B8041 - Introduction to the Religions in East and South-East Asia (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will have an in-depth knowledge of the cultural-historical matrix and of the main texts, doctrines and practices of religious traditions in East and South-East Asia. They will be familiar with the history of studies and with the historiographical debate on the main themes, problems and methods of research applied to contexts characterised by cultural, linguistic and religious pluralism. They will be able to present their knowledge effectively in oral and/or written form, using the appropriate terminology and with reference to the specialised bibliography. They will also be able to use the appropriate registers of communication for contexts characterised by cultural, linguistic and religious pluralism taking into account the target audience and critically promoting the value of religious differences.

Course contents

Dragons, Territories, Ancestors

The initial phase of the lectures will be dedicated to a critical and methodological introduction to the terminology and categories to be employed, alongside a presentation of the historical and cultural framework underpinning the development of religious traditions across both regions.

The second part will explore the cross-cultural dynamics of the following themes:

• Dragons and serpents: myths and functions of the spirits of the soil and waters.
• Deity of the soil, mountain spirits, and ancestor worship.
• The guardians of the territory: between the protection and administration of space.

The third part will examine specific instances of cultural and religious hybridisation within the respective relations of China and Japan with continental Southeast Asia.

The detailed syllabus will be presented during the first lecture and will be made available on the 'Virtuale' platform."

From Monday 14th September 2026.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for students attending:

All 9 articles will be available in PDF format on 'Virtuale'.

1. J A. Adler, "Chinese Religion: An Overview", in L. Jones (a cura di), Encyclopedia of Religion, Detroit, Macmillan Reference, vol. 3, 2005, pp. 1580-1640.

2. J.M. Kitagawa et alii, "Japanese Religions", in L. Jones (a cura di), Encyclopedia of Religion, Detroit, Macmillan Reference, vol. 7, 2005, pp. 4779-4814.

3. Mark Woodward et alii, "Southeast Asian Religions", in L. Jones (a cura di), Encyclopedia of Religion, Detroit, Macmillan Reference, vol. 13, 2005, pp. 8637-8646.

4. M. Loewe, “The Cult of the Dragon and the Invocation for Rain”, in Charles Le Blanc e Susan Blader (a cura di), Chinese Ideas about Nature and Society, Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 1987, pp. 195-213.

5. S. Fowler, “In Search of the Dragon: Mt. Murō's Sacred Topography”, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 1997, 24, 1/2, pp. 145-161.

6. C. A. Cook, "Ancestors Cult during the Eastern Zhou" in John Lagerwey e Marc Kalinowski (a cura di), Early Chinese Religion, vol. 1, Leiden, Brill, 2009, pp. 235-279.

7. Hitoshi Miyake, “Japanese Mountain Religion: Shrines, Temples and the Development of Shugendō”, Cahiers d'Extrême-Asie, 18, 2009, pp. 73-88.

8. S.F. Teiser, “Popular Religion”, The Journal of Asian Studies, 54, 2, 1995, pp. 378-395.

9. M. Schumacher, “Adapting to the Times: Jizō Statues Along the Kamakura Pilgrimage Route”, Impressions , 35, 2014, pp. 152-175.

10. 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).

Bibliography for students NOT attending:

All 10 articles will be available in PDF format on 'Virtuale'.

1. J A. Adler, "Chinese Religion: An Overview", in L. Jones (a cura di), Encyclopedia of Religion, Detroit, Macmillan Reference, vol. 3, 2005, pp. 1580-1640.

2. J.M. Kitagawa et alii, "Japanese Religions", in L. Jones (a cura di), Encyclopedia of Religion, Detroit, Macmillan Reference, vol. 7, 2005, pp. 4779-4814.

3. Mark Woodward et alii, "Southeast Asian Religions", in L. Jones (a cura di), Encyclopedia of Religion, Detroit, Macmillan Reference, vol. 13, 2005, pp. 8637-8646.

4. M. Loewe, “The Cult of the Dragon and the Invocation for Rain”, in Charles Le Blanc e Susan Blader (a cura di), Chinese Ideas about Nature and Society, Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 1987, pp. 195-213.

5. S. Fowler, “In Search of the Dragon: Mt. Murō's Sacred Topography”, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 1997, 24, 1/2, pp. 145-161.

6. C. A. Cook, "Ancestors Cult during the Eastern Zhou" in John Lagerwey e Marc Kalinowski (a cura di), Early Chinese Religion, vol. 1, Leiden, Brill, 2009, pp. 235-279.

7. Hitoshi Miyake, “Japanese Mountain Religion: Shrines, Temples and the Development of Shugendō”, Cahiers d'Extrême-Asie, 18, 2009, pp. 73-88.

8. S.F. Teiser, “Popular Religion”, The Journal of Asian Studies, 54, 2, 1995, pp. 378-395.

9. M. Schumacher, “Adapting to the Times: Jizō Statues Along the Kamakura Pilgrimage Route”, Impressions , 35, 2014, pp. 152-175.

10. Khoo Joo Ee, "Religion, Customs and Festivals", in The Straits Chinese, Amsterdam–Kuala Lumpur, The Pepin Press, 1996, pp. 49-107.

11. 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).

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson

Assessment methods

This 6 CFU course can be chosen as a part of the 12 CFU Integrated Course “Religious Traditions in East and South-East Asia (I.C.) (LM)". If the student has the Integrated Course (12 CFU) in his/her study plan, the final grade will result from the arithmetic average of the marks obtained in the two parts (“B8041 - Introduction to the Religions in East and South-East Asia (1) (LM)” and “B8042 - Iconography and Iconology in East and South-East Asia (1) (LM)”).

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

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Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Nicoletta Celli