This hybrid lecture-seminar class offers an introduction to the history of world views characteristic of the popular religious traditions of China and of popular religious concepts and practices including mythology, divination, magic, and communal worship. We will also investigate Chinese institutional religions including Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism in terms of how their practitioners have incorporated these and other popular religious concepts and practices into their methods, regulations, and teachings. Features of sacred sites, including foundational and enduring myths, architecture, art and socio-cultural dynamics, and historiography will receive careful consideration in this course. We will explore religion as it has been and continues to be practiced in everyday life for individuals, families, communities, and the state in China and within Chinese communities. Our historical analysis will consider religion and culture not as abstract, monolithic and ahistorical phenomena, but as expressions of the social realm. Weekly hours: 1.5 Lecture hours and 1.5 Seminar/Discussion hoursPrerequisite(s): 3 credit units HIST at the 200 level; or 60 credit units of University level courses; or permission of the instructor.
This hybrid lecture-seminar class offers an introduction to the history of world views characteristic of the popular religious traditions of China and of popular religious concepts and practices including mythology, divination, magic, and communal worship. We will also investigate Chinese institutional religions including Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism in terms of how their practitioners have incorporated these and other popular religious concepts and practices into their methods, regulations, and teachings. Features of sacred sites, including foundational and enduring myths, architecture, art and socio-cultural dynamics, and historiography will receive careful consideration in this course. We will explore religion as it has been and continues to be practiced in everyday life for individuals, families, communities, and the state in China and within Chinese communities. Our historical analysis will consider religion and culture not as abstract, monolithic and ahistorical phenomena, but as expressions of the social realm. Weekly hours: 1.5 Lecture hours and 1.5 Seminar/Discussion hoursPrerequisite(s): 3 credit units HIST at the 200 level; or 60 credit units of University level courses; or permission of the instructor.
