RELS 215 Shamans, Sages, and Spirits in East Asia
This course explores the dynamic religious and cultural landscape of East Asia, providing an overview of religion as it has been constructed in the states that are today known as China, Japan and Korea. In addition to learning about Confucianism, Daoism, Shintoism, and Buddhism, students will also learn about shamanistic and folk traditions, as well as practices that span across traditions, in order to provide students with tools to resist simplistic understandings of religious identity. Furthermore, taking both a chronological and comparative approach, the course leads students through the development of different traditions by situating them in their broader socio-political contexts. Finally, the course engages with multiple themes and perspectives, including the relationship between religion and the state, the development of institutions, literary and artistic expression, and gendered experiences of religion.
Core Requirements Met
- Global Connections
- Pre-1800