JAP223 Japanese Buddhism in Context

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/4/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
JAP116 Japanese Buddhism || JAP103 Introduction to Japan. Studies || RLA10 Buddhism I || JAP216 Religions in Japan || JAP149 Buddhism: Teaching&Practice || RLA21 Buddhism || RLKA21 Buddhism
The course is being taught under the code JPNB64 Japanese Buddhism in Images
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The present course is closely related to general courses on Japanese religion named INTRODUCTION TO RELIGIONS IN JAPAN and/or JAPANESE BUDDHISM. It provides students with a fundamental background to contextually analyse the issue of Japanese Buddhism and Japanese religious milieu in their various settings. The course topics are based on specific examples of educational material and documentaries centred on recent and contemporary Japanese religious environment.
Learning outcomes
After a successful completion of the course, students will be able to contextually analyze and addresss the issue of Japanese Buddhism based on specific examples of documentaries centered on recent and current Japanese religious environment. Students will be able to adapt the topics introduced during the course in order to comprehend and explain particular phenomena in Shinto and Buddhism in Japan.
Syllabus
  • Buddhism in Japan - revision
  • Shinto documentary
  • Tendai training
  • Shikoku prilgrimage
  • Shugendo
  • Life in a Zen monastery
  • Christianty in Japan
  • Shamanism and Folk Religion
  • Japanese Pilgrimage Mandala
  • Fertility Rites
Literature
    required literature
  • BOWRING, Richard John. The religious traditions of Japan, 500-1600. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. xvi, 485. ISBN 052185119X. 2005. info
  • BLACKER, Carmen. The catalpa bow : a study of Shamanistic practices in Japan. London: Routledge. 384 s. ISBN 1873410859. 1999. info
    recommended literature
  • Cambridge History of Japan- všetky kapitoly súvisiace s náboženstvom, buddhistickými školami, ľudovou vierou etc.
  • BREEN, John and M. J. TEEUWEN. A new history of Shinto. 1st pub. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. x, 264. ISBN 9781405155168. 2010. info
  • Nanzan guide to Japanese religions. Edited by Paul L. Swanson - Clark Chilson. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. xii, 466. ISBN 0824830024. 2006. info
  • Shinto in history : ways of the Kami. Edited by John Breen - M. J. Teeuwen. 1st pub. Surrey: Curzon. xii, 368. ISBN 0700711724. 2000. info
  • Religions of Japan in practice. Edited by George Joji Tanabe. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. xviii, 564. ISBN 9780691057897. 1999. info
  • ABE, Ryūichi. The weaving of mantra : Kūkai and the construction of esoteric Buddhist discourse. New York: Columbia University Press. xviii, 593. ISBN 0231112874. 1999. info
  • EARHART, H. Byron. Náboženství Japonska : mnoho tradic na jedné svaté cestě : Religious traditions of the world. Pt. 10, Religions of Japan : many traditions within one sacred way (Orig.). Translated by Robin Heřman. V čes. jaz. vyd. 1. Praha: Prostor. 189 s. ISBN 80-85190-80-X. 1998. info
Teaching methods
The course is structured as presentations of audio-visual documentaries with lecturer’s commentaries in active discussion with students.
Assessment methods
There are two ways to end this course: with a colloquium (kolokvium: kv) and an exam (zkouška: zk). For a colloquium, the assessment requirements are active class participation (50%) and individual class preparation (50%). For an exam, the assessment requirements are active class participation (25%), individual class preparation (25%) and a final seminar paper (50%).
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2015, Spring 2017, Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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