Religions and Society in China

National Research University Higher School of Economics

About this Course

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This course provides an introduction to the study of the history, major teachings, and practices of the major Chinese religions and spiritual practices and is deigned to give conceptual tools to appreciate diverse religious practice in East. It covers the development of Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and wide range of popular and local religions. From historical perspective we will also explore the development of key theological, religious and philosophical doctrines as well as associated practices. An effort will be made to spend time on each tradition according to its importance to Asia as a whole. 
We will explore the role of religions in politics and social relations in East and South, South East Asia and China in particular, and will analyze the origins, central teachings, divisions and branches, rituals and practices, influences on culture, and responses to modern challenges for each tradition. 

The emphasis throughout the course is on the hermeneutic difficulties attendant upon the study of religion in general, and Asian religions in particular. We will explore new Asian religions as dynamic, ongoing forces in the lives of individuals and in the collective experience of modern societies.

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Learner Career Outcomes

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got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 17 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish, Romanian

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.36/5 (11 Ratings)

Aleksey A. Maslov

Head

School of Asian Studies

9,110 Learners

1 Course

Learner Career Outcomes

50%

started a new career after completing these courses

50%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 17 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish, Romanian

Offered by

National Research University Higher School of Economics

National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE) is one of the top research universities in Russia. Established in 1992 to promote new research and teaching in economics and related disciplines, it now offers programs at all levels of university education across an extraordinary range of fields of study including business, sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, political science, international relations, law, Asian studies, media and communicamathematics, engineering, and more.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Foundations of Religions in China

This module's content lays the foundations of understanding what is religion in China, how the Chinese perceive the very notion of religion and how this perception and this notion must not be confused with the correspondent Western notions and pereptions.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 67 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

About the University1m

About the Course2m

Main Topics and Objectives: the Introduction9m

Main Notions of Chinese Religions13m

Religions and Ancestors11m

Teacher in the Chinese Religious Tradition12m

Syncretism of Tradition15m

2 readings

About the University10m

Rules on the academic integrity in the course10m

1 practice exercise

Module 1 Quiz30m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Taosim in China

This module's content describes what is Taoism, relates its history and defines its sources, shows the main paths of genesis for the Taoist cults.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 79 min)

7 videos

Taoism: Introduction10m

Sources of Taoism12m

Before Taoism: Five Elements and Five Phases9m

Before Taoism: Early Cults13m

Lao-zi and the Beginning of Taoism11m

Taoism and the Natural Order of Universe7m

Notion of Dao15m

1 practice exercise

Module 2 Quiz30m

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Taoism in Chinese society: main religious practises

This module's content describes the paths of development, which were taken by Taoist cults in their history, explains the ways that connected Taoist philosophy and social practice of religious cults and organisations.

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 67 min)

6 videos

Taoism and the Idea of Immortality11m

Alchemy in Taoism12m

Taoist Practises: Mind and Body11m

Main Cults of Taoism9m

Main Schools in Taoism11m

Modern Schools of Taoism10m

1 practice exercise

Module 3 Quiz30m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Confucianism in Chinese society: from sacrality to morality

This module's content describes the main ideas and principles of Confucianism, outlines the paths of its developments, explains the difference between what is Confucianism in its particular totality of traits and what is understood as a religion or a philosophy in the West.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 68 min)

7 videos

Confucianism: Introduction11m

Main Ideas10m

Main Principles6m

Confucius and Confucianism8m

Sage Confucius: Ideas, Beliefs and Moral8m

Followers of Confucius9m

Confucian Canon12m

1 practice exercise

Module 4 quiz30m

Week

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Buddhism in the Chinese Tradition

This module's content describes the basic notions of Buddhism and explains its principles. The module gives an outline of the process of Buddhism's transition to China.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 82 min)

8 videos

Buddhism in China: Introduction9m

Basic Principles of Buddhism10m

Buddha and Buddhahood13m

The Way from India to China9m

Fundamental division: Theravada, Mahayana, Vadjrayana8m

Transition to China: Ways and Problems10m

Transition to China: Missionaries and Translators10m

"Sinicization" of Buddhism9m

1 practice exercise

Module 5 Quiz30m

Week

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Sinified Buddhism as an almost independent tradition

This module's content outlines the main texts and doctrines of Chan Buddhism, enumerates the main schools and branches, explains the influence that Buddhism had and has on Chinese life and art.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 90 min)

9 videos

Schools and Texts - Part 18m

Schools and Texts - Part 28m

Main Ideas of Chan Buddhism7m

Teachers of Chan12m

History of Chan10m

Doctrine of Chan8m

Chan Practice13m

Buddhism in Art and Culture10m

Buddhism in Modern Culture9m

1 practice exercise

Module 6 Quiz30m

Week

Week 7

2 hours to complete

Chinese Mythology

This module's content is dedicated to Chinese Mythos. This Module explains how the very notion of a mythical hero in China differs greatly from the correspondent Western notion.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 90 min)

9 videos

Chinese Mythology12m

Creator Deities: Fu Xi and Nu Wa10m

The Myth of Pangu8m

Progenitor Deities: Huang-di12m

Progenitor Deities: Xiwang-mu9m

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors11m

Myth, Hero and Tribe7m

Mythical Creators7m

Cosmological Deities9m

1 practice exercise

Module 7 Quiz30m

Week

Week 8

2 hours to complete

Chinese folk religions: ancestor worship, temples, festivals and communal identities

This module's content describes the characteristic traits of Chinese sects and popular cults. This module introduces one of the most important notions in Chinese religious studies: Chinese synctretism.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 88 min)

8 videos

Basics of Chinese Folk Religions11m

The Idea and Society of Salvation in Chinese Folk Religion13m

Sects and Syncretism14m

Representative Cases of Syncretic Sects11m

Xiantiandao and Yiguandao Sects10m

Initiation and Secret Societies8m

Local Cults and Traditions - Part 18m

Local Cults and Traditions - Part 29m

1 practice exercise

Module 8 Quiz30m

Week

Week 9

2 hours to complete

Modern China and its attitude to religions

This module's content is dedicated to describing the religious life in modern China, the main attitudes of officials to religion in PRC and in other places, where Chinese culture is widely spread.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 74 min)

7 videos

People's Republic of China: Religious Policy9m

Buddhism and Taoism in Modern China12m

Traditions of the Minorities6m

Islam in China10m

Christianity in China10m

Western Religions in China12m

Popular Religions in Modern Chinese Culture12m

1 practice exercise

Module 9 Quiz30m

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Religions and Society in China