ART offers training in Asian religions in their historical, intellectual, and cultural contexts. Students normally specialize in one cultural area (China or Japan) and choose their tradition or region of specialization from among the fields of expertise of the Brown faculty.
Harold Roth specializes in Chinese thought and religion of the classical period, and in early Daoist contemplative traditions. Jason Protass works on Chinese Buddhism, especially Chan and Zen studies. Janine Anderson Sawada specializes in Japanese religions, with particular emphasis on popular religions and Buddhist and Confucian movements of the 16th through 19th centuries.
EAST ASIAN RELIGIONS (EAR)
- Chinese thought and religion of the classical period
- Early Daoist contemplative traditions
- Chinese Buddhism
- Confucian Traditions
- Japanese religious and intellectual history
Description
Students of East Asian Religions concentrate in the religious traditions of either China or Japan, but attain broad competence in the religious history of the alternate area as well. Students may also focus on a specific religious tradition (Daoist, Confucian, or Buddhist) whether within the parameters of one cultural area or across the broader East Asian context. Most students who specialize in the Daoist tradition concentrate on its origins and development in the intellectual contexts of early China and selected later developments, while students of Confucianism focus on Neo-Confucian interpretations of China and Japan. Students of Buddhism concentrate on the cultural, literary, and institutional history of Song, Yuan, and Ming Chinese Buddhism, and/or Japanese Buddhism of the late medieval through early modern periods. A specialization in the history of the Japanese new religions is also possible. Regardless of their area of concentration, all students are expected to develop an understanding of the key issues involved in the historical interaction of the major East Asian religious traditions.
ADMISSION
Successful applicants to the doctoral program in East Asian Religions ordinarily possess an M.A. or the equivalent in a related field of study. At least two years of either Chinese or Japanese is required; three or more years is highly recommended. Excellent command of English, both spoken and written is essential.
COURSEWORK
Courses are selected in consultation with the student’s primary advisor, usually in a meeting at the beginning of each semester. Before their preliminary examinations students in East Asian Religions are expected to complete at least six graduate seminars or the equivalent; at least four of the seminars will be in the main area of concentration (China or Japan), and at least two in the secondary area. With the approval of the area faculty, a Brown University undergraduate course numbered above 1000 may count toward the seminar requirement if the student receives an “A” grade on a graduate -level paper for the course.
Students should draw on resources at Brown University not only in Religious Studies, but also in East Asian Studies, History, History of Art and Architecture, Comparative Literature, and/or the social sciences as appropriate. It is also possible to cross-register for specialized courses at Harvard University, as time permits (usually after modern East Asian language requirements are completed), and subject to the approval of both the ART advisor and the Harvard instructor.
Before their first preliminary examination, students should also complete the following specific courses:
- RELS 2000 Theory of Religion
- RELS 2300C Chinese Bibliography and Reference Resources, or a course in Japanese bibliography (in accordance with the area of specialization), or the equivalent.
- A course in the history of China, Japan, or Korea (numbered 1000 or above)
- A course in the literature or art history of China, Japan, or Korea (numbered 1000 or above)
For current courses related to East Asia at Brown, see “East Asia Related courses” posted annually by the Department of East Asian Studies.