Course Objectives:

This course is designed on the assumption that every educated person needs an introduction to a culture other than his or her own.  We will explore the basic world views which have historically shaped the civilization of East Asia.  Although the primary focus of our survey will be upon the intellectual dimensions of Asian cultural systems, we will examine how deeply-rooted philosophical and religious ideas have expressed themselves in the social organization, art, and literature of these civilizations.  Among the major purposes of this course are: (1) gaining an appreciation of the integrity of Eastern religious thought, (2) learning the impact of the interplay among the different aspects of culture (and the role of cultural conditioning), and (3) clarifying American values and American cultural conditioning in the process of our examination of other cultures.

Course Outline:

A. Hinduism
    1. Pre Aryan civilization
 
    2. Legacy of the Vedic literature
        a. The Vedas as the ultimate source of human values
        b. Human fulfillment understood as dependent upon achieving harmony with an impersonal cosmic force   (Brahman)
        c. Upanishadic literature and the rise of ascetic tendencies
 
    3. Religion as the basis and legitimation of social order
 
    4. Philosophy, literature, and art of the three "ways to salvation"
        a. The Way of Knowledge
            1) Six classical darshanas esp.  Yoga as vehicle to enlightenment
        b. The Way of Works
            1) Code of Manu and Hindu social mores
        c. The Way of Devotion (bhakti)
            1) Bhagavad Gita
            2)  Sectarian devotional art and literature
 
        Modern Hinduism
        a. Emancipation from British rule
        b. Model of Gandhi
        c. Modern caste reform

Required Readings: Noss, Chapter 3 and 4
Huston Smith, pp. 12-25,  pp. 26-32,  41-50, pp. 32-41, 50-75

EXAM

B. Buddhism

    1. Life and teachings of the Buddha
        a. The Four Noble Truths: Human condition characterized by the misery or lack of fulfillment resulting from self-centeredness and materialistic desire
        b. The quest for the eradication of obsession with the self and the elimination of material desire
    2. Growth and development of the Theravada Tradition
        a. Development and Division in the monastic Community
        b. Theravada art and literature
        c. Cultural impact upon Southeast Asia
    3. Growth and Development of the Mahayana Tradition
        a. Mahayana art and literature
        b. Nagarjuna and the theological accommodation to the needs and interests of the laity
        c. The Schools:
                1) T'ien T'ai
                2) Pure Land
                3)  Zen
                4) Nichiren
                5) Tantric Practice
                6) Tibetan Buddhism
 
    4. Buddhism in the Modern Era
        a. The Communist Challenge
        b. Buddhism in Non-Communist Asia
        c. Buddhism in the West
Required Readings:   Noss, Chapters 6 and 7

Huston Smith, pp. 82-99,pp. 99-119, 119-127, 128-149

EXAM

C. Religious Traditions of China and Japan

    1. Basic world view of Chinese Philosophy

    2. Folk tradition
        a. The Dao
        b. Animism
        c. Divination (I Ching)
        d. Filial Piety and Ancestor Reverence

    3. Confucius: the ritualization of life
        a. Five classics of Chinese literary tradition
        b. Li and Jen: the secular as sacred
                1) Heaven's Mandate (and Feudal government)
                2) Filial Piety
                3) The "Five Relations" of Chinese Social Order
                4) Rectification of names
                5)  Shu   reciprocity
                6) Chih liberal learning
        c. Mencius and the developing tradition

4.  Lao Tzu: Philosophy of the Dao
        a. Dao Te Ching : Philosophical Taoism
        b. Essays of Chuang-tzu
        c. Occult Daoism
        d. Religious Daoism

5. China in a Period of Revolutionary Change
        a. Contact with the West
        b. Mao Ze-dong and the Communist Transformation
Required Readings: Noss, Chapters 9 and 10

Huston Smith, pp. 154-193, pp. 196-218

EXAM

Course Requirements/Grading: Three exams (30% each); Essay (10% each)

NOTE: Class attendance is mandatory.  Each unexcused absence will automatically subtract 4 pts. from your semester's averaged number score.  Exams must be taken on the scheduled day and time.  Any unpreventable absences should be phoned into Dr. Fuller's office prior to the examination.  Arrangements for a makeup te'st must be made prior to the next class date--otherwise the score will be recorded as a zero. 10 pts. will be subtracted from makeup tests whenever compelling evidence is not available to support the claim that the absence on the scheduled exam date was unpreventable.