Oriental languages and civilizations

Introduction to the Philosophic-religious Doctrines of East Asia. Lessons will be focused on the presentation and analytical comment of the philosophical-religious themes contained in the course and exam text, with reference to the ontological, soteriological, and eschatological aspects expressed therein, contextualized and articulated within the geo-cultural and historical macro-area of reference.

Having passed the exam of the first chosen Oriental language.

EXAM NOTICE – A.Y. 2025/2026 Please read carefully Exam sessions for the assessment of knowledge Always check the lecturer’s noticeboard for possible updates: https://sites.google.com/a/uniroma1.it/donatellarossi Student’s chosen topic Each student is required to prepare one topic of their choice to present at the exam, related to Buddhism and/or the indigenous religions of the culture corresponding to their first language of study (e.g. Korean shamanism; Buddhism in Japan; the Consciousness-Only School; Daoist alchemy in the Song period, etc.). The chosen topic must be based on the exam bibliography listed below. Note: preparing a chosen topic does not exclude assessment on all other topics covered during the course. Syllabus and Required Readings All students in all curricula (including off-schedule, working, and non-attending students) Williams, Paul, Il buddhismo Mahayana. La saggezza e la compassione, Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 1990, pp. 49–317. Library location: IND 4 C 773 29; IND 6 C 752. Handouts on Mahayana Buddhism, available on Classroom. Rossi, Donatella (ed.) and various authors, Fili di Seta. Introduzione al pensiero filosofico-religioso dell’Asia, Astrolabio Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 2018. Library location (DISO): OR C 427, 427bis, 427ter. Students must study only the chapters related to their first language of study: China (pp. 275–461) → for students of Chinese Korea (pp. 463–594) → for students of Korean Japan (pp. 595–688) → for students of Japanese Handouts on Korean Buddhism, available on Classroom → for Korean language students only. Handouts on Japanese Religious Traditions, available on Classroom → for Japanese language students only. PowerPoint slides of Lessons I–III (Early Buddhism), available on Classroom. Students whose first language is not East Asian (e.g. Arabic, Hindi) Williams, Paul, Il buddhismo Mahayana. La saggezza e la compassione, Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 1990, pp. 49–317. Library location: IND 4 C 773 29; IND 6 C 752. Handouts on Mahayana Buddhism and PowerPoint slides of Lessons I–III (Early Buddhism), available on Classroom. One complete selected section from Fili di Seta (e.g. China, Korea, Japan, or Tibet [pp. 109–274]).

Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended. The course adopts a critical and comparative approach to sources and texts, complemented by moments of discussion and guided analysis. Attendance facilitates the understanding of concepts and technical terminology through direct interaction with the lecturer.

An oral test to be carried out at the end of the course. The objective of the oral exam is to ascertain the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes by the student in reference to all the five Dublin Descriptors. It will be implemented as an open unstructured stimulus test consisting of a presentation of about five minutes, without power point, on a chosen topic related to the religions of the first language studied, plus a question on Great Vehicle Buddhism (e.g. the Four Noble Truths, what does Buddha mean, the doctrine of Madhyamaka in China, Wŏnhyo and his doctrines, the Pure Land Schools in Japan). The oral exam is evaluated in thirtieths and is considered passed with a grade not inferior to 18/30. The student must demonstrate that s/he has acquired solid knowledge of the cultural topics related to the subject-matter and is able to describe them in a congruous and convincing manner, using a correct Italian in the appropriate academic style. To achieve a score of 30/30 with honors the student must demonstrate that s/he has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and is able to articulate their appreciation in a logical, coherent, critical, and creative way.

Williams, Paul, Il buddhismo Mahayana. La saggezza e la compassione, Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 1990, pp. 49–317. Rossi, Donatella (ed.) and various authors, Fili di Seta. Introduzione al pensiero filosofico-religioso dell’Asia, Astrolabio Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 2018. Handouts on Buddhismo Mahayana, available on Classroom. Handouts on Buddhismo Coreano, available on Classroom. Handouts on Tradizioni Religiose del Giappone, available on Classroom. PowerPoint slides of Lessons I, II, and III on Buddhismo antico, available on Classroom.

The course will take place during the first semester and will follow an interactive seminar style. The Teaching Methods adopted include: a) frontal lessons (DD1); b) sessions of comparative evaluation of cases and hypotheses analyzed (DD2); c) critical-analytical audio-vision of multimedia material as well as attendance, whenever possible, at specialized lectures and conferences (DD3); debates on specific topics presented in or connected to the reference text (DD4); methodological lessons (DD5).

Introduction to the Philosophic-religious Doctrines of East Asia. Lessons will be focused on the presentation and analytical comment of the philosophical-religious themes contained in the course and exam text, with reference to the ontological, soteriological, and eschatological aspects expressed therein, contextualized and articulated within the geo-cultural and historical macro-area of reference.

Having passed the exam of the first chosen Oriental language.

EXAM NOTICE – A.Y. 2025/2026 Please read carefully Exam sessions for the assessment of knowledge Always check the lecturer’s noticeboard for possible updates: https://sites.google.com/a/uniroma1.it/donatellarossi Student’s chosen topic Each student is required to prepare one topic of their choice to present at the exam, related to Buddhism and/or the indigenous religions of the culture corresponding to their first language of study (e.g. Korean shamanism; Buddhism in Japan; the Consciousness-Only School; Daoist alchemy in the Song period, etc.). The chosen topic must be based on the exam bibliography listed below. Note: preparing a chosen topic does not exclude assessment on all other topics covered during the course. Syllabus and Required Readings All students in all curricula (including off-schedule, working, and non-attending students) Williams, Paul, Il buddhismo Mahayana. La saggezza e la compassione, Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 1990, pp. 49–317. Library location: IND 4 C 773 29; IND 6 C 752. Handouts on Mahayana Buddhism, available on Classroom. Rossi, Donatella (ed.) and various authors, Fili di Seta. Introduzione al pensiero filosofico-religioso dell’Asia, Astrolabio Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 2018. Library location (DISO): OR C 427, 427bis, 427ter. Students must study only the chapters related to their first language of study: China (pp. 275–461) → for students of Chinese Korea (pp. 463–594) → for students of Korean Japan (pp. 595–688) → for students of Japanese Handouts on Korean Buddhism, available on Classroom → for Korean language students only. Handouts on Japanese Religious Traditions, available on Classroom → for Japanese language students only. PowerPoint slides of Lessons I–III (Early Buddhism), available on Classroom. Students whose first language is not East Asian (e.g. Arabic, Hindi) Williams, Paul, Il buddhismo Mahayana. La saggezza e la compassione, Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 1990, pp. 49–317. Library location: IND 4 C 773 29; IND 6 C 752. Handouts on Mahayana Buddhism and PowerPoint slides of Lessons I–III (Early Buddhism), available on Classroom. One complete selected section from Fili di Seta (e.g. China, Korea, Japan, or Tibet [pp. 109–274]).

Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended. The course adopts a critical and comparative approach to sources and texts, complemented by moments of discussion and guided analysis. Attendance facilitates the understanding of concepts and technical terminology through direct interaction with the lecturer.

An oral test to be carried out at the end of the course. The objective of the oral exam is to ascertain the actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes by the student in reference to all the five Dublin Descriptors. It will be implemented as an open unstructured stimulus test consisting of a presentation of about five minutes, without power point, on a chosen topic related to the religions of the first language studied, plus a question on Great Vehicle Buddhism (e.g. the Four Noble Truths, what does Buddha mean, the doctrine of Madhyamaka in China, Wŏnhyo and his doctrines, the Pure Land Schools in Japan). The oral exam is evaluated in thirtieths and is considered passed with a grade not inferior to 18/30. The student must demonstrate that s/he has acquired solid knowledge of the cultural topics related to the subject-matter and is able to describe them in a congruous and convincing manner, using a correct Italian in the appropriate academic style. To achieve a score of 30/30 with honors the student must demonstrate that s/he has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and is able to articulate their appreciation in a logical, coherent, critical, and creative way.

Williams, Paul, Il buddhismo Mahayana. La saggezza e la compassione, Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 1990, pp. 49–317. Rossi, Donatella (ed.) and various authors, Fili di Seta. Introduzione al pensiero filosofico-religioso dell’Asia, Astrolabio Ubaldini Editore, Rome, 2018. Handouts on Buddhismo Mahayana, available on Classroom. Handouts on Buddhismo Coreano, available on Classroom. Handouts on Tradizioni Religiose del Giappone, available on Classroom. PowerPoint slides of Lessons I, II, and III on Buddhismo antico, available on Classroom.

The course will take place during the first semester and will follow an interactive seminar style. The Teaching Methods adopted include: a) frontal lessons (DD1); b) sessions of comparative evaluation of cases and hypotheses analyzed (DD2); c) critical-analytical audio-vision of multimedia material as well as attendance, whenever possible, at specialized lectures and conferences (DD3); debates on specific topics presented in or connected to the reference text (DD4); methodological lessons (DD5).