WMBE6001 Lecture on the History of Buddhist Philosophy A

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program

Lecture Code WMBE6001 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 仏教思想史講義Ａ

Subject Name
（Katakana）ブッキョウシソウシコウギA

Subject Name in
English Lecture on the History of Buddhist Philosophy A

Instructor OTANI YUKA

Instructor
(Katakana) オオタニ　ユカ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, First Semester, First Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (1st) Weds7-8：LET B201

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

Lecture

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 01 : Philosophy

Eligible Students

Keywords East Asian Buddhism, Vinaya, Commentaries, Bodhisattva Precepts, Ordination

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This lecture focuses on the Buddhist initiation rite of “ordination” in order to explain the evolution of Buddhism in East Asia. It addresses the following three points:
(1) understanding the history of interpretations of Buddhist precepts within Japanese Buddhism;
(2) examining Japanese Buddhism as one form of East Asian Buddhism, with particular attention to influences from northern China and the Korean Peninsula, which have often been overlooked; and
(3) exploring the doctrinal question of whether receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts enables one to become an ordained monk.

Class Schedule lesson1: Introduction: Translation and editing of the 'Kairitsu' texts in China and the tradition of ordination practices
lesson2: The history of commentary writing on the 'Kairitsu’ texts in China
lesson3: The birth and significance of Nanzan school founder Dōsen (596-667)'s Sifenlü xingshi chao
lesson4: [Topic] Zhancha shane baoye jing and the popularity of receiving the Bodhisattva precepts
lesson5: The formal transmission of ordination to Japan by Jianzhen/Ganjin (688-763) and conflict
lesson6: Saichō (766-822)'s claim for the Mahayana precepts and the counterarguments from the Nanto Risshu school
lesson7: [Topic] The popularity of Bodhisattva precept ordination in Liao dynasty (916–1125) and Its spread to Japan
lesson8: The decline and revival of the Nanto Risshu school
lesson9: The Risshu school revival movement centered on Jōkei (1155-1213) of Kōfuku-ji temple
lesson10: Shunjō (1166-1227) ’s entry into Song dynasty and its background
lesson11: The Spread of Shunjō‘s “Question” to Chinese Buddhism
lesson12: [Topic] Supernatural and Reality: Gyōki's Spiritual Notice and the Revival of the Nanto Risshu school
lesson13: The return of Shunjo and the Adoption of the New Ordination Method in the Nanto Risshu school
lesson14: [Topic] The Birth and Revival of the Bhikkhuni Sangha in Japan
lesson15：Summary: “Breaking Precepts” and Japanese Buddhism

Test/Report：Students will submit reports addressing three key points of this course. Choose one topic from the following: ① The interpretive history of “precepts” in Japanese Buddhism ② Influences on Japanese Buddhism from northern China and the Korean Peninsula ③ The doctrinal development enabling ordination as a monk through receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts, or the doctrinal challenges that must be overcome for this purpose. Using supporting textual sources, write an explanation of approximately 4,000 Japanese characters. Reports are due on the final day of the course.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Reading materials will be distributed in class. References will be introduced as needed during the lectures.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Quizzes/ Quiz format

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review For Lesson 1–15: Students are expected to review the lecture content and understand the overall historical development. It is also recommended that they skim the reference materials introduced in the lectures and organize them so that they can be explained in their own words. Students should read both the lectures and the reference materials critically, rather than accepting the arguments of the lecturer or authors at face value. This approach will help generate ideas and research questions for their own work. In addition, as the lectures introduce extant Buddhist materials such as paintings, sculptures, buildings, and archaeological sites, students are encouraged to visit relevant sites or museums whenever possible to view the original works.

Requirements

Grading Method Report, Quiz
A short quiz will be administered following each lecture to assess students’ understanding of the lecture content. Grades will be determined based on quizzes (30%) and written reports (70%). For each field trip or comparable activity attended, students may earn a 5-point bonus by giving a presentation of at least five minutes to the instructor on the activity’s content.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

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	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Humanities Program
Lecture Code	WMBE6001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	仏教思想史講義Ａ
Subject Name （Katakana）	ブッキョウシソウシコウギA
Subject Name in English	Lecture on the History of Buddhist Philosophy A
Instructor	OTANI YUKA
Instructor (Katakana)	オオタニ　ユカ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, First Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(1st) Weds7-8：LET B201
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Lecture
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	01 : Philosophy
Eligible Students
Keywords	East Asian Buddhism, Vinaya, Commentaries, Bodhisattva Precepts, Ordination
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This lecture focuses on the Buddhist initiation rite of “ordination” in order to explain the evolution of Buddhism in East Asia. It addresses the following three points: (1) understanding the history of interpretations of Buddhist precepts within Japanese Buddhism; (2) examining Japanese Buddhism as one form of East Asian Buddhism, with particular attention to influences from northern China and the Korean Peninsula, which have often been overlooked; and (3) exploring the doctrinal question of whether receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts enables one to become an ordained monk.
Class Schedule	lesson1: Introduction: Translation and editing of the 'Kairitsu' texts in China and the tradition of ordination practices lesson2: The history of commentary writing on the 'Kairitsu’ texts in China lesson3: The birth and significance of Nanzan school founder Dōsen (596-667)'s Sifenlü xingshi chao lesson4: [Topic] Zhancha shane baoye jing and the popularity of receiving the Bodhisattva precepts lesson5: The formal transmission of ordination to Japan by Jianzhen/Ganjin (688-763) and conflict lesson6: Saichō (766-822)'s claim for the Mahayana precepts and the counterarguments from the Nanto Risshu school lesson7: [Topic] The popularity of Bodhisattva precept ordination in Liao dynasty (916–1125) and Its spread to Japan lesson8: The decline and revival of the Nanto Risshu school lesson9: The Risshu school revival movement centered on Jōkei (1155-1213) of Kōfuku-ji temple lesson10: Shunjō (1166-1227) ’s entry into Song dynasty and its background lesson11: The Spread of Shunjō‘s “Question” to Chinese Buddhism lesson12: [Topic] Supernatural and Reality: Gyōki's Spiritual Notice and the Revival of the Nanto Risshu school lesson13: The return of Shunjo and the Adoption of the New Ordination Method in the Nanto Risshu school lesson14: [Topic] The Birth and Revival of the Bhikkhuni Sangha in Japan lesson15：Summary: “Breaking Precepts” and Japanese Buddhism Test/Report：Students will submit reports addressing three key points of this course. Choose one topic from the following: ① The interpretive history of “precepts” in Japanese Buddhism ② Influences on Japanese Buddhism from northern China and the Korean Peninsula ③ The doctrinal development enabling ordination as a monk through receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts, or the doctrinal challenges that must be overcome for this purpose. Using supporting textual sources, write an explanation of approximately 4,000 Japanese characters. Reports are due on the final day of the course.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Reading materials will be distributed in class. References will be introduced as needed during the lectures.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Quizzes/ Quiz format
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	For Lesson 1–15: Students are expected to review the lecture content and understand the overall historical development. It is also recommended that they skim the reference materials introduced in the lectures and organize them so that they can be explained in their own words. Students should read both the lectures and the reference materials critically, rather than accepting the arguments of the lecturer or authors at face value. This approach will help generate ideas and research questions for their own work. In addition, as the lectures introduce extant Buddhist materials such as paintings, sculptures, buildings, and archaeological sites, students are encouraged to visit relevant sites or museums whenever possible to view the original works.
Requirements
Grading Method	Report, Quiz A short quiz will be administered following each lecture to assess students’ understanding of the lecture content. Grades will be determined based on quizzes (30%) and written reports (70%). For each field trip or comparable activity attended, students may earn a 5-point bonus by giving a presentation of at least five minutes to the instructor on the activity’s content.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
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.

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