In this class, we will conduct a close reading of Nihon ryoiki, or the Record of Miraculous Events in Japan. Known as the earliest collection of Buddhist anecdotal tales of Japan, the text records the spread of Buddhist ideas in Japan and the ways in which Buddhism's principles were adapted to the conditions of Japanese society. The Nihon ryoiki provides a crucial window into the ways in which Japanese Buddhists began to make sense of the teachings and texts of their religion, incorporate religious observances and materials from Korea and China, and articulate a popularized form of Buddhist practice and belief that could extend beyond monastic centers. The setsuwa genre would become one of the major textual projects of classical and medieval Buddhism, with nearly two dozen collections appearing over the next five centuries. The Nihon ryoiki serves as a vital reference for these later works, with the tales it contains finding their way into folkloric traditions and becoming a major source for Japanese authors well into the modern period.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the college has decided to continue the instructions and class meetings via internet for Fall semester of 2020 academic year. Given the challenging situation, this class will be carried on with on-demand videos and homework submissions via Aogaku’s “Course Power” system. Details are as followed:
1. PLEASE FINISH YOUR READING ASSIGNMENT based on the syllabus before every class meeting. Due to the copy right issues, unfortunately I am not allowed to upload the PDF files of the textbooks. Please purchase the assigned textbook either in paperback or in electronic version.
2. WATCH ON-DEMAND VIDEOS: I will upload videos before every scheduled class instruction. Since it is not a real-time online meeting, you will have an entire week to watch the videos, anytime at your best convivence. In these videos, I will introduce the context behind the readings and answer the questions you asked in your essays when time is allowed.
3. SUBMIT A SHORT ESSAY: After the class, please submit a short passage no longer than a double-spaced one page (200 words approximately) on any issue that you care from the reading assignment or the contents of the class. I will not give you a “prompt” on what to write. It can be a question, an opinion or a comment on the readings. Please post it directly on the coursework website or upload an attached file as you wish. It will be considered as part of your grade on participation and attendance.
4. FINAL PAPER: Please write a 10-15 double-spaced pages (approximately 2000-3000 words in English) of final paper for this class. We will talk about how to do this in the final week of the instruction.
If you wish to talk to me in person or you have a question, please join my office hour on the Cisco Webex on-line meeting system.
Time: Thursday, 15:30-17:00 Location: aoyamagakuin.webex.com (t25244’s personal meeting room) Webex meeting number: 576 599 349 Password is not required.
Take care and stay safe! Hopefully I will be able to meet you in person very soon on campus.
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1
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| 授業計画/Class |
Introduction to Nihon ryoiki, Stories from Volume I (1) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Preface to volume I, stories 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1-7 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment
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2
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume I (2) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:12, 1:13, 1:14 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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3
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume I (3) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Stories 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:18, 1:19, 1:20, 1:21 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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4
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume I (4) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 1:22, 1:23, 1:24, 1:25, 1:26, 1:27, 1:28 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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5
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume I (5) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: 1:29, 1:30, 1:31, 1:32, 1:33, 1:34, 1:35 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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6
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume II (1) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Preface to volume II, stories 2:1, 2:2, 2:3, 2:4, 2:5, 2:6, 2:7 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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7
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume II (2) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 2:8, 2:9, 2:10, 2:11, 2:12, 2:13, 2:14 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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8
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume II (3) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 2:15, 2:16, 2:17, 2:18, 2:19, 2:20, 2:21 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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9
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume II (4) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 2:22, 2:23, 2:24, 2:25, 2:26, 2:27, 2:28 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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10
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume II (5) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 2:29, 2:30, 2:31, 2:32, 2:33, 2:34, 2:35 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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11
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume II (6) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 2:36, 2:37, 2:38, 2:39, 2:40, 2:41, 2:42 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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12
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume III (1) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Preface to Volume III, stories 3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 3:4, 3:5, 3:6, 3:7 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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13
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume III (2) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 3:8, 3:9, 3:10, 3:11, 3:12, 3:13, 3:14 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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14
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume III (3) |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 3:15, 3:16, 3:17, 3:18, 3:19, 3:20, 3:21 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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15
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| 授業計画/Class |
Stories from Volume III (4), Review session, guidance to final paper |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: stories 3:22, 3:23, 3:24, 3:25, 3:26, 3:27, 3:28 |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
1.Think about what topic do you want to work on for the final paper
2.Final paper submission |
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