Women in Buddhist Traditions
RLST 231/3515
TR 2:35-3:50
Garland Hall 301-F
Vanderbilt University
Fall 1999
Professor
Paula Arai
Tel. 322-6340
p.arai@vanderbilt.edu
301-D Garland Hall
Office Hours: TR 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
or by appointment
Course Description
Exploring Buddhist traditions through the contributions and concerns of women in various cultural contexts (Indian, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and North American) and time periods (ancient and modern). Critical analysis of practices, texts, and hermeneutical schemes that foster misogyny.
Special attention will be given to laying a theoretical foundation in the construction of gender in each cultural and religious context encountered. We will look into the reasons why texts on religion have not always included the voices of women as we investigate ways to uncover them through research techniques and developing hermeneutical strategies.
Previous background in women's studies and Buddhism is optimal. Some knowledge of Asia and the study of religion would be helpful.
Course Requirements
1. Active participation in class discussions (5%), 10
short response papers
(total of 15%), facilitating a discussion (5%).
2. One 8-page essay due in class on Oct. 7. (35%)
3. One 15-page research paper due by 4:30 p.m. on December 9. (35%) If I am not in my office, please slide your paper under my door.
4. Presentation (5%)
All papers must be typed, double-spaced, and in a 12 or 14 point font. (about 300 words per page).
Texts and Class Paks are sold in the Rand bookstore.
All reading materials on reserve at Divinity library.
*by reading material indicates that it is in Class Pak.
Vanderbilt's Honor Code governs all work in this course (e.g. tests, papers homework assignments).
Students who may need disability-related classroom accommodations should make an appointment to see me as soon as possible. Also, visit or call the Opportunity Development Center, Baker Building Room 108, for information about other services available. The telephone number is 322- (V/TDD*).
The course schedule may be modified during the semester.
Course Schedule
Week 1 Introduction to the Study of Women
*Shelley Errington, "Recasting Sex, Gender, and Power" in Power and Difference: Gender in Island Southeast Asia. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990, pp. 1-37.
*Ann Gordon, "'The Problem of Women's History," in Liberating Women's History: Theoretical and Critical Essays. Ed, Berenice Carroll University of Illinois Press, 1976, pp. 75-92.
*Ifi Amadiume, Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society. Zed Books, 1987, pp. 1-10; 185-199.
*Bynum, Harrell, Richman, ed. Gender and Religion: On the Complexity of Symbols. Boston: Beacon Press, 1986, pp. 1-20.
Week 2 Women in Early Indian Buddhism I.
I.B. Horner, Women Under Primitive Buddhism, 1930. pp. 95-161; 211-379
Week 3 Women in Early Indian Buddhism II
Susan Murcott, The First Buddhist Women, 1991. pp. 1-53
Week 4 Women in Early Indian Buddhism III
Diana Paul, Women in Buddhism, 1985, pp. 1-74; 106-232.
*Yuichi Kajiyama, ""Women in Buddhism," The Eastern Buddhist
New Series vol. XV, no. 2 (Autumn 1982): 53-70.
Week 5 Women and Tibetan Buddhist Teachings
Anne Klein, Meeting the Great Bliss Queen. Boston: Beacon Press, 1994 Sept. 28:
Turn in suggestions for paper
Week 6 Women in Tantric Buddhism
Miranda Shaw, Passionate Enlightenment. Princeton: Princeton, University Press, 1994.
Oct. 7: Paper due
Week 7 Women in Thai Buddhism
Kabilsingh, Chatsumarn, Thai Women and Buddhism. Berkeley:
Parallax Press, pp. 1-86.
Week 8 Women in Chinese Buddhism
*Miriam Levering, "The Story of Miao-Tao'
Week 9 Women in Japanese Buddhism
Paula Aral, Women Living Zen: Japanese Soto Buddhist Nuns. New
York: Oxford University press, 1999.
Week 10 Women in Japanese Buddhism
Aoyama Shundo, Zen Seeds, Tokyo: Kosei Publishing, 1992.
Week 11 Women in American Buddhism
Sandy Boucher, Turning the Wheel, Boston: Beacon Press, 1993.
Week 12 Individual Meetings with Prof. to discuss papers
Week 13 Class Presentations