Course Outline: JB301 Buddhism in Japan 1, 2010/2011, Semester 1

Basic Data
Program: 
Bachelor of Arts (Buddhist Studies)
Semester: 
First Semester (July 12-November 13, 2010) Academic year 2010/2011
Subject: 
JB301 - Buddhism in Japan 1
Credit / status: 
3 credits / Minor Subject
Instructor: 
Toshiichi Endo教授
Recommended Texts: 
  • Barnhill, David Landis, tr. Basho’s Haiku: Selected Poems by Matsuo Basho. New York: State University of New York Press, 2004.
  • Dumoulin, Heinrich. Zen Buddhism: A History (Japan). tr. James W. Heisig and Paul Knitter,Vol. II. Macmillan Publishing Company, 1988.
  • Groner, Paul. Saicho: The Establishment of the Japanese Tendai School. Seoul: Po Chin Chai, 1984.
  • Junjiro, Takakusu. The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy. Honolulu, Hawaii: Univ, 1949.
  • Kashiwahara, Yusen & Sonoda, Koyu . Shapers of Japanese Buddhism. Tokyo: Kosei Publishing Company,, 1994.
  • Matsunaga, Daigan & Matsunaga, Alicia. Foundation of Japanese Buddhism. Vol. 1. LA, USA: Buddhist Books International, 1978.
  • Matsunaga, Daigan & Matsunaga, Alicia. Foundation of Japanese Buddhism. Vol. 2. LA, USA: Buddhist Books International, 1984.
  • Mitchell, Bonald W. Buddhism, introducing the Buddhist Experience. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
  • Nakamura, Hajime. Ways of Thinking of Eastern Peoples (Japan). Honolulu, Hawaii: University Press of Hawii,1968.
  • Nakamura, Hajime. History of Japanese Thought, 592-1868: Japanese Philosophy before western culture entered Japan. London: Kegan Paul, 2002.
  • Plustschow, Herbert. Rediscovering Rikyu and the Beginning of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Global Oriental, 2003.
  • Porcu, Elisabetta. Pure Land Buddhism in Modern Japanese Culture. Leiden, Boston: Brill, 2008.
  • Suzuki, D.T. An Introduction to Zen Buddhism. Eastern Buddhist Society, 1934.
  • __________. Zen Buddhism and Japanese Culture. Turtle Co. Ltd., Japan.
  • Tanabe, George, ed. Religions of Japan in Practice. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999.
  • Tamura, Yoshiro. Japanese Buddhism: A Cultural History. Tokyo:Kosei Publishing Company, 2001.
  • Williams, Duncan Ryuken. The Other Side of Zen: A Social History of Soto Zen: Buddhism in Tokugawa Japan. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2005.
Course Organization: 

The course is lecture-based with active participation expected from the students. Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of scheduled classes to be eligible to sit for the final written examination. In addition to active class participation, students are required to write and submit one essay, and a final written examination.

Course plan for 13 lectures of three hours each including a free discussion on the topic for half an hour each day:

  • Lecture 1: Introduction of Buddhism to Japan.
  • Lecture 2: Prince Shotoku and His Contribution to Buddhism.
  • Lecture 3: Taika Reforms.
  • Lecture 4: Six Schools of Nara Buddhism and their basic teachings.
  • Lecture 5: Heian Buddhism: Tendai and Shingon Schools.
  • Lecture 6: Mappo Theory.Pure Land Buddhism: Honen, Shinran and Mappo Theory.
  • Lecture 7: Pure Land Buddhism: Jodo and Jodo Shin Schools
  • Lecture 8: Nichiren Buddhism.
  • Lecture 9: Zen Buddhism: Eisai (Rinzai Zen) and Dogen (Soto Zen).
  • Lecture 10: Buddhism in Edo Period.
  • Lecture 11: Buddhism after Meiji Period.
  • Lecture 12: Buddhism and ways of thinking of the Japanese people.
  • Lecture 13: Buddhist Impact on Japanese Culture.
Course Requirements: 

NULL

Allocation of Marks: 

Class participation: 10%
Essay assignment: 40%
Final examination: 50%

Course Objectives: 

By the end of the course, students would acquire a thorough understanding of the nature, types, and practices of Buddhism in Japan.

Grading: 

All tests, assignments and examinations are graded as follows with grade point and numerical marks:

Grade Performance Grade value Percentage Equivalence
A+ Excellent 4.0 90-100
A Almost Excellent 3.75 85-89
A- Fairly Excellent 3.5 80-84
B+ Very Good 3.25 75-79
B Good 3.0 70-74
B- Fairly Good 2.75 65-69
C+ Fair 2.5 60-64
C Satisfactory 2.25 55-59
C- Minimum Satisfactory 2.0 50-54
D+ Fairly Poor 1.5 40-49
D Poor 1.0 30-39
F Fail 0.0 29 or less
I Incomplete
W Withdrawn
WF Withdrawn because of failure
AU Audit