RLST 182: Biography in Asian Religions

RLST 182: Biography in Asian Religions

Brief Outline of Class

This seminar examines a variety of primary texts and secondary theoretical works on biography and autobiography in order to evaluate the significance of life writing in the religious traditions of Asia. We will cover a broad range of historical periods, from early medieval to modern, and geographic regions, including South, Southeast, and East Asia. Topics will include the structure, function, style, production, and reception of life writing, as well as more thematic questions of religious transmission, soteriology and praxis, formations of self-identity, and gender. Seminar meetings will focus primarily on the discussion of assigned readings. Students will be responsible for weekly written responses, class presentations, and a final written paper based on a traditional auto/biographical work of their own choosing.

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