HISTORY OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIONS

What does it mean to be modern? What constitutes modern politics, modern institutions, and modern religion? In this period of great experimentation between the end of the imperial period and today, China is asking itself: How do you become modern and remain true to the Chinese national identity? This course will explore enduring issues around Chinese religious modernity, with a focus on the creation of the modern Chinese state during the Republican era. Ultimately, you’ll learn different ways to study and understand Chinese modern and contemporary religious history and philosophy. We explore this period thematically rather than chronologically, providing you with a better understanding of how religion and philosophy influence the interpretation of history.

Knowledge and understanding:
- to know and understand the heterogeneity and complexity of the religious experience of modern and contemporary China.
- to deepen, through the analysis of religious experiences and their textual and ritual expressions, the understanding of the close relationship between religious doctrines and the historical and social context in modern and contemporary China.

Applying knowledge and understanding:
- to be able to critically analyze, interpret, and contextualize religious phenomena and sources of various types.

Making judgments:
- to be able to develop personal and well-structured critical evaluations of the religious phenomena examined during the course;
- to be able to subject various types of sources to critical examination.

Communication skills:
- to be able to rework and express the program content personally, clearly, and in a well-structured manner;
- to be able to write an academic essay based on thorough research of primary and secondary sources;
- to be able to communicate the results of one’s research effectively.

Learning skills:
- to be able to integrate the study of different sources in a personal and critical way;
- to be able to undertake independent study and research.

Good knowledge of Chinese history.

The long twentieth century in China and Taiwan has seen both a dramatic process of state-driven secularization and modernization and a vigorous revival of contemporary religious life. This course explores the often vexed relationship between the modern Chinese state and religious practice. The course covers a wide range of traditions, including Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, Confucianism, Protestantism, Falungong, popular religion, and redemptive societies in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary way.

The Religious Question in Modern China, by VINCENT GOOSSAERT and DAVID A. PALMER. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 2011. A list of course materials is available in Moodle.

Final paper and Viva. 1) Paper --> a research essay on religion in the Chinese cultural sphere from the 19th century to the present on a topic of your choice. 2) Viva- brief discussion with the Professor (approx. 10 min) on the contents of the final essay. 3) The final paper must be uploaded on Moodle.
PLEASE NOTE: If you upload the paper without registering for the exam session, the exam cannot be assessed. In addition, you must send a separate file [to be uploaded at the same time as the PDF of the essay] containing your name, surname, student number, a copy of your university card (hide the credit card number and CVV code) and an identity document, along with the following statement: I have read the "Ethical Standards for Scientific Conduct" and I state that the paper submitted is entirely my own work.

written and oral

A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- limited ability to analyze and interpret philosophical and religious texts;
- sufficient communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.

B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- discrete ability to analyze and interpret philosophical and religious texts;
- fair communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.

C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- good or excellent ability to analyze and interpret philosophical and religious texts;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.

D. "lode" will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding, excellent judgment and excellent communication skills.

The course is taught both in class, with lectures, workshops and guest lecturers and in a flipped classroom mode. During the online weeks, students are REQUIRED to complete the following:

1) 1 short written assignment (350 words) --> files must be exclusively in PDF format and named as follows: Surname_MatriculationNumber_ActivityName

2) FORUM interaction activities: (a) at least 2 posts (200-500 words, preferably with bibliographic references) in response to inputs from prof. Tarocco and/or TA; (b) at least 2 posts responding to comments made by other course participants (200-500 words) --> NOTE: Interactions on the forum can take place throughout the course duration, but the minimum required number of interactions (2+2) must be completed before the exam. Students can also start a new discussion thread on the forum.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development