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Religion and Thought in Modern China: the Song, Jin, and Yuan

Approx. 28 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course explores the complex relationship between religion and modern thought in China. Students will examine how Chinese intellectuals have grappled with issues of religion, modernity, and political power from the late Qing dynasty to the present day.

Key Learning Points

Explore the intersection between religion and modern thought in China
Gain a deeper understanding of the role of religion in Chinese society
Examine the impact of modernization on traditional Chinese religious practices

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

- USA: $60,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 6,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €40,000 - €80,000
- USA: $60,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 6,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €40,000 - €80,000
- USA: $50,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 4,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €80,000
- USA: $60,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 6,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €40,000 - €80,000
- USA: $50,000 - $120,000
- India: INR 4,00,000 - INR 12,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €80,000
- USA: $80,000 - $150,000
- India: INR 10,00,000 - INR 18,00,000
- Spain: €50,000 - €90,000

Learning Outcomes

Gain a deeper understanding of the role of religion in Chinese society
Explore the complex relationship between religion and modern thought
Examine the impact of modernization on traditional Chinese religious practices

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic knowledge of Chinese history
Interest in Chinese religion and culture

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Video lectures

Similar Courses

Chinese Philosophy
Chinese History
Religion and Society

Related Education Paths

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Description

This sequence of four courses will propose a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of Chinese cultural history conceived of as a succession of modes of rationality (philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic). The focus will be on the moments of paradigm shift from one mode of rationality to another. For each of these moments, cultural facts and artifacts—thought, literature, ritual—will be examined in relationship to changing social, political, and economic systems.

The first two courses will cover the periods of the Warring States (481-256 BCE) and the Period of Division (220-589 CE), with a brief excursion into the Han (206 BCE-220 CE). The Warring States laid the social and cultural foundations for the emergence of the imperial mode of rationality; the Period of Division saw the Buddhist “conquest” of China and the emergence of a rationality defined by the opposition of the Three Teachings to shamanism, that is, of a clear contrast between elite and popular culture. The third and fourth courses will focus on the emergence of modern China in the Song-Yuan (960-1368) and of today’s China 1850 to the present. We will see how the modern attack on religion, redefined as "superstition", led not only to religious reform movements but also to a society in which science and the nation became the primary value systems promoted by the state. The courses are listed below: A Critical Cultural History of China - Early China I: Intellectual Change in the Warring States and Han (481 BCE-220 CE) A Critical Cultural History of China - Early China II: Religious Transformation in the Period of Division (220-589 CE) A Critical Cultural History of China - Modern China I: Religion and Thought in the Song, Jin, and Yuan (960-1368) A Critical Cultural History of China - Modern China II: Structuring Values (1850-2015)

Outline

Module 13 Modern China
M13.1 Historical background
M13.2 Religious change Introduction
M13.3 Daoism
M13.4 Chaoyuantu
M13.5 Buddhist and Daoist altars
M13.6 The United Front
M13.7 Daoxue as the religion of empire
M13.1 Historical background
M13.2 Religious change Introduction
M13.3 Daoism
M13.4 Chaoyuantu
M13.5 Buddhist and Daoist altars
M13.6 The United Front
M13.7 Daoxue as the religion of empire

Module 14 State Religion
M14.1 State control of religion
M14.2 Dynastic ancestors
M14.3 Huizong
M14.4 The role of Confucianism
M14.1 State control of religion
M14.2 Dynastic ancestors
M14.3 Huizong
M14.4 The role of Confucianism

Module 15 Local Society
M15.1 The village earth god association
M15.2 Village earth gods
M15.3 Buddhists, Daoists, and kinship institutions
M15.4 Shamans
M15.5 Chen Chun
M15.1 The village earth god association
M15.2 Village earth gods
M15.3 Buddhists, Daoists, and kinship institutions
M15.4 Shamans
M15.5 Chen Chun

Module 16 Daoism in the Song and Jin
M16.1 The Universal Salvation ritual
M16.2 Daoist marshals
M16.3 The Orthodox Method of the Heart of Heaven
M16.4 The Heavenly Masters and the universal pantheon
M16.5 Daoist self-cultivation
M16.1 The Universal Salvation ritual
M16.2 Daoist marshals
M16.3 The Orthodox Method of the Heart of Heaven
M16.4 The Heavenly Masters and the universal pantheon
M16.5 Daoist self-cultivation

Module 17 Buddhism in the Song
M17.1 Chan self-cultivation
M17.2 Tiantai ritual
M17.3 Ritual as self-cultivation
M17.4 Rituals for the laity
M17.5 Self-cultivation and ritual innovation
M17.1 Chan self-cultivation
M17.2 Tiantai ritual
M17.3 Ritual as self-cultivation
M17.4 Rituals for the laity
M17.5 Self-cultivation and ritual innovation

Module 18 Dunhuang
M18.1 Cave culture
M18.2 Big Buddhas
M18.3.1 In Buddhist ritual
M18.4.1 The central mural and karmic enmity
M18.4.2 The sixteen contemplations
M18.4.3 The final three contemplations
M18.1 Cave culture
M18.2 Big Buddhas
M18.3.1 In Buddhist ritual
M18.4.1 The central mural and karmic enmity
M18.4.2 The sixteen contemplations
M18.4.3 The final three contemplations

Module 19 Confucianism in the Song 1
M19.1 Background
M19.2 The precursors
M19.3 The Cheng brothers
M19.4 Zhu Xi
M19.5 Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan
M19.6 Zhu Xi’s exclusions
M19.1 Background
M19.2 The precursors
M19.3 The Cheng brothers
M19.4 Zhu Xi
M19.5 Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan
M19.6 Zhu Xi’s exclusions

Module 20 Confucianism in the Song 2
M20.1 Before Zhu Xi
M20.2 Zhu Xi: What and how to read
M20.3 The role of cosmology and ritual
M20.4 The role of the elite
M20.5 Daoxue academies
M20.1 Before Zhu Xi
M20.2 Zhu Xi: What and how to read
M20.3 The role of cosmology and ritual
M20.4 The role of the elite
M20.5 Daoxue academies

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the fascinating history of religion and thought in Modern China with this course from Coursera. Students have praised the engaging lectures and insightful discussions, making it a must-take for anyone interested in the subject matter.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

engaging lectures and insightful discussions

Pros from User Reviews

In-depth exploration of the intersection between religion and modernity in China
Engaging lectures that are easy to follow and understand
Insightful discussions that encourage critical thinking and analysis