UCSB: East Asian

Upper Division | Lower Division

Upper Division

157. Religious Arts of Asia
(4) Grapard
Prerequisite: consent of instructor
Introduces students to the study of ritual through an understanding of iconography specifically and aesthetics generally, using the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto. This course is, therefore, more akin to a history of ancient cultures than to art history.

161B. Buddhist Meditation Traditions
(4) Grapard
Prerequisite: any lower-division course in religious studies or consent of instructor. Same as Religious Studies 161B.
A consideration of major forms of Buddhist meditation from both the South Asian and the East Asian traditions, with special attention given to determining the nature of meditation as a variety of religious experience.

164B. Buddhist Traditions in East Asia
(4) Powell
Prerequisite: background in Indian Buddhism or any lower-division course in religious studies; or consent of instructor. Same course as Religious Studies 164B.
A consideration of the Buddhist tradition and its evolution in China, with emphasis on the changes which Buddhism underwent in its encounter with Chinese traditions and historical circumstances.

175. Sacred Geography in China and Japan
(4) Grapard, Powell
Same course as Religious Studies 175.
A consideration of the cultural and cognitive dimensions of East Asian sacred geographies.

178. The Body Religious in Chinese Culture
(4) Powell
Prerequisite: any lower-division East Asian languages and cultural studies course except language classes or consent of instructor. Same course as Religious Studies 178.
The human body both as constituted by and constitutive of Chinese religion, culture, society, and geography. Neither purely philosophical nor biological, the course explores the understandings of the body as both subject and object of knowledge.

180A-B-C. History and Culture of East Asia
(4-4-4) Fogel
Prerequisite: upper-division standing. Same course as History 180A-B-C.
An introduction to the history and cultures of the major civilizations of East Asia: China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam. Emphasis on the shared historical experience of the region and cultural unity and diversity; A. Prehistory to 600; B. 600-1600; C. 1600-1945.

180P. Proseminar in East Asian History and Culture
(4) Fogel
Prerequisite: History 80, 180A, 180B or 180C; or East Asian Cultural Studies 180A, 180B, or 180C. Upper-division standing. Same course as History 180P.
Reading and research on selected issues in the history of East Asia with emphasis on the cultural interconnectedness of the region.

185. Translation in Theory and Practice
(4) Nathan
Prerequisite: advanced reading command of Japanese, Chinese, or other foreign language.
A consideration of twentieth century thinking about language and the function of translation with readings from Benjamin, Derrida, Steiner, Borges. A translation from Chinese or Japanese (or other language) into English is required.

189A. Vietnamese History
(4) Fogel
Prerequisite: History 80 or consent of instructor. Same course as History 189A. Not open for credit to students who have completed History 138A.
An introduction to the history of Vietnam and its place in East and Southeast Asia. Vietnamese history from antiquity through the early twentieth century.

Lower Division

2. Windows on East Asian Cultures
(4) Staff
An introduction to the study of China, Japan, and Korea. A multi-disciplinary examination of defining issues in East Asian cultures. Study of topics in language, society, history, religion and literature to identify enduring themes and concerns.

3. Introduction to Asian Religious Traditions
(4) Powell
Same course as Religious Studies 3.
An introduction to the basic texts, institutions, and practices of the religious traditions of South Asia and East Asia

20. Nature: East Asian Views
(4) Grapard
Same course as Religious Studies 20.
An introduction to the ways in which Chinese and Japanese cultures have conceptualized nature and humankind's place in it.

21. Zen
(4) Grapard
Same course as Religious Studies 21.
An introduction to the history and texts of major lineages of Ch'an Buddhism in China, and Zen Buddhism in Japan.

80. East Asian Civilization
(4) Fogel
Same course as History 80.
A basic introduction to the history of East Asia focusing on the emergence and evolution of Chinese civilization and its impact upon the distinctive indigenous cultures of Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.