Daoism and Buddhism hold a significant place in the daily lives of most Taiwanese people. These philosophical traditions influence spirituality, meditation practices, and ethical values. Many Taiwanese incorporate elements of these philosophies into their daily lives to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing, and so can you. Students will be introduced to central concepts of Buddhism and Daoism through modern Mandarin interpretations of classic quotes, poems and stories. Students will explore these concepts and their relevance to modern life while building on their competencies in listening, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese. Students will be given a packet of influential classic Buddhist and Daoist writings translated into modern Chinese along with a vocabulary list and grammar points for each reading. Students will be expected to read a section and prepare to discuss it in Chinese with the teacher and classmates during the next class meeting.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the term, students will be able to...
...understand, discuss and critique various authentic texts
...raise valid and rational questions regarding Buddhism/Taoism, its relevance today,
and analyze and discuss these questions in Chinese
...conduct independent research on Buddhism/Taoism
...form ideas and opinions based on their research on these philosophies and relevance
their relevance to their own lives.
... effectively communicate their thoughts on these in Chinese, both orally and in
writing at the intermediate level.
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites: At least 3 terms of Chinese at the College level.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 3:40PM - 5:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years
Categories: 4000 , All courses , Chinese , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , New Courses , Updates
Tags: creative writing , Daoism , discussion , language , literature , philosophy , Zen and Buddhism