Description: This course will survey the formation of human meaning across the cultural, religious, historical, and institutional domains of the Chan and Pure Land traditions in China, Japan, and Korea, focusing especially on the moments of confluence of the two traditions from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Students will be encouraged to engage the key concepts of the two traditions, including their antecedents in India and Tibet, through textual and visual materials, and to identify perspectives on the social contexts of their practice, their emotional value, and their power to inspire individuals and communities in East Asia across time;
Student level: Intermediate;
Related Fields: Asian Studies, Religious Studies, History; Course format: Weekly Lectures;
Requirements: Mid-term exam; Final exam/research paper.