Exam Topics A - REL 444/544 Medieval
Japanese Buddhism
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 15% 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.
- 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?
- 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?
- William Lafleur, "Chapter 2 In and out
of the Rokudo," from his Karma of Words
- According to LaFleur, what are the four
main ways of escaping the vicious cycle of rebirth?
(49-59).