This course approaches Japanese Buddhism through the lens of the body, its margins, marginalization, and marginalia. We focus especially on corporeal forms often categorized as “vengeful spirits,” “snake-women,” “ghosts,” “outcasts,” and differently-abled individuals. These figures are examined within the broader context of political and historical transformations, through literary, artistic, and religious representations. Our goal is to illuminate the fault lines—both historical and contemporary—that shape Japanese society, particularly in relation to gender, discrimination, and collective anxieties. Adopting an interdisciplinary and intersectional perspective, the course investigates the complex range of human, dehumanized, superhuman, and non-human life. We explore how Buddhism has constructed, disciplined, rejected, and venerated these bodily forms, revealing porous boundaries and shared traits that disrupt simplistic binaries and challenge fixed roles. By the end of the course, students have developed a strong understanding of the history and configuration of the body in Buddhist thought. Students also gain insight into the central research questions that animate the study of Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism, in particular. In addition, students acquire valuable professional skills, including how to write book reviews, deliver concise presentations, and structure peer-review reports.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with premodern Japanese literature, religions, material culture, and history is highly recommended. All readings for this course are in English, but I am happy to provide supplementary readings in Japanese for students who are interested.
