Religious History & Geography
Chinese: Students pursuing an emphasis on Chinese religious history are free to construct an individualized course of study in consultation with their advisor. Based on the current expertise of our faculty this would normally consist of a focus on one or more of the following Chinese religious institutions: Daoism, Buddhism, or local temple institutions, studied within the context of religious geography, ritual, and text.
Japanese: Students can focus on any aspect of Japanese religious history. The current areas of expertise are Shinto-Buddhist interactions and religious geography. Shinto-Buddhist interactions are studied in the context of institutional, ritual, and textual materials. Religious geography is studied in the context of Shinto shrines' and Buddhist temples' location, history, rituals, and texts (both primary and secondary sources), as well as on detailed computer-based maps (both 2 and 3-dimensional).
It is expected that, in either case, students gain detailed knowledge of ritual practices, institutional setups, and primary materials as well as Japanese and non-Japanese scholarship. The starting point of enquiry is open: it could be a specific cult (as in the Kitano cult), a specific text, any shrine or temple of importance, any ritual taking place in Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples, or any geographical region (provided it is chosen on the basis of relevant materials or problems to be addressed).
Because Japan has a long history of contacts with the rest of Asia, it is expected that students will develop a basic knowledge of Chinese or Indian religious traditions. This can be worked out on an individual basis in consultation with faculty members in East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, or the Departments of Religious Studies or History, or any other relevant academic department. (The current EALCS faculty member responsible for the Japanese specialization is affiliated with the departments of History and Religious Studies).
Faculty:
Jose Cabezon
(Tibetan Buddhism)
Greg Hillis
(Tibetan and Sanskrit)
William Powell
(Chinese religion)
Vesna Wallace
(Inner Asian Buddhism)
David White
(South Asian Tantra)
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