The Buddha, His Teachings, and His Followers

Catalog description

The course is designed to introduce important aspects of Buddhist thought and culture and encourage students to reflect their influence on Chinese (and also East Asian) culture and society. The first part of the course covers the early history of Buddhism and its evolution. It also introduces the so-called Mahāyāna (“Great Vehicle”) movement during the 1st century BCE and especially how the movement influenced Buddhist practices in East Asia. The second part of the course shifts to important topics in Chinese Buddhism such as magic, material culture, and environment. It also encourages students to relate Buddhist ideas to topics debated in contemporary society. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: GCS Major/Minor; GCS Elective: Chinese History, Society, and Culture.