Students have to take 3 required courses plus 5 elective courses for the MA degree. The required courses include Graduation Paper, and 2 courses from Theory and Method in Buddhist Studies or The Thoughts and History of Humanistic Buddhism or Buddhist Studies in the West. 5 Elective courses could be chosen from 4 different areas.
Required Courses 必修科目: 3 courses
BUDS5012 Graduation Paper 畢業論文; (Required)
BUDS5013 Theory and Method in Buddhist Studies 佛學研究方法; or
BUDS5005 The Thoughts and History of Humanistic Buddhism 人間佛教思想與歷史; or
BUDS5014 Buddhist Studies in the West 西方佛教研究
(Required to students who need to fulfill the English admission requirement)
Elective Courses 選修科目: 5 courses
Area 1: Chinese Buddhism 中國佛教
BUDS5001 Pure Land Buddhism 淨土佛教
BUDS5002 Chan Buddhism 禪宗佛教
BUDS5003 Tiantai Buddhism 天台佛教
BUDS5004 Special Topics in Chinese Buddhist Studies 中國佛教專題
PHIL5531 Topics in Buddhist Philosophy 佛教哲學專題
RELS5118 Studies on Chinese Buddhism 中國佛教研究
Area 2: Buddhism and Chinese Culture 佛教與中國文化
BUDS5006 Dunhuang Buddhist Iconography 敦煌佛教圖像學
BUDS5007 Chinese Buddhist Art 中國佛教藝術
BUDS5015 Buddhism and Religious Culture in China 佛教及中國宗教文化
CHES6001 A Critical Cultural History of China: Early China 中國文化史論析：早期
CHES6002 A Critical Cultural History of China: Modern China 中國文化史論析：現代
RELS5314 Buddhism and Culture 佛教與文化
Area 3: Buddhism and Society 佛教與社會
BUDS5008 Buddhism and Contemporary Society 佛教與當代社會
BUDS5009 Special Topics in Buddhism and Society 佛教與社會專題
BUDS5016 Buddhist Mediations 佛教冥想研究
Area 4: Language Courses 語言課程
BUDS5010 Basic Pāli 巴利文入門
BUDS5011 Basic Sanskrit 梵文入門
Courses Details
Required Courses: (3 courses)
BUDS5012 Graduation Paper 畢業論文
This capstone course provides integrative learning experiences that build on knowledge from student’s previous courses. It will be taken by students in their final year who will carry out independent research on a topic approved by the program and supervised by a teacher. Through writing a final paper, this course enables students to synthesize and integrate skills and knowledge acquired throughout the curriculum of the MA in Buddhist Studies.
BUDS5013 Theory and Method in Buddhist Studies 佛學研究方法
This course introduces students to the history and the main disciplinary approaches and methods in the academic study of Buddhism. It integrates the exploration of different approaches, theories, methods, concepts and issues in the study of Buddhism with the acquisition of graduate skills. These skills include, for example, critical thinking and writing, effective use of library, electronic and other information sources in the study of Buddhism. Students will get acquainted with key concepts in the study of Buddhism. Through carrying out small research assignments and literature research, students will design their own research questions and become familiar with the research cycle.
BUDS5005 The thoughts and History of Humanistic Buddhism 人間佛教思想與歷史
Humanistic Buddhism has become one of the mainstreams of Buddhist tradition in modern world. This course is to study the development of Humanistic Buddhism, including its history, thoughts and practices. It is divided into three closely related parts. We will first investigate the basic doctrines of traditional Buddhism in relation to the arising of humanistic Buddhism. We then examine the history of humanistic Buddhism in he early Republic era (1912-1949). The social, political, religious, as well as economic background in which Humanistic Buddhism arose will be discussed with an emphasis on the interaction between Buddhist institutions and society. The teaching and practice of some pioneers of Humanistic Buddhism, such as Ven. Taixu will be studies. Finally, we will explore the contemporary developments of humanistic Buddhism in general, and Foguan Shan Buddhism in particular.
BUDS5014 Buddhist Studies in the West 西方佛教研究 (Required to students who need to fulfill the English admission requirement)
This course introduces foundational Buddhist teachings and provides an overview of Buddhist scriptures, a sampling of which will be read in class. Longstanding Buddhist scriptural traditions have existed in diverse languages across Asia for over two thousand years, and Buddhist concepts are notoriously difficult to translate. English has emerged as the key, common language for the translating Buddhist writings and for conducting scholarship on Buddhism worldwide. This course is intended for students, fluent in Chinese and with a background in Buddhist Studies, who want to improve their abilities to read English-language scholarship and translations. The course is also intended for anyone, including those whose English is already strong, who wants an introduction to how Buddhism is studied in Western scholarship. In this course, students will practice reading about Buddhism in English, will learn about scholarly conventions for translating Buddhist terms, and will become proficient in pronouncing and composing Indic Buddhist technical terms in Romanized script.
This course will be integrated with the English Language Teaching Unit’s (ELTU) English Across the Curriculum (EAC) program, which will provide assistance to students in their English-language learning needs.
Elective Courses: (5 courses)
Area 1: Chinese Buddhism 中國佛教
BUDS5001 Pure Land Buddhism 淨土思想
The course explores the history, doctrines, thoughts, and literature of Pure Land Buddhism in China. This course is to study the eminent patriarchs, such as Tanluan, Daochuo, Shandao, and explores the historical development of the Pure Land tradition in medieval China with an analysis of major figures and their interactions with Chinese cultural tradition. This course will also study briefly the commentaries of The Three Pure Land Sutras. Readings will include both the primary and secondary sources.
BUDS5002 Chan Buddhism 禪宗思想
The course explores the history, doctrines, thoughts, and literature of Chan Buddhism in China. It includes a study of the historical development of the Chan tradition in medieval China with an analysis of major figures such as Huineng, his Platform Sūtra and its interactions with Chinese cultural tradition. This course also helps students familiarize themselves with how Chan is studied by leading scholars in the field of Buddhist studies. The course will explore how Chan teachings and practices can contribute to various cultural activities and the seeking of meaning of life in modern society.
BUDS5003 Tiantai Buddhism 天台宗思想
The course explores the history, doctrines, thoughts, and literature of Tiantai Buddhism in China. It includes a study of the historical development of the Tiantai tradition in medieval China with an analysis of major figures and their interactions with Chinese cultural tradition. Readings will include both primary and secondary sources.
BUDS5004 Special Topics in Chinese Buddhist Studies 中國佛教專題
Special topics courses are developed to cover emerging issues facing Buddhism today or specialized content in Buddhist Studies not represented in the main curriculum. It addresses a current or timely topic, that are in a pilot phase before being offered on an ongoing basis or that are known to be one time offerings. Topics covered can vary from term to term. Students should consult the Graduate division on the content of the course on offer.
PHIL5531 Topics in Buddhist Philosophy 佛教哲學專題
What is reality? How do we know? How shall we exist? This course intends to explore the rich sources of Buddhist philosophical traditions. Topics include emptiness and negation, theories of mind, language and perception. Attention will be given to their relevance to the contemporary discussions in Western philosophy. Readings include basic works of Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, Yogācāra and Pramanavada.
PHIL5531 Topics in Buddhist Philosophy 佛教哲學專題
What is reality? How do we know? How shall we exist? This course intends to explore the rich sources of Buddhist philosophical traditions. Topics include emptiness and negation, theories of mind, language and perception. Attention will be given to their relevance to the contemporary discussions in Western philosophy. Readings include basic works of Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, Yogācāra and Pramanavada.
RELS5118 Studies on Chinese Buddhism 中國佛教研究
This course aims at a historical study of the development of Buddhism in China. Students will be first introduced to the process of translation, interpretation and commentary of Indian Buddhist scriptures in China. It will be followed by a study on the sinicization of Indian Buddhism by studying major traditions in Chinese Buddhism such as Chan, Pure Land, Huayen and Tiantai Buddhism. We seek to understand the Chinese Buddhist tradition by placing it in the context of Chinese culture and traditions.
Area 2: Buddhism and Chinese Culture 佛教與中國文化
BUDS5006 Dunhuang Buddhist Iconography 敦煌佛教圖像學
The murals and statues in Dunhuang Grottoes are well preserved through different dynasties, and have aesthetic style sourced from different cultures. Dunhuang is very rich in many aspects, namely: art and culture, history and archaeology. However, the most precious out of so many valuable cultural relics is the Buddhist iconography and with the Buddhist teaching and philosophy within. This course is specially designed to offer an inspiring and in-depth introduction of Buddhist teaching and philosophy through Dunhuang Buddhist iconography. The historical and cultural background, the related aesthetic and archaeology aspects will also be introduced. Its coverage includes areas such as the essence of the teaching in Buddhism: Dependent Origination, Cause & Effect, the Noble Eightfold Path (Middle Path), the idea of ‘non-self’, karma theory, nirvāṇa etc.; the Concept of Pure Land, the cult of Guanyin and Maitreya in China, and also the history of the spread and inheritance of Buddhist iconography from 4th to 14th centuries in China. The course is intended for individuals who are interested in the Buddhist studies and want to study Buddhism and its practice as a means for spiritual development in a comprehensive way. It is also for participants who interested to study Buddhist teachings through Dunhuang Buddhist iconography and adding a new dimension to their spirituality and apply the Buddhist teaching into their daily lives, move along from suffering towards sustainable happiness.
BUDS5007 Chinese Buddhist Art 中國佛教藝術
This course explores the rich tradition of Buddhist art in China from the historical as well as thematic perspectives. It starts with a survey of Buddhism art in India and Southeast Asia followed by discussions of Buddhist art on the Silk Road to China. The major Buddhist caves and iconographical figures in China will be examined with reference to Buddhist texts. Special attention will be paid to the interaction between Buddhist doctrine and art, literary expressions and images.
BUDS5015 Buddhism and Religious Culture in China 佛教及中國宗教文化
This course offers an advanced introduction to the impact brought about by Buddhism to the religious culture in China. We will examine in-depth four key moments of paradigm shift in Chinese religious culture, in the Warring States Period (481-256 BC) before the arrival of Buddhism, the Period of Division (220-589 AD), the Song-Yuan (960-1368), and modern China (1850-present). One focus of the course is to investigate how Buddhism interacted with local religious culture in China through a variety of confluences and conflicts in relationship to changing social, political, and economic systems. We will review foundational debates from the 20th century, such as ‘Buddhist conquest of China’ and ‘Chinese transformation of Buddhism’ or the ‘Sinification of Buddhism.’
CHES6001 Critical Cultural History of China: Early China 中國文化史論析：早期
This course will propose a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of Chinese cultural history conceived of as a succession of modes of rationality (philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic processes of rationalization). The focus will be on the moments of paradigm shift from one mode of rationality to another. For each of these moments, cultural facts and artifacts—thought, literature, ritual—will be examined in relationship to changing social, political, and economic systems. This semester will cover the periods of the Warring States (481-221 BCE) and the Six Dynasties (220-589 CE). The first laid the social and cultural foundations for the emergence of the imperial mode of rationality; the second saw the Buddhist “conquest” of China and the emergence of a rationality defined by the opposition of the Three Teachings to shamanism, that is, of a clear contrast between elite and popular culture.
CHES6002 Critical Cultural History of China: Modern China 中國文化史論析：現代
This course will focus on the emergence of two modern Chinas, that of the gentry and that of the people: 1) the re-emergence of Confucianism as “this culture of ours”, eventually leading to the creation of lineage China in the 16th century; 2) the emergence of “popular culture”, which includes a popular, increasingly state-supported pantheon of local gods, local festivals built around these gods, and popular literature (from the bianwen of the Tang to the xiaoshuo of the Ming). Particular attention will be paid to the parallel transformations of the economy and of the legal system in Ming-Qing China.
RELS5314 Buddhism and Culture 佛教與文化
This course provides an overview of the historical development of Buddhist culture in Asia, highlighting both its unity and diversity. Main featuring elements of Buddhism in the diversified Asian culture is highlighted, especially in India, China and Japan. Basic Buddhist philosophy will be discussed at the beginning of the course, with special reference to the development of the various Buddhist traditions, such as Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna. Attention will be paid to the impact, evolution and integration of Buddhism into different cultures in Asia. The course will end with discussing the role of Buddhism in reshaping and reproducing the culture of modern society, highlighting its contribution to the formation of a harmonious society in Asia, with special attention to the case of China.
Area 3: Buddhism and Society 佛教與社會
BUDS5008 Buddhism and Contemporary Society 佛教與當代社會
In its long history of more than 2500 years, Buddhism has spread to most part of the world, and its doctrines and practices have also undergone tremendous changes. This course is designed to study Buddhism within framework of its developments in contemporary society. It explores a variety of topics, discussing Buddhist attitude to and connections with modern society with respect to ecology, psychology, feminism, etc. In each of these topics, we will examine how Buddhism has fitted itself and been reinvented to make it meaningful and useful in serving people nowadays. It is hoped that through comparative and critical analysis, students will be able to get familiar with Buddhist ideas and thoughts concerning the social issues in diverse contemporary contexts.
BUDS5009 Special Topics in Buddhism and Society 佛教與社會專題
Special topics courses are developed to cover emerging issues facing Buddhism today or specialized content on Buddhism and society not represented in the main curriculum. It addresses a current or timely topic, that are in a pilot phase before being offered on an ongoing basis or that are known to be one time offerings. Topics covered can vary from term to term. Students should consult the Graduate division on the content of the course on offer.
BUDS5016 Buddhist Meditations 佛教冥想研究
Meditation is considered by many to be the hallmark practice of Buddhism, yet when we talk about meditation, we often assume a meditation practice in the singular and neglect the internal diversity. This course will explore the complexity of the meditation tradition in the plural to enable students to have a holistic view of Buddhist practice in the broad context of the Buddhist world. The course is designed to provide a balanced presentation of Buddhist meditation traditions, from early Pali and Sanskrit scriptures to developments such as Chan and Tantric Buddhism. It will look closely at what happens in meditative states, how Buddhist contemplative traditions have changed, and what elements we can say are common to virtually all periods and places in Buddhist history. All readings will be provided in English translation, except for those in classic Chinese.
Area 4: Language Courses 語言課程
BUDS5010 Basic Pāli 巴利文入門
This is an introductory course designed for those with no previous knowledge of the language of Pāli. The purpose of this course is to equip students with a basic understanding of Pāli so that they could read the Pāli primary source with a dictionary. It also enables them to understand Buddhist Sūtras compiled in Pāli. Course contents include: Pāli phonetics, parts of speech, different nouns and their declension, different verbs and their conjugation, participles and their function, absolutives, sandhi, syntax and classification of sentences.
BUDS5011 Basic Sanskrit 梵文入門
This is an introductory course designed for those with no previous knowledge of the language of Sanskrit. The purpose of the course is to equip students with a basic understanding of Sanskrit so that they could read the Sanskrit primary source with a dictionary. It also enables them to understand Buddhist Sūtras compiled in Sanskrit. Course contents include: Sanskrit phonetics, parts of speech, different nouns and their declension, different verbs and their conjugation, participles and their function, absolutives, sandhi, syntax and classification of sentences.
