Eastern Religions and Cultures

Presentation

Field of action: Religious Studies.
Area of activity: Science of Religions.
Areas of intervention: Hinduism; Buddhism; Taoism; Confucianism; Religions of Eastern Asia, South and Southeast Asia.
Relevance of the UC in the cycle of studies: given that the Master in Sciences of the Religions of ULHT approaches the religious phenomenon in a comprehensive and strategic form, an introduction to the study of the religions of the Eastern Asia, South-eastern and South-eastern Asia becomes a fundamental element for a basic preparation on the religions practised in the world. The scientific-religious and historical-cultural approach of this UC meets the need to contextualize the study of these religions in a comparative and intercultural perspective.

Part of this Programme

Science of Religions (M)

Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS

| Semestral | 6

Year | Type of course unit | Language

1 |Mandatory |Português

Code

ULHT453-8297

Recommended complementary curricular units

Philosophy of Religion

Prerequisites and co-requisites

n/a

Professional Internship

Não

Syllabus

Description of contents

• Introduction to the study of Eastern religions and cultures
  • Religion, Culture, Orient and Orientalism
• The religions of East, South and Southeast Asia
  • The major religions of India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and Mongolia
• Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism - I)
  • Hindu theology and metaphysics
• Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism - II)
  • Hindu cosmology and doctrinal schools
• Buddha Dharma (Buddhism - I)
  • Fundamentals of Buddhism
• Buddha Dharma (Buddhism - II)
  • The concept of voidness and the path of liberation
• Dàojiào (Taoism - I)
  • Principles and fundamentals of Taoism
• Dàojiào (Taoism - II)
  • Basic figures and texts of Taoism
• Rújiào (Confucianism)
  • Fundamentals of Confucianism
• The so-called East in Portuguese culture
  • Portuguese Orientalism

Objectives

This course aims to introduce and develop the students' study skills and critical reflection on the major religions and religious-spiritual cosmovisions of East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, with special emphasis on Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, as religions of the "East" that are more influential and represented in the so-called "Western" culture. In addition, it is intended to develop basic descriptive and historical-religious knowledges about other religions born in those geographical areas, such as, among others, Sikhism and Shintoism.

Teaching methodologies and assessment

Teaching methodologies: face to face classes with explanation and discussion of content; use of multimedia tools; guidance of students' written assignments; possible realization of a class in an so-called Eastern heritage site in Portugal (museum or place of worship).

Evaluation takes into account the following elements: presence and participation in class; individual written work; multiple choice test; group presentation.

References

• CONFÚCIO, Confucian Analects, The Great Learning & The Doctrine of the Mean. Tr. James Legge, New York: Dover Publications, 1971
• COOMARASWAMY, Ananda K. - El Vedanta y la tradición occidental y otros ensayos. Tr. Agustín Lopéz y María Tabuyo, Madrid: Siruela, 2001.
• COOMARASWAMY, Ananda K. - Hinduism and Buddhism. Whitefish: Kessinger Publishing, 2007.
• LAO ZI - The Texts of Taoism. The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. Tr. James Legge, New York: Dover Publications, 1962.
• SAID, Edward W. - Orientalism. New York: Penguin, 1978.

Outros textos, para além desta bibliografia básica, serão indicados durante o período letivo.

Office Hours