In this lecture, we construe the intellectual history in Japan with reference to a certain theme. 2019's theme is the evil.
Through interpretation, examination and criticism of discourses on the evil in Japan, students will be able to understand the historical diversity of the concept of the evil.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the features and backgrounds of the historical ideas of evil in Japan and their diversity.
2) Obtain basic skills required in the human sciences such as reading, examination, mutual criticism and constructing an academic statement.
Japan, ethical thought, religion
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
lectures with slides and video. Group discussion.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction: Invitation to the evil | |
Class 2 | Overview on the ancient and medieval thought in Japan | |
Class 3 | 1. evil in ancient myths | Kojiki, Nihonshoki |
Class 4 | 2. "Akuto" | Konjaku Monogatari-shu, Heike Monogatari |
Class 5 | 3. evil person and salvation | Tannisho, 13th century. |
Class 6 | Overview on the thought in Tokugawa era | |
Class 7 | 2. The case of Ako (1701-1702) | Chushingura or Forty-seven Ronin, 1748. |
Class 8 | Peer-review activity and discussion | Edit own paper 1 based on the peer-review. |
Class 9 | 3. The concept of the evil in Kokugaku | Motoori Norinaga, Kojiki-den, 1798. |
Class 10 | 4. evil in popular culture of the first half of the 19th century in Japan | Tsuruya Namboku, The Yotsuya kwaidan, 1825. |
Class 11 | Overview of the modern thought in Japan | |
Class 12 | 1. villaines and witches | Ozaki Koyo, The Gold Demon, 1892-1902 |
Class 13 | 2. Watsuji Tetsuro and his "community" | Watuji Tetsuro, Ethics, 1937-1949. |
Class 14 | 3. Who is Dr.Fu Manchu? | Sax Rohmer, The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu, 1913. |
Class 15 | 4. Maruyama Masao and Hannah Arendt | Maruyama Masao, Thought and Behaviour in Modern Japanese Politics, 1956-1957. Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem, 1963. |
Hand out lecture materials
Course materials are provided during class.
paper 1: 40%, paper 2(final paper): 60%
Details will be explained in the first class.
Nothing required
Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.