WOMEN IN CHINESE AND JAPANESE RELIGIONS  Spring 2006

Prof. Kelleher

OFFICE: Founders Asian Studies Center                OFFICE PHONE: 323-5152

E-mail: kellehert@mville.edu

OFFICE HOURS: MTh 10:35-12:05, W 8:30-9:30, and by appt.

 

 

 

This course seeks to examine the position of women in the major religions of China and Japan,  (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Shinto) in pre-modern times, drawing on scriptures, prescriptive writings, literary works and personal records.  It will also look at various images of the divine as female and examine whether these images help or hinder flesh and blood women.

This course is broadly interdisciplinary.  Students with backgrounds in the various humanities and social sciences will make welcomed contributions to class discussions with the perspectives they bring from those disciplines.

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS: Susan Mann, ed., Under Confucian Eyes, U of Calif Press.

                                   Patricia Ebrey, The Inner Quarters: Marriage & the Life of

                                        Chinese Women in the Sung Period, U of California Press.                                       

                                   David Hawkes, tr., Story of the Stone, vol. 1, Penguin Press.

                                   Ivan Morris, tr., The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon, Columbia UP.

                                   Ivan Morris, World of the Shining Prince, Columbia UP.

                                   (a starred * book  listed below is on library reserve)

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 3  in-class tests (not exams)

                                                2  7-8 page papers on the readings (those who need to do a

                                                   research paper may do one 12-15 page paper)

                                                **class attendance AND participation (because this is a seminar,

                                                     this is a crucial part of your grade: you cannot pass the course

                                                     if you miss more than 2 classes).  This will involve class

                                                     presentations on the assigned readings.

  

 

TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:

1.   Introduction to the history and culture of China and Japan.  Issues involved in the

                    study of women and religion.  

 

2.   Women in Classical Confucianism

           *Theresa Kelleher, “Confucianism,” in Women in World Religions 135-159;

           *Pan Chao’s  “Lessons for  Women” in N Swann, Pan Chao: Foremost Woman Scholar of  China 82-99;

            *“Biographies of Exemplary Women” in Albert O’Hara, Position of Women in Early

            China 1:6, 9-11; 2:1, 2, 5; 4:1-7; 6:11-12; 7:1-4

           Susan Mann, Under Confucian Eyes, “Classic of Filial Piety for Women”

3.   Women in Taoism: Queen Mother of the West & Spirit Marriages

           *Barbara Reed, “Taoism,” in  Women in World Religions 161-181

          *Livia Kohn, ed., The Taoist Experience: An Anthology 55-62,  267-271;  *Suzanne Cahill, Transcendence and Divine Passion 24-28; *”Declarations of the Perfected” 166-179 in Religions of China in Practice ;  Under Confucian Eyes 16-28

 

4.  Women in Buddhism

           *Nancy Barnes, “Buddhism,” in Women in World Religions 105-127; *Diana Paul, Women in Buddhism  82-94; *K.A. Tsai, Lives of the Nuns 6-97;  selections fm Alan Cole, Mothers & Sons in Chinese Buddhism (to be handed out);  Under Confucian Eyes chaps. 2 & 8

 

5.  Women in Neo-Confucianism: the Cult of Chastity and Footbinding

           Patricia Ebrey, The Inner Quarters; Mann, Under Confucian Eyes  chaps. 4 & 6

 

6.  Actual Practice of These Religions as seen in the Life of an Elite Chinese Household

          the novel, Story of the Stone  (outline & reading guide will be handed out)

 

7. Women in Early Japanese Shinto:  the Sun Goddess & Shamanic Empresses

          *Tsunoda & deBary, ed., Sources of Japanese Tradition 6-9, 16-19, 27-31

          *George Tanabe, ed., The Religions of Japan in Practice ch. 12, “A Shinto Wedding

           Ceremony”

 

8.  Women and the Aesthetics of Shingon Buddhism in Japan’s Classical Heian Age

          Ivan Morris, tr., The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon; *Ivan Morris, World of the

          Shining Prince 89-122, 170-198, 199-250

 

9.  Medieval Japanese Buddhism: Salvation for the Masses

          *”Women in Japanese Buddhism: Tales of Birth in the Pure Land,” in Religions

          of Japan in Practice 176-184

            *Michael Marra, “The Buddhist Mythmaking of Defilement: Sacred Courtesans

                in Medieval Japan,” pp. 49-63

10.Women in Japanese Neo-Confucianism

        *”The Great Learning for Women,” in Women & Wisdom of Japan 33-46;

        *”The Love Suicides of Sonezaki” in D. Keene, tr., Four Plays of Chikamatsu