Religious Transformation in Early China: the Period of Division

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/religious-transformation-early-china-the-period-of-division

Introduction

**Course Review: Religious Transformation in Early China: The Period of Division** As an avenue for exploring the dynamic interplay of religions during a transformative era in Chinese history, the Coursera course "Religious Transformation in Early China: The Period of Division" offers an enriching synthesis of insights from cultural history, philosophy, and socio-economic analysis. **Overview:** This course is part of a four-course sequence designed to examine Chinese cultural history through a multi-disciplinary lens, focusing on pivotal shifts between various modes of rationality—specifically philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic modes. Set during the tumultuous Period of Division (220-589 AD), the course underscores the cultural undercurrents that shaped religious thought and practices, demonstrating how they evolved amidst changing social, political, and economic landscapes. **Syllabus Breakdown:** The course’s structure comprises several modules, each delving into a specific aspect of religious transformation: - **Module 06: Religious Transformation in the Period of Division** unveils the elite’s confrontation with shamanism and the simultaneous promotion of a new cosmology. This module is foundational as it introduces the idea that these changes not only influenced religious practices but also shaped medical perspectives and laid the groundwork for the rise of a bureaucratic empire. - **Module 07: Religious Communities** highlights the emergence of new religious communities from the second century onward, such as those organized around Transcendents, the Heavenly Masters, and Buddhist practitioners. This exploration aids in understanding the diversification of belief systems during this period. - **Module 08: Rituals** focuses on the transformative nature of Buddhist and Daoist rituals, illustrating how these practices revolutionized both societal structures and individual experiences. The module's emphasis on the oral tradition in Buddhism versus the written tradition in Daoism presents an insightful dichotomy. - **Module 09: Scriptures** investigates how the scriptures of both religions reflect their core biases—oral versus written—delving into the logical frameworks of Buddhism and the cosmological aspects of Daoism. - **Module 10: Literature** examines the profound influence of Buddhism on Chinese poetry and the contrasting nature of public and private discourses within these religious contexts. - **Module 11: Sacred Geography** discusses the significance of sacred spaces in Daoism, particularly how they symbolize inner exploration and the role of mountains in both Daoist preference and the Buddhist "conquest" of China. - **Module 12: Popular Religion** presents an intriguing look at how popular religion persisted despite elite disapproval, offering insights into the broader religious landscape and the ways Buddhism and Daoism addressed fears surrounding death and the afterlife. **Recommendation:** This course is highly recommended for anyone interested in the intricate tapestry of Chinese religious history. It doesn’t just serve as a historical account; it critically engages with the cultural artifacts—thought, literature, and ritual—that define this period while facilitating a deeper understanding of the socio-political and economic contexts of religious evolution. Whether you are a student of history, a religious studies scholar, or simply a curious learner, "Religious Transformation in Early China: The Period of Division" promises a comprehensive exploration that is both intellectually stimulating and culturally enriching. Through its detailed modules, participants are equipped to engage critically with the themes of self-cultivation, bureaucratic governance, and the multiplicity of faiths that have shaped one of the world's oldest civilizations. **Conclusion:** In conclusion, this course stands as a vital resource for grasping the complexities of religious transformation in early China. Its unique interdisciplinary approach and thorough examination of key themes make it a must-enroll for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of this fascinating historical epoch. Don't miss the opportunity to embark on this enlightening journey through China's rich cultural and religious history!

Syllabus

MODULE 06 Religious Transformation in the Period of Division (220-589 AD)

This module presents the relationship between the elite attack on shamanism and their promotion of a cosmology that transformed medicine and laid the foundations for both self-cultivation and a bureaucratic empire.

This module introduces the three kinds of new religious community that appear from the second century on: those organized around transcendents, by the Heavenly Masters, and by the Buddhists.

This module explains how Buddhist and Daoist rituals revolutionized Chinese society and individuals. It reveals the importance of orality in Buddhism, written documents in Daoism.

This module explores how Buddhist and Daoist scriptures confirm the oral/aural bias of Buddhism, the written/visual bias of Daoism. We are going to learn the centrality of logic in Buddhism, of cosmology in Daoism.

This module indicates the attractiveness of key Buddhist scriptures and how Chinese poetry was transformed by Buddhism. It also shows how the “public sermons” of Buddhism contrasted with the “private records of the imagination” of Daoism.

This module is about how Daoist sacred geography is above all an exploration of the inner self and how mountains played a role both in imperial preference for Daoism and in the Buddhist “conquest” of China.

This module illustrates why popular religion continued to thrive in spite of elite attacks on it, and how Buddhism and Daoism dealt with widespread fear of the spirits of the dead.