Science and Religion in Japan

Course title

M3025000

	YOSHIKUBO Hatsuko
	TROVATO GABRIELE
	DITA PUSPITA SARI

Course description

This course is conducted completely in English.
This course introduces some lesser-known aspects of Japanese history, “Science and Religion in Japan.” The quest for natural science to understand the design and principles of the universe was a major reason behind the advance of science in the West. However, Japan had a different story. Science was brought over to Japan by European Christians.

In the class, we do not focus on religion vs science debate, but on historical facts. Both illustrated and written reference materials are used to deepen students' interest and understanding.

Note: The seventh and eighth weeks of the Monday class in the 2024 Spring semester will be conducted as a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Program between Japanese and Indonesian universities.

Purpose of class

In modern society we sometimes hear debates between science and religion, but in Japanese history, western religion and western science arrived at the same time. This course is designed to help students understand the impact of this arrival on Japanese concepts of religion and science and lasting influence on modern Japanese society.

The 16th century was a turning point in Japanese history because the country was unified under the stern rule of two dictators, Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ended the long civil wars among 300 feudal lords. Thus pacified, Japan soon established contacts with Western civilization as transmitted by Portuguese traders and Catholic missionaries. Consequently, Japan acquired the technology, science, art, and crafts of the West and this interest extended to Christianity.

However, the process of modernization was interrupted when Hideyoshi prohibited Christianity. In this course, we explore the process of transformation that religious tradition including Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity went through in Japanese society, education, and science.

Goals and objectives

	Goals and objectives	Course Outcomes
1.	Students will familiarize themselves with the knowledge of the characteristics of some religious traditions in Japan, and how they were transformed in the modern period in the context of their encounter with the West.	B , E
2.	Students will study the different cultures, religions, and races that played important roles in Japanese history.	B , C , E
3.	Students will learn about the value of equity in the field of history.	B , E
4.	Students will understand the importance of interdisciplinary approaches through the humanities course.	B , E

Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

	Participation in class-activities and the reaction paper	Mid-term etc.	Final	Total.
1.	10%	10%	10%	30%
2.	10%	10%	10%	30%
3.	10%	5%	5%	20%
4.	10%	5%	5%	20%
Total.	40%	30%	30%	-

Class schedule

	Class schedule	HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.)	Amount of Time Required
1.	An Overview of Shintoism and Buddhism	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
2.	Japan’s Encounter with Foreign Cultures from China to Portugal	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
3.	Japan's Encounter with Christianity during the Warring State of Period: The Three Great Unifiers of Japan	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
4.	The Tensho Embassy and the Martyrs of Japan	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
5.	The evolution of Castles in Japan	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
5.	The evolution of Castles in Japan	Get ready for your mid-term presentation. Make a poster presentation based on what you have learnt in the first part of the term.	250分
6.	Mid-term Review: presentations and discussion	Write your own evaluation of your presentation. Did you get your point across? Was your introduction catchy? Was your conclusion strong? Evaluate your own experience. How can you improve your presentation? Write down everything you can think of to improve your presentation and your plans.	150分
7.	Japan's Encounter with Foreign Cultures: Dutch influence Note: The seventh and the eighth weeks of Monday class will be COIL Program with Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Collaboration with Dr. Dita Puspita Sari (IGP)	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
8.	Discovery of Superconductivity by Dutch Note: The seventh and eighth weeks of Monday class will be COIL Program with Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Collaboration with Dr. Dita Puspita Sari (IGP)	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
9.	Hidden Christians in Japan	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
10.	Japanese Printing Technology 1: Kawaraban as Tabloid Newspaper of the Edo Period	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
11.	Japanese Printing Technology 2: Edo Culture and Infrastructure in Ukiyoe	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
12.	Meiji Restoration and Bunmei-kaika / Japan’s Encounter with Foreign Cultures 4: US, UK, France, Germany, Russia etc.	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
13.	Importance of Having Philosophical Thoughts and Religion in the Field of Engineering (Special Lecture)	Write a short response paper based on what you have learnt in the class.	150分
13.		Get ready for your final presentation. Make a poster presentation. Summarize what you have learned from this course.	250分
14.	Final review: presentation and discussions	Write your own evaluation of your final presentation. Did you get your point across? Was your introduction catchy? Was your conclusion strong? Evaluate your own experience in this course.	200分
Total.	-	-	2650分

Goals and objectives (Other Courses)

A:Fundamental Mechanical Engineering	B:Advanced Mechanical Engineering	C:Environment and Materials Engineering	D:Chemistry and Biotechnology	E:Electrical Engineering and Robotics	G:Advanced Electronic Engineering	F:Information and Communications Engineering	L:Computer Science and Engineering	H:Urban Infrastructure and Environment

Language

English

Evaluation method and criteria

Grades are given based on:
1.Participation in class-activities and the assignments (40%)
2.Mid-term review (30%)
3.Final review (30%)
*In order to pass this course, students need to earn at least 60% of the total score.

Feedback on exams, assignments, etc.

ways of feedback	specific contents about "Other"

Textbooks and reference materials

Recommended: A History of Japan: Revised Edition
ISBN-10: ‎ 080482097X
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0804820974

Prerequisites

This course is conducted in a face-to-face manner. Students are required to give a poster presentation for both the mid-term and the final. They should be argumentative, written academically, and complete with references.

Office hours and How to contact professors for questions

Office hours: Monday 13:00-15:00 in the lecturer's office & by appointment.
Contact e-mail address: zam08580@shibaura-it.ac.jp

Regionally-oriented

Regionally-oriented course

Development of social and professional independence

Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge

Active-learning course

Most classes are interactive

Course by professor with work experience

Work experience	Work experience and relevance to the course content if applicable
N/A	N/A

Education related SDGs:the Sustainable Development Goals

10.REDUCED INEQUALITIES
16.PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
17.PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

Last modified : Tue Sep 17 18:18:03 JST 2024