JAP216 Religions in Japan

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Bc. Mgr. Jakub Havlíček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc.
Japanese Studies Centre – Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
Wed 7:30–9:05 zruseno D22
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to develop the understanding of religious traditions in Japan. It offers introduction to the topic of contemporary religious life together with the basic survey of historical development of Japanese religious traditions. The classes are aimed to give the outline of social and cultural contexts of Shinto, Buddhism, Christianity, new religious movements and so called popular religious traditions. The original audio-visual documentation and other fieldwork material constitute the essential element of the lectures.
At the end of the course students will be able to
define the main characteristics of religious traditions in Japan;
locate the main characteristics of religious traditions in Japan to the broader social, social and historical context;
interpret religious traditions of Japan according to theoretical and methodological approaches of the Study of religions;
distinguish the principal stages in historical development of religious traditions in Japan;
formulate the cardinal principles of „lived religion“ or practical religious life in history and present times.
Syllabus
  • 0. Introductory information to the course;
  • 1. History, geography of Japan. Studying religions in Japan – introduction;
  • 2. „Normative“ and „lived“ religion in Japane. Classifying religions in Japan, relationship of Shinto and Buddhism - mutual influence, religions in everyday life. Ancestor worship;
  • 3. Shinto - mythology, deities - kami, rituals, Shinto and the concepts of Japanese nation;
  • 4. Buddhism in Japan – introduction;
  • 5. Buddhism in Japan – iconography, rituals, kuyo rites;
  • 6. Shugendo;
  • 7. "Christianity made in Japan" - past and present;
  • 8. New and "new new" religions I;
  • 9. New and "new new" religions II;
  • 10. Religious festivals and ceremonies;
  • 11. Film and religions in Japan;
  • 12. Final review, discussion.
Literature
    required literature
  • ELLWOOD, Robert S. Introducing Japanese religion. 1st pub. New York: Routledge, 2008, xiv, 269. ISBN 9780415774260. info
    not specified
  • CRAIG, Albert M. Dějiny Japonska. Edited by Edwin O. Reischauer, Translated by David Labus - Jan Sýkora. Vyd. 2., dopl. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2006, 476 s. ISBN 9788071065135. info
  • A history of Japanese religion. Edited by Kazuo Kasahara, Translated by Paul McCarthy - Gaynor Sekimori. 1st English ed. Tokyo: Kosei Publishing, 2001, 648 s. ISBN 4333019176. info
  • TANABE, George Joji. Practically religious : worldly benefits and the common religion of Japan. Edited by Ian Reader. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1998, xii, 303. ISBN 0824820908. info
  • NELSON, John K. A year in the life of a Shinto Shrine. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996, viii, 286. ISBN 0295975008. info
  • READER, Ian. Religion in contemporary Japan. 1st publ. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan, 1991, xv, 277 s. ISBN 0-333-52322-9. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, study projection with commentary, self-study of selected readings, discussion.
Assessment methods
Final written test (score 70% or higher), final paper (9000 signs in minimum), oral exam. Students are expected and required to attend seminar classes of this course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo japanistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2010, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2011/JAP216