Buddhist Studies

The course covers the religious traditions of Japan from the earliest myths to present-day practices. The main goal of this course is to question and reassess the common assumptions about Japanese religions by adopting a multi-sided approach that considers historical, textual, visual, and ethnographic perspectives. During the course, we will examine how different religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Shintō, Christianity, and new religious movements interacted and coexisted throughout Japanese history. The course is organized thematically and aims at offering a historical and cultural overview regarding the evolution of the main religious traditions in Japan. Every week, we will engage in different activities (e.g., small debates, short presentations, creative assignments, brief reviews, group projects) that will help us to explore the topic from various angles. Prerequisites: None