JAPX216 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 offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course aims to develop the understanding of religious traditions in Japan. It offers the introduction to 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 an essential element of the classes.
Syllabus
  • 1) Studying religions in Japan - introduction
  • 2) Classifying religions in Japan, relationship of Shinto and Buddhism - mutual influence, religions in everyday practice
  • 3) Shinto - mythology, deities - kami, rituals, Shinto and the concepts of Japanese nation
  • 4) Buddhism in Japan - introduction
  • 5) Shugendo
  • 6) "Christianity made in Japan" - past and present
  • 7) New and "new new" religions
  • 8) Religious festivals and ceremonies
  • 9) Film and religions
Literature
    required literature
  • ELLWOOD, Robert S. Introducing Japanese religion. 1st pub. New York: Routledge, 2008, xiv, 269. ISBN 9780415774260. 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
    not specified
  • BOWRING, Richard John. The religious traditions of Japan, 500-1600. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, xvi, 485. ISBN 052185119X. 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
  • BLACKER, Carmen. The catalpa bow : a study of Shamanistic practices in Japan. London: Routledge, 1999, 384 s. ISBN 1873410859. info
  • SMYERS, Karen Ann. The fox and the jewel : shared and private meanings in contemporary Japanese inari worship. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1999, viii, 271. ISBN 0824821025. 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
Lectures, class discussions, self-study of selected readings.
Assessment methods
Final test
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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