INQ-177 | Nature and Culture in Japan

Topic Description:

How have Japanese religious practices and literary texts been shaped by the natural world? Do the different religious traditions practiced by the Japanese conflict with one another? This course explores these and other questions through immersion into the Japanese landscape. By learning about indigenous nature-based religions such as Shinto and Shugendō and by visiting Buddhist temples in Kyoto, we will gain an enriching perspective for reading classical literature such as The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book. Explorations of key Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist texts will help us grasp the art and architecture of important temples and rock gardens in Kyoto and nearby Mt. Hiei. By visiting the original locations that affected Japanese history, religion, and literature, we will see for ourselves how the landscape posed challenges and uniquely shaped the Japanese experience.

Course Types Offered: Travel

Topic Approved: April 2016