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REL 107 - Introduction to Religion

Week 13 - Japanese Traditions, Zen Buddhism, Shinto

Textbook Readings

• Chapter 7, pages 236-271

InterNet Links for this assignment

• Go here for Links for this week
• Useful articles can be found by using the Topics as search words in Search Engines such as MSN, Dogpile, AltaVista, or Yahoo
• Remember - always cite your sources

This Week's Assignment : Twenty Questions

1. Whiah are the two main religions in Japan. Which other two religions entered Japan at an early time
2. What do the terms "Kami no Michi" and "Shen Dao" mean in English; to which religion do they refer
3. When and how did literacy (reading and writing) enter Japan
4. Which religion do most Japanese associate with "life events". What is one of these events
5. Which religion do most Japanese associate with "death events". What is one of these events
6. What social and economic conditions of Japanese culture have influenced the types of religion popular in Japan
7. According to the textbook, in which Period and Era did Shintoism enter Japan; when was this, and where did Shinto probably come from
8. According to the textbook, who is often described as the "founder of Japanese Buddhism". Write a paragraph about his life and accomplishments
9. When and how did Christianity first enter Japan. What happened subsequently
10. Which are the two great Shinto epics, and with what subjects do they deal
11. Using your own words, re-tell the story of Izanagi and Izanami
12. Which of Izanagi's offspring became the Shinto "supreme deity"; what happened subsequently
13. How were the Emperors of Japan related to the Shinto gods and goddesses
14. Who are the "Seven Lucky Gods" of Shintoism
15. According to the textbook, who are the three most popular Buddhist divind beings, and what are their attributes
16. According to the textbook, what are the two most important texts for Japanese Buddhism, and what does each of them teach
17. According to the textbook, who were the two founders of Zen Buddhism, what sects did they establish, and what were the main characteristics of each of these sects
18. What form of Buddhism did Honen (Genku) develop, and what are its main teachings
19. What two forms of Buddhism did Nichiren develop, which is the main sect which has become important in modern times, and how do they differ from other branches of Japanese religion
20. When, and by whom, was the Shinto sect of Tenrikyo founded, and what are its main teachings

Remember to cite your sources

Use MSWord or a text editor such as Notepad to prepare and save your work, then send it as an Attachment to, or pasted into, an email message to Dr. Rollinson at rel107@hellokitty.com, rel107@mail2world.com, and rel107@catholic.org.
Please use all 3 email addresses in case any of the mailboxes go down.

Copyright © 1999 Shirley J. Rollinson, all Rights Reserved

Dr. Rollinson

Department of Religion
ENMU
Portales, NM 88130

Last Updated: August 20, 2007

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