can be downloaded for a fee here http:// www.jbeonlinebooks.org/eBooks/japanese/) as a basic textbook and some additional reading will be assigned for each week and tested in the class. Reference Books： Davis, Hadland. Myths and Legends of Japan. Cosimo Classics, 2007. Reader, Ian eds. Japanese Religions: Past & Present. University of Hawaii Press, 1993. Breen John and Teeuwen, Mark. A New History of Shinto. Wiley- Blackwell, 2010. Bowring, Richard. The Religious Traditions of Japan. Cambridge University Press, 2008.

For those, who can read in Russian: Накорчевский, Андрей. Синто. Петербургское востоковедение. 2000, 2003. Накорчевский, Андрей. Японский буддизм. Петербургское востоковедение. 2004.

Freely downloadable articles from Japanese Journal of Religious Studies are highly recommended as valuable references. Course Plan： 1 What is religion or what does religion do? The preliminary basics. 2 India and China: basic notions and concepts of traditional worldviews. 3 Shinto: the foundation of Japanese religiosity. 4 Field trip to a Shinto shrine. 5 Buddhism in India and China: Theravada(Hinayana), Mahayana, Vajrayana. 6 Introduction of Buddhism to Japan: State and Popular Buddhism. 7 Domination of Esoteric Buddhism: Tendai and Shingon Schools. 8 Field trip to a Buddhist temple. 9 Amalgamation of buddhas and kami: honji suijaku theory, pilgrimage and shugendo. 10 Pure Land and Zen Buddhism: lands of bliss and gardens of calm. 11 Shinto response: 13-16 centuries. 12 Teachings of Confucius and Christ on Japanese soil. 13 Rational elite, superstitious subjects: the Tokugawa period 14 Field trip to a temple Other Review of the course Lecturer's Comments to Students： No specific preliminary knowledge is required, but participants are expected to have basic understanding of Japanese history and culture. A short, but very well written and informative book Japanese Culture by H. Paul Varley is a must-read for all prospective students. Method of Evaluation： Grading is based on (1) final paper (50%), (2) in-class presentation (25%), (3) attendance and participation in the class discussions (25%). The total length of a final paper must be at least 5 pages but should not exceed 10 pages in A4 size, single-spaced. A final paper should be supported by references to at least 3 academic books or journal articles.

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