Exam Topics - REL 444/544 Medieval Japanese Buddhism

Tuesday, Oct 16 in class.

The exam will be in two parts. Part I will be on matters related to Writing Papers. Part II will be on topics covered thus far in the readings and lecture material. You must receive prior permission for absence as well as to take the exam separately. Only exceptional cases will be allowed.

The exam will be multiple choice, and as covered in the syllabus, will count 10% of your grade. There is only one right answer per question. If there appears to be more than one right answer, pick the best answer.

If you have any questions about the exam or the topics included in the exam, please ask me. You can come in during office hours, make an appointment or send me email.

Part I: Writing Papers

Read the following essays and guidelines that are posted on the Writing Papers links on my web pages:

I. Four Keys to Writing in the Humanities

II. Four Stages of Writing

III. Paper Writing Guidelines

IV. Writing: The Bridge between Consciousness and Unconsciousness

V. Clauses and Commas

Part II: Readings, Notes, and Lectures

Notes and Key Terms REL444 Early Buddhism, Two-fold Truth, and Emptiness (link to terms)

You will not be tested on the last section on the Four-fold Dialectic. Some of the terms we did not cover in class. However, they are basic to studying Buddhism and have been covered in all lower-level classes related to Buddhism.

Early Buddhism: Three Treasures; Three Baskets of Sacred Literature

Buddha, Dharma, Sangha; Sutra, Sastra, Vinaya

Toshio Kuroda, "Shinto in the History of Japanese Religions"

According to Kuroda, due to the modern definition of Shinto, people misunderstand the status of Shinto in medieval Japan. What is the key point in this regard? Specifically, what is the difference between the early view of "Shinto" as presented in such works as the Kojiki and Nihon shoki and the later view developed in Japan as a modern nation-state in the twentieth century?

Joseph Kitagawa, "Chapter 6. The Shadow and the Sun: A Glimpse of the Fujiwara and the Imperial Families in Japan"

The Fujiwara were very influential through many centuries of Japanese history. How did they exercise their power?

Jeffrey P. Mass, "The Emergence of the Kamakura Bakufu [Military Government]"

Politics before the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) revolved around the imperial court. Who came to power thereafter, and how did they attain power? Why is this significant for understanding the development of Japanese Buddhism?

Robert Morrell, "Tendai's Jien as Buddhist Priest" and Lecture, Week 2

Jien had a view of returning his clansmen to power. How is this related to the Buddhist idea of the Golden Age of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni? How is Jien's membership in the Fujiwara clan relevant to his being the Abbot of the Tendai sect?