TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

Undergraduate Bulletin Updated for 1997-1998

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Course Descriptions

01848/Asian Studies

C050. Introduction to Asian Religions (3 s.h.) 96-98
Not open to those who have taken Religion C053 or 0107. Introduction to the major Asian religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto) with emphasis on the cultural roots of each religious tradition, the analysis of its principal teachings and practices, and the major cultural expressions in religious art, ritual, poetry, music, and scriptures. (Cross-listed with Religion C050.)

C053. Introduction to World Religions (3 s.h.) 96-98
Not open to those who have taken Religion C050 or 0051. Introduction to the major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam) as a way of coming to know and appreciate the world views of other cultures. Attention to beliefs, values and practices of these religions as ways of dealing with the basic issues of human life. (Cross-listed with Religion C053.)

C084. Chinese and Japanese Literature in Cultural Context (3 s.h.) 96-98
An introduction to classical and modern Chinese and Japanese literature. Materials include literary texts, general readings, and films. Special attention will be given to similarities and differences in Chinese and Japanese culture. (Cross-listed with Critical Language C084.)

C086. East and South Asia (3 s.h.) 96-98
Introduction to the natural environments and diverse contemporary societies that comprise East and South Asia. Emphasis on such topics as poverty, economic development, and social conditions in India, Thailand, and the Philippines, as well as China, Japan, and Korea. (Cross-listed with GUS C086.)

0115. Introduction to East Asia: China (3 s.h.) F
Within the context of larger processes of socioeconomic and cultural change, this course examines the development of characteristic institutions and thought in traditional China and revolutionary transformation in the modern era. This approach is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of state, society and culture in China, the major themes of Chinese history, and more generally, broad processes of social change. (Cross-listed with History 0115.)

0116. Introduction to East Asia: Japan (3 s.h.) F
A survey of Japanese history to the 20th century. Topics include the early centralized state, the rise of aristocratic culture, the emergence of the warrior class, and the modern transformation into an urban, industrial state. Course materials include selections from Japanese literature and films. (Cross-listed with History 0116.)

0122. Introduction to Buddhism (3 s.h.) S
Introduction to the historical development of Buddhism in relation to other East Asian religions. Topics include the Four Noble Truths of Basic Buddhism, the Hinayana-Mahayana controversy over Buddhist Dharma and practice, as well as the development of Buddhist thought throughout Asia. (Cross-listed with Religion 0122.)

0153. Religion in Non-Western Cultures (3 s.h.) S
Cross cultural study of religious beliefs and practices in primitive societies. Magic, witchcraft, shamanism, ancestor worship, animism, totemism, mana, taboo, myth revitalization, and world view. Theories of the origin, development, social and psychological functions and configurations of religious behavior. (Cross-listed with Anthropology 0153.)

0160. Topics in Religious Studies I: Religion, Nature and the Environment (3 s.h.) F
A comparative look at Biblical, Asian and Native American views of nature and the environment, followed by a look at contemporary ecological philosophies. (Cross-listed with Religion 0100.)

0161. Japanese Religions (3 s.h.) 96-98
An introduction to Japanese religions, their origins and development in the social, cultural and intellectual history of Japan. Religions covered are: Shinto, Japanese Buddhism, folk religions, Japanese Confucianism, and the ÒNew Religions.Ó Some attention to expression of Japanese spirituality in the fine arts, martial arts, festivals and rituals. (Cross-listed with Religion 0119.)

0162. Religions of India (3 s.h.) F
An introduction to the foundations, nature and principles of classical Hinduism. An introduction to the fundamentals of Buddhism and Jainism. (Cross-listed with Religion 0106.)

0164. Buddhism, Psychoanalysis, and Existential Analysis (3 s.h.) F Philosophical and psychological examination of the various approaches taken by Buddhism, psychoanalysis and existential analysis to human problems such as ignorance, suffering, anxiety, loneliness, love, freedom, and responsibility in our everyday encounter with the world and other people. Emphasis on Freud (classical psychoanalysis), Sartre (existential psychoanalysis), Frankl (logo-therapy), and Zen. (Cross-listed with Religion 0113.)

0165. Chinese Religions (3 s.h.) F

Critical study of the development of Chinese religions from the time of Confucius to Mao, including the problem of ideological continuity in contemporary China (Maoist Marxism versus Confucianism). (Cross-listed with Religion 0116.)

0166. Chinese Buddhism (3 s.h.) 96-98
The history and schools of thought and practice of Buddhism in China, from the introduction of Buddhism in China from India and its interaction with the classical religions of China (Confucianism, Taoism), to the rise of the major schools of Chinese Buddhism (Tien Tai, Hua Yen, Chan (Zen), and Pure Land). (Cross-listed with Religion 0118.)

0167. Japanese Buddhism (3 s.h.) 96-98
Introduction to classical thinkers of Japanese Buddhism: Kukai, Dogen, Shinran, Nichiren, Hakuin. Schools covered are: Shingon, Pure Land, Soto Zen, Rinzai Zen, Nichiren. (Cross-listed with Religion 0120.)

0168. Introduction to Zen Buddhism (3 s.h.) 96-98
This course surveys the historical development of Zen Buddhism as it unfolds in India, China and Japan, and focuses on the examination of the nature of satori experience. Analyzes its existential meaning from perspectives of therapy, Zen practice, and philosophy. (Cross-listed with Religion 0115.)

0171. Chinese Art (4 s.h.) 96-98
An introduction to the history of sculpture, painting, and other art forms in China from about 5000 B.C. onwards to the last dynastic Qing rule. (Cross-listed with Art History 171.)

0220. Survey of Japanese Literature Before 1868 (3 s.h.) 96-98
Memoirs, poetry, and novels are among the genres studied in this survey of classical Japanese literature. Readings include The Tale of Genji and Chushingura. (Cross-listed with Critical Language 0220.)

0221. Survey of Japanese Modern Literature (3 s.h.) 96-98
The focus in this survey of modern Japanese literature is on novels and short stories. Authors include Tanizaki, Kawabata, and Mishima. (Cross-listed with Critical Language 221.)

0230. Metropolitan Tokyo (3 s.h.) 96-98
The growth and development of Tokyo, past and present. The course includes a profile of the city's many neighborhoods, economic activities, architecture, and challenges for urban planners. (Cross-listed with GUS 228.)

0240. China: Politics and Revolution (3 s.h.) S
Contemporary Chinese government and politics, together with a survey of the political history of China in the 20th century. Emphasis is on the evolution of the political system and political culture through successive periods of reform and repression. (Cross-listed with Political Science 0236.)

0241. East Asia and the United States (3 s.h.) F
An introduction to the international relations of countries of the Pacific Rim. Major focus on their political, strategic, and economic relations with the United States, plus attention to domestic factors affecting their foreign relations. (Cross-listed with Political Science 0238.)

0250. Peasant Societies (3 s.h.) 96-98
Prerequisite: An introductory course in anthropology or consent of instructor. The concept and models of peasantry and a discussion of kinship types, technology, tradition and subsistence in peasant societies. Case studies from the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Latin American, Slavic, and Southeast Asian regions. (Cross-listed with Anthropology 0221.)

0253. Japanese Culture (3 s.h.) 96-98
Introduction to traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Topics covered include: early literature, aesthetic principles as expressed in art and architecture, religion, gender roles, Japan's shifting relationships with the outside world, rural communities and urban centers in the 20th-century, and the construction of the self in modern Japan. (Cross-listed with Anthropology 0273.)

0254. The Anthropology of Modern China (3 s.h.) 96-98
This course provides an introduction to the culture and society of the contemporary People's Republic of China. The first half of the course explores the dramatic changes in both rural and urban sectors of Chinese society since the turn of the century, with a particular focus on post-1949 Maoist and post-Mao socialist transformations. The second half of the course examines such topics as gender and the status of women, ethnic minorities, religion and healing, the self and society, the Party and the state, and P.R.C. narratives of modernity. Throughout, the P.R.C. will be examined as a society which embodies a distinctively Chinese synthesis of tradition and modernity. (Cross-listed with Anthropology 0274.)

0256. The Vietnam War (3 s.h.) 96-98
An attempt to probe in-depth one of the most significant and controversial episodes of recent American history. The history of Vietnam since the 19th century with heaviest emphasis on the period of direct United States involvement, 1965-1973. The impact of the war on the domestic and international scenes and its multiple legacies. Television and film from the period, interviews, and guest speakers. (Cross-listed with History 0256.)

0260. Introduction to Islam (3 s.h.) F
Analysis of the tawhid, essence of Islam, of its basic categories for religious life, law, theology, literature, philosophy, art, and science. Survey of the major phenomena of Islamic civilization in their relation to tawhid. (Cross-listed with Religion 0200.)

0270. Japanese Art (4 s.h.) 96-98
A historic survey of the arts of Japan from pre-historic times through the 19th century, covering painting, sculpture, architecture, and the decorative arts, with emphasis on the distinctive trends of each period and the varying interactions with other eastern Asian cultures. (Cross-listed with Art History 0215.)

0290. Indian Philosophy: An Introduction (3 s.h.) S
The course will cover the beginnings of Indian philosophical thinking in the hymns of Rig-Veda and the Upanishads and the major schools of Indian philosophy as they took shape during the next thousand years. The latter include the Samkhya, the Buddhist Schools, the Vaisekia, the Nyaya, and the major Schools of Vedanta. Issues in metaphysics, epistemology, and logic will be specially emphasized. (Cross-listed with Philosophy 0268.)

W300. Seminar in Asian Studies. (3 s.h.)
Topics and presentations to be decided between student and faculty member. (Capstone W course)

0303. Special Topics in Asian Studies I. (3 s.h.) 96-98
This course provides an Asian Studies cross listing for topics courses in other departments when they have Asian Studies content. Also can be used for directed readings in Asian Studies. Requirements arranged with Director of Asian Studies.

0304. Special Topics in Asian Studies II. (3 s.h.) 96-98
This course provides an Asian Studies cross listing for topics courses in other departments when they have Asian Studies content. Also can be used for directed readings in Asian Studies. Requirements arranged with Director of Asian Studies.

0308. Origins of the Chinese Revolution. (3 s.h.) F
The history of China from the Opium Wars to 1919. Topics to be discussed include the decline of the traditional order, the impact of imperialism, the rise of nationalism, the revolution of Sun Yat-sen, and socio-cultural ferment. (Cross-listed with History 0321.)

0310. Contemporary China (3 s.h.) S
The rise of nationalism, social-cultural changes, and revolutions since the late 19th century. Developments after 1949 in detail. (Cross-listed with History 0322.)

0311. Japan's Response to the West (3 s.h.) F
An interpretive survey of Japan's interaction with the West since 1800. The Shogunal legacy, the growth of nationalism, the emperor system, domestic policies and foreign relations; social, economic, and intellectual changes. Special attention given to Japanese-American relations including examination of Japan's road to Pearl Harbor. (Cross-listed with History 0326.)

0312. Southeast Asia in Modern Times (3 s.h.) F
Covers the histories of mainland Southeast Asian countries, i.e., Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma, from the 18th century until modern times. Will analyze the roles of culture, trade, religion, and monarchy in the state formation of those countries; the socio-economic and political impact of Western colonialism; and the subsequent rise of forces of change, such as nationalism and communism. Mainland Southeast Asia's role in world politics and economy will also be analyzed. Reference will be made to recent events taking place in the region. (Cross-listed with History 0328.)

0313. Topics in Southeast Asian History (3 s.h.) S
Covers the histories of insular Southeast Asia, i.e., Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, from the 18th century until modern times. It will analyze the roles of culture, trade, religion, and monarchy in the state formation of those countries; the socio-economic and political impact of Western colonialism; and the subsequent rise of forces of change, such as nationalism and communism. Insular Southeast Asia's role in world politics and economy will also be analyzed. Reference will be made to recent events taking place in the region. (Cross-listed with History 0329.)

0314. Japan Today (3 s.h.) F
An analytical survey of political, economic, social, and intellectual conditions in Japan today. An examination of post W.W. II reforms and reconstruction, the nature of political leadership and participation, economic growth, social change, intellectual trends, and foreign relations of contemporary Japan. Special emphasis on changing Japanese-American relations. Readings include representative postwar Japanese novels in translation. Audiovisual materials used. (Cross-listed with History 0330.)

0315. Women and Society in Japan (3 s.h.) S
Analysis of the changing positions of women in Japanese society from ancient times to the present. Through lectures, discussions, and audiovisual material, we will explore the fascinating worlds of goddesses, female diviners, empresses, the classical female writers, women in warrior culture, women in industrializing Japan, and Japanese women's movements. (Cross-listed with History 0337.)

0317. Women and Society in Modern Asia (3 s.h.) F
Introduces and compares the recent historical experience of women in AsiaÑprincipally in China and Japan. Major topics include women and the family, women and work, and women as creators and activists. The course focuses on the situations of rural as well as urban women, and ordinary as well as elite women in the late 19th and 20th centuries. (Cross-listed with History 0334.)

0318. 20th Century India (Mahatma Gandhi to Indira Gandhi) (3 s.h.) S
Major political issues are colonialism, nationalism, non-violent political struggle, independence and adjustment, regionalism and tension, leadership in a third world movement, relations with the U.S.A. Social issues include coping with inequality, population explosion, hunger, regional violence, and new popular organizations. Major personalities: Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan, Sri Aurobindo. (Cross-listed with History 0332.)

0320. Literary Chinese/English Translation I (4 s.h.) 96-98
(Cross-listed with Critical Language 0368.)

0321. Literary Chinese/English Translation II Independent (4 s.h.) 96-98
(Cross-listed with Critical Language 0369.)

0369. Inter-Religious Dialogue: East and West (3 s.h.)
This course will first investigate interreligious dialogue in general. What is it? What are its promises and problems? The course will then focus on specific dialogues between Western religions (e.g., Christianity, Islam) and Asian religions (e.g., Buddhism, Confucianism). (Cross-listed with Religion 0369.)

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