Religions and Society in China | Coursera

Religions and Society in China | Coursera



Religions and Society in China

4.5 stars 154 ratings
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42 reviews

Aleksey A. Maslov

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Starts Jul 17

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About this Course
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This course provides an introduction to the study of the history, major teachings, and practices of the major Chinese religions and spiritual practices and is deigned to give conceptual tools to appreciate diverse religious practice in East.

 It covers the development of Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and wide range of popular and local religions. From historical perspective we will also explore the development of key theological, religious and philosophical doctrines as well as associated practices. An effort will be made to spend time on each tradition according to its importance to Asia as a whole.

We will explore the role of religions in politics and social relations in East and South, South East Asia and China in particular, and will analyze the origins, central teachings, divisions and branches, rituals and practices, influences on culture, and responses to modern challenges for each tradition. The emphasis throughout the course is on the hermeneutic difficulties attendant upon the study of religion in general, and Asian religions in particular. We will explore new Asian religions as dynamic, ongoing forces in the lives of individuals and in the collective experience of modern societies. 

Do you have technical problems? Write to us: coursera@hse.ru

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Instructor rating
4.37/5 (16 Ratings)


Aleksey A. MaslovHead
School of Asian Studies
10,254 Learners
1 Course

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Beginner Level

Approx. 17 hours to complete

English
Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish, Romanian

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HSE University


HSE University is one of the top research universities in Russia. Established in 1992 to promote new research and teaching in economics and related disciplines, it now offers programs at all levels of university education across an extraordinary range of fields of study including business, sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, political science, international relations, law, Asian studies, media and communicamathematics, engineering, and more.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

WEEK1
2 hours to complete
Foundations of Religions in China


This module's content lays the foundations of understanding what is religion in China, how the Chinese perceive the very notion of religion and how this perception and this notion must not be confused with the correspondent Western notions and pereptions.

7 videos (Total 67 min), 2 readings, 1 quizSEE LESS
7 videos
About the University1m
About the Course2m

Main Topics and Objectives: the Introduction9m
Main Notions of Chinese Religions13m
Religions and Ancestors11m

Teacher in the Chinese Religious Tradition12m
Syncretism of Tradition15m
2 readings

About University10m
Rules on the academic integrity in the course10m
1 practice exercise
Module 1 Quiz30m

WEEK2
2 hours to complete
Taosim in China


This module's content describes what is Taoism, relates its history and defines its sources, shows the main paths of genesis for the Taoist cults.

7 videos (Total 79 min)SEE LESS
7 videos
Taoism: Introduction10m
Sources of Taoism12m
Before Taoism: Five Elements and Five Phases9m
Before Taoism: Early Cults13m
Lao-zi and the Beginning of Taoism11m
Taoism and the Natural Order of Universe7m
Notion of Dao15m
1 practice exercise
Module 2 Quiz30m

WEEK3
2 hours to complete
Taoism in Chinese society: main religious practises

This module's content describes the paths of development, which were taken by Taoist cults in their history, explains the ways that connected Taoist philosophy and social practice of religious cults and organisations.

6 videos (Total 67 min)SEE LESS
6 videos
Taoism and the Idea of Immortality11m
Alchemy in Taoism12m
Taoist Practises: Mind and Body11m
Main Cults of Taoism9m
Main Schools in Taoism11m
Modern Schools of Taoism10m
1 practice exercise
Module 3 Quiz30m

WEEK4
2 hours to complete
Confucianism in Chinese society: from sacrality to morality


This module's content describes the main ideas and principles of Confucianism, outlines the paths of its developments, explains the difference between what is Confucianism in its particular totality of traits and what is understood as a religion or a philosophy in the West.

7 videos (Total 68 min)SEE LESS
7 videos
Confucianism: Introduction11m
Main Ideas10m
Main Principles6m
Confucius and Confucianism8m
Sage Confucius: Ideas, Beliefs and Moral8m
Followers of Confucius9m
Confucian Canon12m
1 practice exercise
Module 4 quiz30m

WEEK5
2 hours to complete
Buddhism in the Chinese Tradition


This module's content describes the basic notions of Buddhism and explains its principles. The module gives an outline of the process of Buddhism's transition to China.

8 videos (Total 82 min)SEE LESS
8 videos
Buddhism in China: Introduction9m
Basic Principles of Buddhism10m
Buddha and Buddhahood13m
The Way from India to China9m
Fundamental division: Theravada, Mahayana, Vadjrayana8m
Transition to China: Ways and Problems10m
Transition to China: Missionaries and Translators10m
"Sinicization" of Buddhism9m
1 practice exercise
Module 5 Quiz30m
WEEK6
2 hours to complete
Sinified Buddhism as an almost independent tradition


This module's content outlines the main texts and doctrines of Chan Buddhism, enumerates the main schools and branches, explains the influence that Buddhism had and has on Chinese life and art.

9 videos (Total 90 min)SEE LESS
9 videos
Schools and Texts - Part 18m
Schools and Texts - Part 28m
Main Ideas of Chan Buddhism7m
Teachers of Chan12m
History of Chan10m
Doctrine of Chan8m
Chan Practice13m
Buddhism in Art and Culture10m
Buddhism in Modern Culture9m
1 practice exercise
Module 6 Quiz30m

WEEK7
2 hours to complete
Chinese Mythology


This module's content is dedicated to Chinese Mythos. This Module explains how the very notion of a mythical hero in China differs greatly from the correspondent Western notion.

9 videos (Total 90 min)SEE LESS
9 videos
Chinese Mythology12m
Creator Deities: Fu Xi and Nu Wa10m
The Myth of Pangu8m
Progenitor Deities: Huang-di12m
Progenitor Deities: Xiwang-mu9m
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors11m
Myth, Hero and Tribe7m
Mythical Creators7m
Cosmological Deities9m
1 practice exercise
Module 7 Quiz30m
WEEK8
2 hours to complete
Chinese folk religions: ancestor worship, temples, festivals and communal identities


This module's content describes the characteristic traits of Chinese sects and popular cults. This module introduces one of the most important notions in Chinese religious studies: Chinese synctretism.

8 videos (Total 88 min)SEE LESS
8 videos
Basics of Chinese Folk Religions11m
The Idea and Society of Salvation in Chinese Folk Religion13m
Sects and Syncretism14m
Representative Cases of Syncretic Sects11m
Xiantiandao and Yiguandao Sects10m
Initiation and Secret Societies8m
Local Cults and Traditions - Part 18m
Local Cults and Traditions - Part 29m
1 practice exercise
Module 8 Quiz30m
WEEK9
2 hours to complete
Modern China and its attitude to religions


This module's content is dedicated to describing the religious life in modern China, the main attitudes of officials to religion in PRC and in other places, where Chinese culture is widely spread.

7 videos (Total 74 min)SEE LESS
7 videos
People's Republic of China: Religious Policy9m
Buddhism and Taoism in Modern China12m
Traditions of the Minorities6m
Islam in China10m
Christianity in China10m
Western Religions in China12m
Popular Religions in Modern Chinese Culture12m
1 practice exercise
Module 9 Quiz30m
Show Less


Reviews
4.5
42 reviews

5 stars

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4 stars

16.12%
3 stars

3.22%
2 stars

5.80%
1 star

1.93%

TOP REVIEWS FROM RELIGIONS AND SOCIETY IN CHINA

by AGSep 9, 2019

the course was good but the accent of the teacher was not clear and whenever there were foreign words the text also did not carry those words. Thanks to Prof. Alexey for a wonderful course.

by AZDec 29, 2019

Worthy of time. Not from a Western Ideation - nor Asian - rather presenter is one of the middle ground of most all fracas who entered into relationship with on of the Chinese religions.

by JLOct 24, 2018

This course is to really understand the details, it has in depth explanations and i consider it very well explained. A must do for anyone moving or interacting with china

by JCOct 28, 2020

Thoroughly enjoyable journey through the many different religions in China accompanied and guided by the excellent and proficient Aleksey A. Maslov .View all reviews