China and Japan

We will begin our study of China and Japan with a brief introduction of the history, texts, and practices encompassing East Asian spirituality in general, covering some 3,500 years and including many of the major traditions: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. We will then explore a great variety of topics, including the life of the Buddha; karma and rebirth; inspiring teachers like Confucius; sacred Taoist texts; holy landscapes, shrines and festivals; spiritual and ethical teachings; art and architecture; and ritual and ceremony. We will also examine the rise of New Religious Movements in the East, the spread of religious pluralism, and the movement toward interfaith dialogue at the beginning of the new millennium. These examinations of Chinese and Japanese cosmologies may even provide alternative definitions of religion that could be used to address some of the pressing issues of Western cultural traditions.