52001001 Asian Thoughts

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 52001001 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name 東洋の思想［旧パッケージ］

Subject Name
（Katakana）トウヨウノシソウ

Subject Name in
English Asian Thoughts

Instructor AOYAMA DAISUKE

Instructor
(Katakana) アオヤマ　ダイスケ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Mon1-4：IAS K204

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Face-to-face, Lecture-based, Discussion

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 01 : Philosophy

Eligible Students

Keywords Chinese Thought and Culture, Japanese Thought and Culture

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Philosophy / Ethics / Religion / Arts
*Students who got admitted in 2018 or after can take this course as an “Area Course”. For this group of students, credits from this course will be regarded as credits from an “Area Course”.
If students who got admitted in 2017 or before take this course, it is regarded as a “Package-Based Subject”. The latter group of students cannot take this course as an “Area Course”.
This course asks: How has human knowledge been created and developed, and what are its underlying principles? It approaches these questions through Chinese intellectual and cultural traditions while cultivating general intellectual skills.
Expected Outcome 1. Understand key concepts in Chinese thought and culture, and explain their origins, development, and relevance today.
2. Discuss historical and contemporary issues across disciplines from multiple perspectives.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This course explores key concepts of Eastern thought and culture, looking at how they connect to the present and where they differ from it. Through this study, students will reflect on the essential nature of human intellectual activity.

Class Schedule The course schedule is subject to change.
Week 1 (Session 1): Guidance; the idea of “the East”
Week 2 (Sessions 2–3): Images of Confucius(孔子); “character” and “persona”
Week 3 (Sessions 4–5): The concept of Heaven（天）; Ethics and Eudaimonia; Godzilla and Ultraman
Week 4 (Sessions 6–7): The concept of the Sage（聖人）; problems of translation; In-demand Talent
Week 5 (Sessions 8–9): The concept of the "Dao" (道); the limits of language; can generative AI fall in love?
Week 6 (Sessions 10–11): The concept of Principle (理); yin–yang and the five phases; rationality and science
Week 7 (Sessions 12–13): The concept of Death（死）; do we need “God”（上帝）?; the influence of Confucianism on Western philosophy
Week 8 (Sessions 14–15): The concept of Politics（政）; rule by virtue（徳治）, rites（礼治）, and law（法治）; the textbook "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era"（习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想）

A final examination will be administered. The exam question is expected to be: “Choose one or more concepts or keywords discussed in the course ‘Concepts in Eastern Thought,’ and, based on the class content, present and argue your own ideas.” The exact wording may be adjusted depending on the progress of the course, but the question will be announced in advance.

Lecture, In-class activities, Handwritten “minute papers” after each class (also used for attendance confirmation)

In addition, a mid-term report will be assigned. The task will involve analyzing elements in contemporary content that appear to reflect an “Eastern” quality, with specific conditions to be provided. The mid-term report must be submitted in PDF format by the deadline.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. No textbook is required; references will be provided in class.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Other (see [More Details])

(More Details) Power Point (Printed PDFs of the PowerPoint slides used in class (in Japanese).)

Learning techniques to be incorporated

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Review the handouts carefully and organize your own ideas in preparation for the final exam. It is also important to read the references introduced in class.

Requirements Please avoid chatting during class.Please refrain from using social media in class.

Grading Method Minute papers30％,mid-term report20％、final examination50％

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message General education is like the foundation of a building. If the foundation is weak, the house may lean. Let’s do our best together.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2025Year	School/Graduate School	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	52001001	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	東洋の思想［旧パッケージ］
Subject Name （Katakana）	トウヨウノシソウ
Subject Name in English	Asian Thoughts
Instructor	AOYAMA DAISUKE
Instructor (Katakana)	アオヤマ　ダイスケ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(3T) Mon1-4：IAS K204
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Face-to-face, Lecture-based, Discussion
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	01 : Philosophy
Eligible Students
Keywords	Chinese Thought and Culture, Japanese Thought and Culture
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Philosophy / Ethics / Religion / Arts *Students who got admitted in 2018 or after can take this course as an “Area Course”. For this group of students, credits from this course will be regarded as credits from an “Area Course”. If students who got admitted in 2017 or before take this course, it is regarded as a “Package-Based Subject”. The latter group of students cannot take this course as an “Area Course”. This course asks: How has human knowledge been created and developed, and what are its underlying principles? It approaches these questions through Chinese intellectual and cultural traditions while cultivating general intellectual skills.
Expected Outcome	1. Understand key concepts in Chinese thought and culture, and explain their origins, development, and relevance today. 2. Discuss historical and contemporary issues across disciplines from multiple perspectives.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course explores key concepts of Eastern thought and culture, looking at how they connect to the present and where they differ from it. Through this study, students will reflect on the essential nature of human intellectual activity.
Class Schedule	The course schedule is subject to change. Week 1 (Session 1): Guidance; the idea of “the East” Week 2 (Sessions 2–3): Images of Confucius(孔子); “character” and “persona” Week 3 (Sessions 4–5): The concept of Heaven（天）; Ethics and Eudaimonia; Godzilla and Ultraman Week 4 (Sessions 6–7): The concept of the Sage（聖人）; problems of translation; In-demand Talent Week 5 (Sessions 8–9): The concept of the "Dao" (道); the limits of language; can generative AI fall in love? Week 6 (Sessions 10–11): The concept of Principle (理); yin–yang and the five phases; rationality and science Week 7 (Sessions 12–13): The concept of Death（死）; do we need “God”（上帝）?; the influence of Confucianism on Western philosophy Week 8 (Sessions 14–15): The concept of Politics（政）; rule by virtue（徳治）, rites（礼治）, and law（法治）; the textbook "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era"（习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想） A final examination will be administered. The exam question is expected to be: “Choose one or more concepts or keywords discussed in the course ‘Concepts in Eastern Thought,’ and, based on the class content, present and argue your own ideas.” The exact wording may be adjusted depending on the progress of the course, but the question will be announced in advance. Lecture, In-class activities, Handwritten “minute papers” after each class (also used for attendance confirmation) In addition, a mid-term report will be assigned. The task will involve analyzing elements in contemporary content that appear to reflect an “Eastern” quality, with specific conditions to be provided. The mid-term report must be submitted in PDF format by the deadline.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	No textbook is required; references will be provided in class.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Other (see [More Details])
(More Details)	Power Point (Printed PDFs of the PowerPoint slides used in class (in Japanese).)
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Review the handouts carefully and organize your own ideas in preparation for the final exam. It is also important to read the references introduced in class.
Requirements	Please avoid chatting during class.Please refrain from using social media in class.
Grading Method	Minute papers30％,mid-term report20％、final examination50％
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	General education is like the foundation of a building. If the foundation is weak, the house may lean. Let’s do our best together.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Back to syllabus main page