69511 - Religions and Philosophy of Eastern Asia (1)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the student with a basic knowledge of the topics and problems concerning the religious traditions and philosophical thought of East Asia. By its conclusion, the student will be able to discuss the subjects in both writing and orally employing the appropriate terminology and displaying a critical appreciation of the bibliographical material.

Course contents

The course will provide an introduction to the chief aspects of the philosophical  thought and religious traditions of ancient China and Japan, referring to the relevant texts (in translation), and will cover the following topics:

- Foundations of ancient Chinese thought
- Confucius and Confucianism
- Philosophical and religious Taoism
- Features of Buddhism in China (from the origins to the Tang period) and in Japan (from the origins to the Kamakura period)
- Shinto

The course will include an introductory lecture on the methods and approach of the discipline, while the final lecture will summarize the main themes and problems discussed during the course and prepare students for the final examination. The syllabus will be provided at the first lecture and will be included among the material available on the 'Virtuale' platform.

From MONDAY 20th September 2021.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Exam bibliography:

1. A. Cheng, Storia del pensiero cinese, Torino, Einaudi, 2000 (vol. 1, pp. 5-77; pp. 99-130; pp. 149-179; pp. 181-206; pp. 207-230; pp. 231-248; pp. 249-267).
2. E. Zürcher, “Il buddhismo in Cina”, in G. Filoramo (a cura di), Storia delle religioni, vol. IV- Le religioni dell'India e dell'Estremo Oriente, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1966, pp. 639-405. Location: REL. 00498 4
3. P.P. Del Campana, “Il buddhismo in Giappone”, in G. Filoramo (a cura di), Storia delle religioni, vol. IV- Le religioni dell'India e dell'Estremo Oriente, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1966, pp. 411-436. Location: REL. 00498 4 Sostituibile con: M. Raveri, Il pensiero giapponese classico, Einaudi, 2014, pp. 61-77; pp. 109-126; pp. 477-498.
   
4. Hirai Naofusa, “Shinto”, in D.M. Cosi et al. (a cura di), Enciclopedia delle religioni, vol. 13, Milano, Jaca Book, 2007 (ed. orig. The Encyclopedia of Religion, 1986), pp. 487-503. 
5. one of the following:

• A. Andreini, M. Scarpari, Il daoismo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007.
• T. Lippiello, Il confucianesimo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009.
• F. Maraini, “Lo shinto”, in G. Filoramo (a cura di), Storia delle religioni, vol. IV- Le religioni dell'India e dell'Estremo Oriente, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1966, pp. 613-663. Location: REL. 00498 4

The PDF course tools made available to students are required reading for the exam.They will be put on the 'Virtuale' platform at the beginning of each week (every three lessons).

All the books above are found in the library of the Dept. of History and Civilization, Via Zamboni, 33.

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Foreign students may contact the lecturer for an alternative reading list in English

Teaching methods

Lecture; critical analysis of texts (in translation)

Assessment methods

The exam will take the form of an oral discussion and the student will be assessed according to the knowledge he has acquired, his ability to provide a clear summary of the topics covered and his critical handling of the material. He will be expected to refer to both the exam bibliography and the texts read and discussed during the lectures.

The assessment will concentrate particularly on the skill displayed by the student in handling the sources and material in the exam bibliography and his ability to find and use information and examples to illustrate and correlate the various themes and problems addressed in the course.

The assessment will thus examine the student's:

- factual knowledge of the subject;
- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;
- familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his ability to use it effectively.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.
Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.
A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

There are 6 exam sessions per year, in principle distributed as follows:
- 2 between September and November
- 2 between January and March
- 2 between May and early July

Teaching tools

Power point presentations available to students on the 'Virtuale' platform.

Office hours

See the website of Nicoletta Celli