East Asian Philosophies and Religions:A Visual and Literary Introduction

An NCTA seminar for teachers of all grade levels

July 24 - 28, 2017
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Mon-Thurs)
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m (Fri)

Apply by March 31st

Seminar leader: Melanie King, Art History faculty at Seattle Central College

East Asian Philosophies and Religions: A Visual and Literary Introduction will explore the key philosophical and religious traditions that underlie East Asian belief systems, historically as well as in the present.

Our course of study will focus on the emergence of Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto within their original contexts, but will also consider how these traditions evolved as they moved across space and time. We will examine art and literature to familiarize ourselves with each tradition’s associated doctrines, objects and places of worship, and practices. As we analyze these sources, we will pay special attention to the impacts of cultural transmission, both on the traditions themselves and East Asian cultures they influenced.

By examining artworks and reading primary and secondary documents, we will also identify resources for inclusion in the classroom. No prior knowledge of the subject matter is required.

Topics covered will include:

Confucius and The Analects
Laozi and Daoism
Legalism and Qinshihuangdi’s Army
Emergence of Buddhism
Buddhism along the Silk Road
Transmission of Buddhism into Korea
Shinto
Chan (Zen) Buddhist traditions
20th Century East Asian Art

Please refer to the application for additional details and eligibility requirements.
edited by cgao on 3/22/2017