Osaka Gakuin University 2016-17 Fall Semester
Japanese Religions
Instructor：
Kaoru Nakao Villa（カオル ナカオ ヴィヤ）
E-mail:Lesson:Office Hours :Subject code :kaoruvilla@gmail.com
Monday 12:50-14:20 & Friday 14:30-16:00
Monday before class, Friday after class, or byappointment
1038

Course Description:
This course will examine the histories, teachings, beliefs, and practicesof various religions in Japan, including Shinto, Buddhism,Confucianism, Christianity as well as other minor religions (i.e.
Shugendo, Onmyodo, and other folk religions). In addition,
modern/contemporary religious phenomena referred to as New
Religions will be studied. Students are encouraged to (1) challenge thetraditional division of Japanese religions by analyzing the relationshipbetween various religions and recognizing the interconnectedness
and\or syncretism between them and (2) have discussions on theirreligious, political, and/or socioeconomic issues. There will be a seriesof field trips in which students will visit various religious sites andexperience ceremonies and rituals (if possible).

Resources
Earhart, H. Bryon. Japanese Religion: Unity and Diversity (2004)
Note: Other necessary hand-outs will be provided for each classEvaluation
Class Attendance/Multiple Assignments (15%)
An Individual or Group Presentation(s) (35%)



Field Trip Worksheets/Reports (20%)
Final examination (30%)

Note: (1) Class attendance and participation, particularly taking field
trips, are very important since this course places emphasison the actual observation and experience of Japanesereligions.
(2) Evaluation method may change at the instructor’s discretion
depending on the class size and other factors.

Notes:No Previous knowledge on Japanese religions or culture is required.

Course Schedule:
Class 1: Course orientation and introduction: What is religion?
What do you know about Japanese culture and religions?
*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2Class 2: Persistent themes in Japanese religious history: Humanbeings and nature, family, and purification*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 2 (cont.)
Class 3: Persistent themes in Japanese religious history(cont.): Local festivals, individual cults, and religion in
everyday life
Group discussion: Persistent themes in Japanese religions*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 3Class 4: Field Trip (1) Prehistoric heritage: Imashirozuka Burial
Mound 今城塚古墳, Takatsuki, Osaka (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 3 (cont.)
Class 5: The prehistoric heritage: The religious significance ofburial and the dead, fertility, and divine descentGroup discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (1)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 4Class 6: Early Shinto: Mythology and the origins of Shinto*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 4 (cont.)Class 7: Field Trip (2) Shinto: Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine 長岡天満宮, Nagaokakyo, Kyoto (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 4 (cont.)
Class 8: Early Shinto (cont.): The organization of Shinto—priests
and rituals in shrines
Group discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (2)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 5 and Chapter 6
Class 9: Early Japanese Buddhism: Indian and Chinese influence;
the Buddhism as a state religion; and the six philosophicalschools of Nara Buddhism
Confucianism and Taoism: Chinese importation;
Confucianism and Taoism as Japanese traditions (i.e.
Onmyodo)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 7
Class 10: Field Trip (3) Folk Religion: Seimei Shrine 清明神社 andShinsenen Garden 神泉苑, Kyoto (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 7 (cont.) and Chapter 8Class 11: Folk Religion: Religiosity outside organized religion
Group discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (3)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 9Class 12: The development of Japanese Buddhism: The newBuddhism of the Heian period (Shingon and Tendai) andthe way of mountain asceticism (Shugendo)
Group discussion: Shingon, Tendai, and Shugendo*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 9 (cont.)
Class 13: Field Trip (4) Tendai Buddhism: Enryakuji Temple 延暦寺, Mount Hiei 比叡山, Otsu, Shiga (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 9 (cont.) and Chapter 10
Class 14: The development of Japanese Buddhism (cont.):
Group discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (4)Elaboration within Japanese Buddhism: The
Emergence of Pure Land, Nichiren, and Zen Buddhism in
the Kamakura period*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 10 (cont.)

Class 15: Elaboration within Japanese Buddhism (cont.):
Group discussion: Pure Land, Nichiren, and Zen; threeschools of Zen Buddhism in Japan*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 10 (cont.) and Chapter 11
Class 16: Field Trip (5) Rinzai Zen Buddhism: Tofukuji Temple 東福寺, Kyoto (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 11 (cont.)
Class 17: Elaboration within Japanese Buddhism (cont.):
Group discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (5); Japanesereligions from the early to the medieval period (summary)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 12Class 18: The appearance of Christianity in Japan: The
Introduction, acceptance, and expulsion of Christianity*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 12 (cont.)
Class 19: Field Trip (6) Christianity in Japan: Takayama Ukon,Takatsuki castle town, and Takatsuki Catholic Church,Takatsuki, Osaka (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 13 and Chapter 14
Class 20: The appearance of Christianity in Japan (cont.):
Group discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (6)Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism and restoration Shinto
in the Tokugawa period: The Tokugawa government andreligion*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 14
Class 21: Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism and restoration Shinto
in the Tokugawa period (cont.): Neo-Confucianism,
political stability, and social conformity; Motoori Norinaga
and restoration Shinto*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 15
Class 22: The Meiji Restoration and State Shinto: The politicaland religious significance of the Meiji Restoration
Group discussion: Shrine Shinto as an expression ofnationalism and militarism*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 16 and Chapter 17

Class 23: Religious currents from 1868 to 1945: Buddhism,Christianity, and the New Religions
New Religions: Tenrikyo, Soka Gakkai, and others*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 17 (cont.)
Class 24: Field Trip (7) New Religions: Religious Centers in Tenri,Nara (*subject to change)*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 17 (cont.)
Class 25: New Religions (cont.):
Group discussion: The reflection on Field Trip (7); The
significance of the New Religions*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 18
Class 26: Religion in post-war Japan: Shinto, Buddhism,Christianity, and the post-war boom of New Religions*Reading HW: Earhart, Chapter 19
Class 27: Religious life in contemporary Japan: Transformationsof religious life in contemporary Japan
Group discussion: Problems concerning contemporary
Japanese religions
Class 28: Review and preparation for presentations
Class 29: Individual or group presentations
Class 30: Final Examination
Note: Course contents and schedule are subject to change dependingon the class size and the discretion of the teacher.