RELG 3400 - Buddhism and Daoism in Dialogue

Hours: 4
When Buddhism was introduced to China, sometime around the second century CE, it encountered a culture with strong Daoist roots. As these two traditions developed over the ensuing centuries, each contributed to the other, so that by the end Daoism came to embody many Buddhist practices, and vice versa. This course will track the history of this interaction, from its first moments to the present day. We will address ways in which these traditions influenced each other, as well as moments of sometimes violent antagonism. Throughout, the emphasis will be on understanding the forces that shape a religious tradition, be those theological influences from alternate traditions, competition for cultural and financial resources or shifting political forces. While the focus of the course will be on the Buddhist and Daoism traditions of China, the intellectual tools we develop can be also be applied to other traditions as well. Some background in the Buddhist and Daoist traditions is desirable, but not required.

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RELG 3400 - Buddhism and Daoism in Dialogue