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Unit of study_

ASNS3003: Buddhism: Historical Perspectives

This unit provides a survey of the major issues and core ideas of Buddhism from its beginnings in India to subsequent developments in others parts of Asia. Students will be introduced to Buddhist understanding of liberation, existence, and knowledge, with a focus on exploring how Buddhist thought and practices, such as ritual and meditation, shape each other in larger socio-cultural contexts.

Code ASNS3003
Academic unit Asian Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 2000 level from any combination of Ancient Greek, Ancient History, Anthropology, Arabic Language and Cultures, Archaeology, Art History, Asian Studies, Biblical Studies and Classical Hebrew, Chinese Studies, Cultural Studies, European Studies, French and Francophone Studies, Germanic Studies, Hebrew, History, Indonesian Studies, International and Comparative Literary Studies, Italian Studies, Japanese Studies, Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture, Korean Studies, Latin, Linguistics, Philosophy, Sanskrit, Spanish and Latin American Studies, Studies in Religion, Visual Arts
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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ASNS2003

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate foundational understanding of significant events and periods in the history of Buddhism that played a crucial role in shaping Buddhism in various regions
  • LO2. Articulate the social, cultural, and political interaction between Buddhism and the secular world, and their influence on each other
  • LO3. Analyse developments of Buddhism as a cross-cultural phenomenon, with specific reference to its transmission, modification, and reinterpretation across Asia and beyond
  • LO4. Identify the presuppositions underlying the social and political structures in traditional and modern Buddhist societies
  • LO5. Situate and analyse contemporary issues in Buddhism in their historical and cultural contexts from different perspectives

Unit outlines

Unit outlines will be available 2 weeks before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.

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