ASIA 2417: Religious Traditions of Asia (5)
Offerings
This course will investigate major religious traditions of Asia including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism and Shintoism from an historical and doctrinal standpoint. Students will be introduced to the major thinkers and philosophical/theological developments of each tradition. Primary texts will be used to introduce students to how the tradition defines and understands itself. Through specific course requirements including site visitations, students will gain exposure to the practices and doctrines of each faith studied while considering the cultural context and current trends of the tradition. Students will be asked to apply the practical knowledge gained during the course toward informed dialogue and sensitive but critical engagement with the non-Christian traditions studied.
Equivalents: HIS 2417
Attributes: Cultural Understand&Engagement, WK Social Sciences
ASIA 2418: Modern Expressions of Asian Religions (5)
Offerings
This course will investigate the various modern expressions of the religions of Asia including 鈥渘ew鈥� religions of Japan such as the Soka Gakkai school, Tenrikyo and Aum Shinrikyo/Aleph; the Falun Dafa/Falun Gong movement out of China, and the uniquely Korean expression of Christianity. The course will be organized thematically around questions stemming from classic areas of religious concern in Asia including: mind-body concerns (Tendai Buddhist 鈥淢arathon Monks鈥� of Mt. Hiei and the Shugendo tradition), messianic movements and healing (Chinese Falun Gong), shamanistic power (Korean Christianity and Japanese Tenrikyo), peace and prosperity (Soka Gakkai).
Equivalents: HIS 2418
Attributes: Cultural Understand&Engagement, Ways of Engaging
ASIA 3765: Family, State and Patriarchy in East Asia (5)
Offerings
This course explores the making of East Asian family, state and patriarchal traditions from the historical perspective. We will introduce the key belief systems, institutions, and historical developments from classical times to 1800 and how they have shaped the fundamental features of East Asia. The course also examines the ways in which the interactions of family and state were expressed similarly and differently in East Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea.
Equivalents: HIS 3765
Attributes: Upper-Division, Ways of Engaging, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
ASIA 3785: Trade, War, and The Making of East Asian Modernities (5)
Offerings
What roles did Trade and War play in the rise of East Asian powers? To what extent did they shape their identities and political ambitions? The course traces the history from the Opium Wars to the rise of Asian economic powers within the capitalist world-system. The course helps students to understand East Asia's struggles with the Western imported meta-narratives of progress, revolution, socialism, race, equality and Christianity and search for their modern identities in the past 150 years.
Equivalents: HIS 3785
Attributes: Upper-Division, Ways of Engaging, Writing "W" Course
ASIA 3786: Nation, City and Identity in China: From Opium Wars to Megacities (5)
Offerings
In the past three decades rapid economic development and modernization programs have significantly altered the traditional urban system in China. The country now has the largest number of megacities but the vast 鈥渇loating population鈥� of migrants continue to struggle with their lack of residency rights in the cities. This course traces China鈥檚 urban development since the late 19th century at the backdrop of China鈥檚 re-staging itself as a modern power in a global world. It explores how Chinese cities and its urban system have shaped in ideology and practice, and changes to social life and cultural identity in the modern history.
Equivalents: HIS 3786
Attributes: Upper-Division, Ways of Engaging
Restrictions: Freshman students are excluded.
ASIA 4765: Topics in East Asian History (3)
Offerings
Capstone research seminar, stressing analysis of primary sources and advanced, integrative historical understanding. Students will read core texts and then complete an original research project, usually a term paper. Region and theme may vary year to year. Sample topics include: modern Japan, state building and nationalism, religion and culture, etc.
Equivalents: HIS 4765
Attributes: Upper-Division, Writing "W" Course
Restrictions: Freshman, Sophomore students are excluded.