DATE	TOPICS/READINGS
8/25	Religious Pluralism in Japan: Turning to the Gods in Times of Trouble Religion in Contemporary Japan (RCJ): 1-22 • Defining Religion
8/30	Religious Foundations of Prehistoric Japan Introducing Japanese Religion (IJR): 1-21, 58-64, 90-93 • Sources of Japanese Tradition (SJT): 3-9
9/1	Land of the Rising Sun Goddess: Amaterasu and the Way of the Kami RCJ: 55-76 • SJT: 13-28
9/6	Through the Torii: The Experience of Shinto Shinto: The Way Home (SWH): 1-37 • IJR: 28-31
9/8	Living Shinto: Everyday Connectedness SWH: 38-70 • IJR: 25-28, 67-76
9/13	MOVIE: Spirited Away, Part I (Meiley-Swallow/Thrust Theater) Ningenkan • Kannagara • Shinto and Human Life
9/15	MOVIE: Spirited Away, Part II (Meiley-Swallow/Thrust Theater) Tradition vs. Innovation and the Creatures in Spirited Away • Shinto Perspectives
9/20	Siddhartha Gautama: The Historical Buddha IJR: 78-82 • The Life of the Buddha
9/22	The Development of Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism • IJR: 82-88 • SJT: 55-62, 108-111 • Cinema Review #1: Spirited Away
9/27	Politics and Religion in Early Japan: The Integreation of Buddhism and Shinto IJR: 93-99 • SWH: 71-91 • RCJ: 23-40
9/29	Heian Buddhism: Shingon IJR: 102-112, 32-34 • SJT: 153-168, 175-184 • Goma Fire Ritual
10/4	Heian Buddhism: Tendai IJR: 112-118, 34-35 • SJT: 123-152
10/6	Kamakura Buddhism: Pure Land IJR: 121-134, 35-38 • SJT: 205-230 • Nembutsu
10/11	Kamakura Buddhism: Nichiren IJR: 134-139, 39-41 • SJT: 292-305 • Daimoku
10/13	Kamakura Buddhism: Zen IJR: 142-152, 38-39 • SJT: 306-328 • Eiheiji
10/18	FALL BREAK
10/20	Zen and Japanese Culture IJR: 152-165 • SJT: 364-372, 387-388 • Archery • Gardens • Calligraphy • Noh
10/23	NICHIREN TEMPLE VISIT (9:45-11:45 am) 1S100 Route 59, West Chicago, IL 60185 • 630-293-5235
10/25	The Japanese Tea Ceremony SJT: 388-398 • Zen and the Art of Tea
10/27	Religion in Medieval and Early ModernJapan SJT: 336-341 • SWH: 92-118 • IJR: 168-185
11/1	Zen, Death, and the Ancestors RCJ: 40-47, 77-106 • IJR: 53-54 • Temple Visit Paper
11/3	The Meiji Restoration: Shinto and the State IJR: 188-205 • SWH: 119-140
11/8	Religion in Postwar Japan IJR: 232-252, 43-53 • SWH: 140-147
11/10	Spirits, Satellites and a User-Friendly Religion: Agonshu and the New Religions RCJ: 194-233
11/15	MOVIE: The Great Yokai War, Part I (Wentz SC, Stevenson Hall 202 West Room 32) Yokai: Fantastic Creatures of Japanese Folklore • Kirin • Yasunori Kato • Sunekosuri • Kawahime • Shojo • Kappa • Daitengu • Ippondatara • Nurarihyon • Azuki Arai • Rokurokubi
11/17	MOVIE: The Great Yokai War, Part II (Wentz SC, Stevenson Hall 202 West Room 32) Mortuary Rites for Inanimate Objects • How Japanese Religion Influenced Pokemon
11/22	Sites and Sights: Temples and Shrines as Centers of Power and Enlightenment RCJ: 134-167
11/24	THANKSGIVING
11/29	Actions, Amulets and the Expression of Meaning: Reflections of Need and Statements of Desire RCJ: 168-193 • Cinema Review #2: The Great Yokai War
12/1	Shugendo: A Revival of Shinbutsu-shugo (The Synthesis of Buddhism and Shinto) Onmark/Shugendo • Shugendo Rituals
12/6	The Perennial Popularity of Religious Pilgrimage Onmark/Pilgrimage 1 • Onmark/Pilgrimage 2 • Ohenro
12/8	Religious Pluralism in Contemporary Japan: Concluding Reflections SWH: 148-170 • RCJ: 234-243 • Contemplative Event Paper?
12/13	Final Exam Tuesday, December 13, 4:00-6:00 pm