Hist 3070 Topics in World History
Monks and Warriors: Religious and Secular Worlds in East Asia
Spring 2014
TR 9:40-11:05 a.m.
Dr. Yüan-ling Chao
Office: Peck Hall 265 (898-2629)
E-mail: ychao@mtsu.edu
Office Hours: MW 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; TR 11:05 a.m.-12:30 p.m. & by
appointment
Monks and Warriors
The use of violence seems to go directly against the teachings of Buddhism, yet in
both China and Japan, there has been a tradition of fighting and armed conflicts involving
monasteries. In this course we will explore this intertwining of the religious and secular
worlds. In China, we will focus on the Shaolin Monastery and its traditions, the various
styles of martial arts and how it came to represent the essence of martial arts. In Japan,
the inquiry is broadened to examine the emergence of the sôhei (monk-warrior) within
the historical and cultural context of Japanese history.
Class format will consist of both lectures and discussions. Student participation is
an integral part of the course. It is critical that students are diligent in keeping up with
the weekly readings. All students are expected to finish the assigned readings prior to
class each week so that they can fully participate in the discussions and contribute to the
class.
Books for the Course:
Schirokauer, Conrad, Miranda Brown, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay. A Brief History of
Chinese and Japanese Civilization. 4th edition. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning, 2013.
Adolphson, Mikael S. The Teeth and Claws of the Buddha: Monastic Warriors and Sôhei
in Japanese History. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2007.
Shahar, Meir. The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts.
Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2008.
Additional Readings are available in D2L (http://elearn.mtsu.edu) and as handouts
in class.
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Course Requirements:
1.
5%
Attendance (0-1 absence: A; 2-3: B; 4-5: C; 6-7: D; 8 & over: F. Students
who arrive more than ten minutes late or leave early will be counted as
absent)
2.
10% Participation
3.
35% Two essays (five pages each)
4.
15% Midterm examination
5.
20% class project
4.
15% Final Examination
(+/- will be used)
A 90 and above
B+ 88-89
B 84-87
B- 80-83
C+ 78-79
C 74-77
CD+
D
DF
70-73
68-69
64-67
60-63
59 and below
Make-up Policy
There will be NO make-ups and missed tests and examinations will count as F.
Exceptions will only be made in documented cases of emergency and illness.
Statement on Cheating
Any form of cheating (including plagiarism) on any assignment or examination will
result in a grade of “F” for the course and further disciplinary action by the university.
“Plagiarize” is defined in Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary as “to steal and pass off
(the ideas or words of another) as one’s own,” “use (a created production) without
crediting the source,” “to commit literary theft: present as new and original an idea or
product derived from an existing source.”
Rules for Classroom Behavior
All cell phones should be turned off in the classroom. The use of laptops and tablets to
take notes in class is subject to the instructor’s approval. Text messaging is forbidden,
and after two warnings, points will be deducted from tests and examinations.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities:
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have
questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takes, readers etc., please speak
with me as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Student
Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.
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Lecture and Reading Schedule:
Jan.
Feb.
16
Introduction
Recommended Readings: Schirokauer et.al. Part I
21
Medieval China: Period of Disunion, Sui & Tang Dynasties
Schirokauer et.al. Chs. 4 & 5
23
Situating Shaolin: Geography and Religion
Shahar, Ch. 1; (D2L) Mark Edward Lewis “The Emergence of a Chinese
Buddhism” in China’s Cosmopolitan Empire (Cambridge: The Belknap
Press of Harvard University Press, 2009), pp. 214-225.
28
Imperial Patronage: Li Shimin’s military campaigns
Shahar, Ch. 2: 20-37
30
Martial Gods and Monks
Shahar, Ch. 2: 37-52
4
Ming Dynasty: martial artists and fighting methods
Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 10 (Recommended Chs. 8 & 9); Shahar, Ch.3:55-67
6
Monastic Troops and Defense
Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 9, 10; Shahar, Ch. 3: 68-81
11
Buddhism and the Use of Staff Fighting
Shahar, Ch. 4: 82-99
13
Shaolin staff fighting
Shahar, Ch. 4:101-109
18
Hand Combat Techniques and Medicine
Shahar: Ch. 5: 113-127; *(D2L)Ted Kaptchek, “The Meridians: The Warp
and Woof” in The Web That Has No Weaver (Chicago: Congdon & Weed,
1983), pp. 77-114.
20
Medicine and Martial Arts
Shahar, ch. 5: 127-136
25
Daoism, Gymnastics, and Internal Alchemy
Shahar, Ch. 6: 137-147; Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 15, 16
27
Daoism, Gymnastics, and Internal Alchemy
Shahar, Ch. 6: 147-173; (D2L) Kristofer Schipper, “The Inner Landscape”
in The Taoist Body, translated by Karen C. Duval (Berkeley: University of
California Press, 1982), pp. 100-112.
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Mar.
Apr.
4
Daoism and Martial Arts
Shahar, Ch. 6: 173-181
6
Shaolin monastery and dynastic change
Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 15; Shahar, Ch. 7
11
Spring Break
13
Spring Break
18
Martial Arts and Religion
20
Midterm
25
Japan, Introduction
Recommended Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 6: pp.53-71; (D2L) Thomas David
DuBois, “The Buddha and the Shogun in Sixteenth-century Japan” in
Religion and the Making of Modern East Asia (Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 2011),
27
Religious Violence and Armed Clerics
Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 7; Adolphson, Ch. 1
1
Monasteries and Warfare: Succession Disputes
Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 11; Adolphson, Ch. 2: 21-51
3
Ashikaga Bakufu and the Rise of Warriors
Schirokauer et.al. Ch. 12; Adolphson, Ch. 2: 51-56
8
Monastic Forces: temple warriors
Adolphson, Ch. 3: 57-71
10
Monastic Forces: Estate warriors and Jinnin
Adolphson, Ch. 3: 71-86; (D2L) Martin Collcutt, “Chinese Émigré Monks
and Japanese Warrior-Rulers” in Five Mountains (Cambridge: Harvard
University Press, 1981), pp. 57-89.
15
Monk Commanders
Adolphson, Ch. 4: 87-105
17
Aristocratic Monk-Commanders
Adolphson, Ch. 4: 105-115
22
Benkei
Schirokauer et. al. Ch. 14; Adolphson, Ch. 5
4
24
Benkei’
(D2L) Elizabeth Oyler, “Yoshitsune at Koshigoe” in Swords, Oaths, and
Prophetic Visions (Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2006), pp.86114
29
Sôhei, Benkei, and Monastic Warriors
Adolphson, Ch. 6
Final Examination May 8 (Thursday) 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
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