Centreterm

Buddha in the Big City:

Religion and Modernization in Shanghai and Bangkok

Instructors:

Dr. Chris Paskewich, Government

Dr. Kyle David Anderson, Chinese     

              

Course Description and Objectives:

A voyage abroad to investigate how China and Thailand's rich religious and cultural pasts are being shared with an increasingly postindustrial present.  Students will study and recreate layouts of Shanghai and Bangkok, including religious landmarks, parks, waterways, modern architecture, etc., and follow the daily rituals of local monks, lay people and tourists that reshape and complicate the purposes of these Asian mega-cities.  We will also explore spaces outside the city centers that are crucial to the definition of the urban area: rural temples and monasteries, plantations, slums, westernized satellite malls, beaches, etc.  Special focus will be placed on how China and Thailand are adapting traditional Buddhist practices, socio-political structures and spaces to the radical demands of national development and globalization in the 21^st century.  

20 DAY ITINERARY:
China: Shanghai

Thailand: Bangkok-Chiang Mai

Required Texts:

·     Shahid Yusuf, Postindustrial East Asian Cities.  ISBN: 9780821356227

·     Yoshiko Ashiwa.  Making Religion, Making the State.  

    ISBN: 9780804758420

·     Donald K. Swearer, The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia.  

    ISBN: 978-1438432502

·      Ross King.  Reading Bangkok.  ISBN: 9781438432502

Assignments and Grading:

·      Field Journal for Individual Mapping Projects                         25%

·      Opening Exam (on Yusuf, Swearer)                                             25%

·      Presentations                                                                                  15%

·      Reading quizzes (on King and Ashiwa)                                       10%

·      Research paper                                                                               25%

JAN3              Depart Lexington for Shanghai          

4                      Arrive in Shanghai—Welcome dinner at Sapar Uyghur Restaurant

5                      The Bund and Pudong—East-West Architectural Fusion

6                      Nanshi (the Old City) and Buddhist Temple Visits

7                      The People’s Square and Museum Visits

8                      The Boulevards: Nanjing and Huaihai Lu

9                      European Satellite Cities

10                    Fengjing Old Town

11                    Depart for Bangkok—tour of Khao San Road

11                    Temples visits—Wat Arun, Wat Mahathat, Wat Pho

12                    Temples visits—Wat Saket, Wat Traimit, Wat Sutat

13                    Overnight stay at Monastery Wat Ambhavan

14                    Commercial districts—Chidlom, Sukhumvit, Ratchaprasong

15                    Day trip—Ko Samet National Park

16                    Government and museums visits—Grand Palace, National Museum

17                    Depart for Chiang Mai (train)

18                    Temple visits—Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Wat Umong, Wat Gate

19                    Doi Inthanon National Park

20                    Return to Bangkok

JAN21            Return to Lexington

Instructors:

Dr. David Hall, Religion

Dr. Kyle David Anderson, Chinese     

              

Course Description and Objectives:

The Pilgrimage to Lhasa takes students on an unforgettable 16-day journey from the heart of China’s administrative capital to its periphery on the wild steppes of Tibet.  The trek to Lhasa is a passageway through the revival of numerous contemporary religious practices in China in the post-Mao era.  Beginning in Beijing, students study the history and impact of Christianity and native neo-Confucian, Daoist and shamanistic practices on current Chinese society.  As the journey moves inland, students shift their gaze to the history of Tibet and the substance of Tibetan Buddhism before finally arriving at the political, cultural and religious center of that remote region.  In Lhasa, students join the throngs of pilgrims worshiping before the golden roof of the Jokhang Temple and mingle with Lamas and monks striving to preserve their ancient traditions in the face of grave political and economic challenges.

Required Texts:

·      John Powers.  Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

·      Dalai Lama.  An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion

·      Heinrich Harrer.  Seven Years in Tibet

·      Daniel H. Bays.  A New History of Christianity in China

·      Liao Yiwu.  God Is Red 

Assignments and Grading:

·      Participation (10%)

·      Journal (10%)

Students will keep a daily journal of short occasional essays (directed and open topic).

·      Pre-Departure Essays (25%)
Students are required to read Liao, Harrer, and the Dalai Lama’s books over the Winter break prior to departure for Beijing (they are not allowed to be brought in country).  A written exam testing students’ knowledge of the content and provoking critical thinking about Chinese religious cultures will be sent out after Christmas and due upon the group’s arrival in China.

·      In-Trip Religious History Test (25%)
Students will read Powers and Bay’s academic volumes on Tibetan Buddhism and Chinese Christianity while traveling inside China.  During the 2-day train trip to Lhasa, a traditional multiple-choice exam will be administered to test students’ knowledge of the reading.

                   ·     Final Paper (30%)
                       Begun on returning train ride to Beijing

TENTATIVE 21 DAY ITINERARY:

Wednesday, January 2	LEXINGTON-BEIJING --PACK HEAVY WINTER CLOTHES!
Thursday, January 3	-Sun steals a day-
Friday, January 4	BEIJING SITES I VISITS: * The Temple of Heaven 天坛  * Pearl Market 红桥市场 * Tian’anmen 天安门 * The Forbidden Palace 故宫 * Jingshan Park 景山公园  DINNER: * Dong Lai Shun 东来顺火锅
Saturday, January 5	BEIJING SITES II VISITS: * The Great Wall 长城 DINNER: * Peking Duck 北京烤鸭
Sunday, January 6	CHRISTIAN BEIJING VISITS: * Xuan Wumen Catholic Church 宣武门天主堂 * Panjiayuan 潘家园市场 * Asbury Church 崇文门教堂  * Eastern Church 王府井天主堂 DINNER: *Xinjiang fanzhuang 新疆饭庄
Monday, January 7	BUDDHIST BEIJING VISITS: * White Cloud Temple 白云观 * Tianning Temple 天宁寺 * Dongyue Temple 东岳庙 * Yonghegong Lamasery 雍和宫 DINNER: * Pure Lotus Vegetarian 净心莲
Tuesday-Wednesday, January 8-9	BEIJING-LHASA EXPRESS TRAIN *48 hrs on the world’s highest rail track
Thursday, January 10	LHASA ACCLIMATIZATION
Friday, January 11	BUDDHIST TIBET I VISITS:* Potala Palace * Tibet Museum * Jokhang Temple * Barkhor Street DINNER: *Dunya Restaurant
Saturday, January 12	BUDDHIST TIBET II VISITS:* Drepung Monastery * Carpet Factory * Sera Monastery DINNER: *Snowlands Restaurant
Sunday, January 13	BUDDHIST TIBET III VISITS: * Ganden Monastery * Dezong Nunnery (120 KM, 4 HRS) * Dezong Hot springs DINNER: *Local fare
Monday, January 14	BUDDHIST TIBET IV VISITS: * Tidrum-Til Monastery * Drigung-Til Monastery * Reting DINNER: *Local fare
Tuesday, January 15	BUDDHIST TIBET V VISITS: * Reting * Yamtso Lake * Gyantse Kumbhum monastery  * Pelkhor Monastery DINNER: *Tashi
Wednesday, January 16	BUDDHIST TIBET VI VISITS: * Shigatse City * Tashi Lhunpo Monastery * Jamkhang Chenmo * Market DINNER: * Zhuang Yuan
Thursday, January 17	BUDDHIST TIBET VII VISITS: * Tashilumpo Monastery * Return to Lhasa DINNER:* Holy Land Vegetarian
Friday, January 18	BUDDHIST TIBET VIII Free day
Saturday-Sunday, January 19-20	LHASA-BEIJING EXPRESS TRAIN
Monday, January 21 Tuesday, January 22	BEIJING SCAVENGER HUNT VISITS: * Walk around the Worker’s Stadium 工人体育场 * See the doors of Zhongnanhai 中南海 * Visit the KFC on Tian’anmen Square 肯德基  * Explore Liulichan shopping street 琉璃产 * Explore the hutongs 胡同 near the Drum and Bell tower 鼓楼钟楼 DINNER: * McDs 麦当劳 * Eat a scorpion 蝎子 on Snack Street 小吃街 BEIJING-LEXINGTON