JAP222 Esoteric Buddhism in Japan

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer), doc. PhDr. Bc. Ondřej Šefčík, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc.
Japanese Studies Centre – Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Monday 15:50–17:25 K22
Prerequisites (in Czech)
JAP116 Buddhism in Japan || JAP216 Religions in Japan || JAP103 Introduction to Japan. Studies
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 objective of the course is the history and development of Japanese esoteric schools, namely the Shingon and Tendai school of Japanese Buddhism. Throughout the course, we will follow a line of development and establishment of the two schools, in contrast and cooperation with each other, introduce the roles of its founders and main devotional centers of each respective school of esoteric Buddhism in Japan.
Syllabus
  • Buddhism in Japan, general introduction
  • Esoteric Buddhism- it's introduction in Japan, monk Kukai
  • The Shingon school
  • The Tendai school, monk Saicho
  • Esoteric mandalas
  • Centers of Esoteric Buddhism- Koyasan, Toji
  • Centers of Esoteric Buddhism- Ninnaji and Daikakuji
  • The Esoteric schools and the aristocracy
  • Shingon and Tendai
  • Esoteric rituals
  • Summary: influence of esoteric Buddhism onto Japanese religiosity
Literature
  • Hakeda, Yoshito (1972) Kukai: major works. New York: Columbia University Press.
  • • Astley Ian (1994) Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. Copenhagen, Aarhus: Seminar for Buddhist Studies.
  • GRONER, Paul. Saichō : the establishment of the Japanese Tendai School : with a new preface. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2000, xx, 337. ISBN 0824823710. info
  • ABE, Ryūichi. The weaving of mantra : Kūkai and the construction of esoteric Buddhist discourse. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999, xviii, 593. ISBN 0231112874. info
  • SAWA, Ryuken. Art in Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Translated by Richard L. Gage. 1st English ed. New York: Weatherhill, 1972, 151 s. ISBN 0834810018. info
Teaching methods
Lecture with class presentations and discussions.
Assessment methods
The course will be evaluated based on a written essay, the topic of which will be agreed upon after a consultation with the lecturer. A short contol test may appear throughout the semester.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo japanistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučující.

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