Asian Religions & Asian Societies

Next week's readings are absolutely foundational for everything we do going forward, so please take time to read carefully and thoughtfully. If you still don't have the textbook, a scanned copy of Chapter 2 is posted it on the Moodle for our class. There are also two copies of the textbook on reserve in the library.

Have an excellent long weekend--see you Wednesday!

Chapter 2 (Asian Religions and their Cultures)

1. Even though all major religions originated in Asia, including Christianity and Islam, those that have remained dominant in Asia show clear difference from the Christianity and Judaism dominant in the West. How does the phrase "Eden was preserved in the East" reflect these differences?
2. What are the fundamental differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism; Daoism and Confucianism; Hinduism and Buddhism; Buddhism and Confucianism; Shintō and Buddhism; Islam and Hinduism; Sunni/Shi'a and Sufi Islam?
3. Is Confucianism  a religion or is it better thought of as a moral code?
4. What do Sufi Islam and Bhakti Hinduism have in common? What were the features of Sufi Islam, in contrast to the Shi'a and Sunni traditions, which initially made it the most appealing version of Islam and the basis of early conversions among already well-established Asian societies?
5. What role do female divines assume in Asian religious tradition?

“The Living Chinese”
Exhibited under the auspices of P.T. Barnum, proprietor of American and Chinese museums New York and Barnum’s Museum Philadelphia.
From L to R: Miss Pwam-Ye-Koo, aged 17 years a young lady with feet 2-1/2 inches long.  Miss Lum-Akum, aged 23 years her maid servant. Miss Amoon, aged 7 years, Master Mun-Chung, aged 5 years, son and daughter of the professor. Mr. Aleet-Mong, aged 18 years an interpreter.  Mr. Soo-Chune, aged 32 years, professor of Music. 
Library of Congress, control number 2002708598 

Chapter 3 (The Societies of Asia)

1. Why did the Indian caste system develop? What was its appeal among South Asians?
2. Why do Indians, Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese stress the importance of the birth of sons? Why is this less an issue in Southeast Asia?
3. Why did Asian societies widely discriminate against women? What social factors would encourage the practice of foot-binding in China?
4. Why might some have seen Asian families sometimes as  the greatest threat to the modern Asian nation-state? Is there support fort the argument that Asian emphasis on family continuity facilitates economic development?
5. How are issues of poverty, social order, education, corruption, wealth, and conflict dealt with among traditional Asian societies?
6. What patterns of banditry and piracy are apparent in Asian Societies?