HISTORY OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIONS 2

The course closely examines a range of key topics in Chinese religious and cultural history from the late medieval period to modern times and focuses in particular on the analysis of the relationships between Buddhism, Taoism and popular religion, religion and gender, self-cultivation and Neoconfucianism, and the relationship between religion and society. This is one of the electives of the BA Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and North Africa and contributes to the learning outcomes of the Humanities' CdS.

By the end of this course unit students should normally:

1. Have gained a good knowledge and critical understanding of the main topics concerning the cultural history of Chinese religion in the second millennium of the common era.
2. Have gained an understanding of the continuties and discontinuities between modern and with pre-modern Chinese societies
3. Be able to find and use critically a range of materials including books, journals, primary sources, and web-based resources relevant to the topics studied in the course.
4. Write a sustained argumentative essay on the basis of their study of the texts in the bibliography of the course.

In order to pass the final written text, students must have passed the exam of History of Chinese philosophy and Religions 1 [LT0470]. Students must possess a good working knowledge of the history of China in imperial times.

The Chinese religious world from the X century to the present. Buddhism, Taoism and Neoconfucianism: theory and practice. In particular, we will focus on the relationship between religion and power and the role of religion in social and cultural life.

Cheng, A., Il pensiero cinese, Torino, Einaudi, 1997.
[tutto il vol. II (capp. XVII-XXII)]

Francesca Tarocco, Livia Kohn, Paolo Santangelo e John McRae, Buddhismo, Daoismo e Neoconfucianesimo in La Cina. L'eta' imperiale dai Tre Regni ai Qing a cura di Mario Sabattini e Maurizio Scarpari, Einaudi, 2010: 429-689.

A short (500-700 words) argumentative essay on a topic selected by the candidate that references and cites the texts in the bibliography of the course. The topic must explicitly reference the keywords in the e-learning platform of the course on moodle.unive.it Students are encouraged to work on the paper beforehand but cannot use their notes during the exam.

Lectures and in-class discussions. Audiovisual materials, keywords and on-line interaction in the e-learning platform of the course in moodle.unive.it

written