WMBE6102 Lecture on the History of Buddhist Philosophy B

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 WMBE6102 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 仏教思想史講義Ｂ

Subject Name
（Katakana）ブッキョウシソウシコウギB

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

Instructor OTANI YUKA

Instructor
(Katakana) オオタニ　ユカ

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

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Weds7-8：LET B253

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 course provides an overview of how Japanese monks, living in a country surrounded on all sides by the sea, conducted exchanges with overseas regions through Buddhism and how Buddhism itself changed as a result. Each lecture is organized around a single historical event as a self-contained theme, while also addressing doctrinal issues related to that event, including those that remain unresolved.

Class Schedule lesson1: Introduction — Transnational Buddhist Exchange and “Japan”
lesson2: The First Japanese Bhikṣuṇī: Zenshin-ni
lesson3: Kentōshi Envoys and Tōketsu
lesson4: Genshin’s Tōketsu
lesson5: [Topic] The Journey of Uicheon of Goryeo
lesson6: Chōgen and the Reconstruction of Tōdaiji
lesson7: The Bodhi Tree before the Great Buddha Hall of Tōdaiji
lesson8: Jōkei of Kōfukuji and His Critique of Hōnen’s Exclusive Nenbutsu
lesson9: Shunjō’s Journey to Song China and Its Background
lesson10: Shunjō’s Return to Japan and Song-Dynasty Pure Land Buddhism
lesson11: [Topic] The Alteration of the “Pagoda” on the Tōdaiji Ordination Platform and the Japanese Ritsu School
lesson12: “Jōdo Shinshū” in the Muromachi Period
lesson13: Japanese Buddhism as Seen by Christian Missionaries
lesson14: [Topic] Hideyoshi’s Invasions and the Monk Samyeong Yujeong
lesson15: Conclusion — What Is “Japanese Buddhism”?

Students must select one topic covered in this course and write an approximately 4,000-character essay explaining a doctrinal issue related to that topic, using textual sources as supporting evidence. The paper will be collected on the final day of class.

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	WMBE6102	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	仏教思想史講義Ｂ
Subject Name （Katakana）	ブッキョウシソウシコウギB
Subject Name in English	Lecture on the History of Buddhist Philosophy B
Instructor	OTANI YUKA
Instructor (Katakana)	オオタニ　ユカ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Weds7-8：LET B253
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 course provides an overview of how Japanese monks, living in a country surrounded on all sides by the sea, conducted exchanges with overseas regions through Buddhism and how Buddhism itself changed as a result. Each lecture is organized around a single historical event as a self-contained theme, while also addressing doctrinal issues related to that event, including those that remain unresolved.
Class Schedule	lesson1: Introduction — Transnational Buddhist Exchange and “Japan” lesson2: The First Japanese Bhikṣuṇī: Zenshin-ni lesson3: Kentōshi Envoys and Tōketsu lesson4: Genshin’s Tōketsu lesson5: [Topic] The Journey of Uicheon of Goryeo lesson6: Chōgen and the Reconstruction of Tōdaiji lesson7: The Bodhi Tree before the Great Buddha Hall of Tōdaiji lesson8: Jōkei of Kōfukuji and His Critique of Hōnen’s Exclusive Nenbutsu lesson9: Shunjō’s Journey to Song China and Its Background lesson10: Shunjō’s Return to Japan and Song-Dynasty Pure Land Buddhism lesson11: [Topic] The Alteration of the “Pagoda” on the Tōdaiji Ordination Platform and the Japanese Ritsu School lesson12: “Jōdo Shinshū” in the Muromachi Period lesson13: Japanese Buddhism as Seen by Christian Missionaries lesson14: [Topic] Hideyoshi’s Invasions and the Monk Samyeong Yujeong lesson15: Conclusion — What Is “Japanese Buddhism”? Students must select one topic covered in this course and write an approximately 4,000-character essay explaining a doctrinal issue related to that topic, using textual sources as supporting evidence. The paper will be collected on the final day of class.
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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