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Course Description

This course will introduce the origin and development of the basic doctrines and beliefs of Buddhism from historical and philosophical points of view.  The course will be taught before and during the trip in China. Students will not only study the theory of Buddhism but also its practical application in visits to Buddhist temples, ancient caves of Buddhist arts and museums of Buddhist heritage.  Creighton students will also have chances to meet Buddhist monks, nuns, visit a Buddhist school & discuss Buddhism with Buddhists, Chinese scholars and college students. 

Students are required to take part in three cultural learning projects:

1. Creighton students are expected to do service learning in the Datong while studying Buddhist heritage.
2. We will visit Nanjing and do service learning at Hohai University and/or Nanjing Arts Institute with college students.  Students are required to give a presentation to Chinese students about an aspect of American culture.
3. We will visit Xi'an and other historical places, after which students will be required to discuss the influence of Daoism and Confucianism on Chinese ways of thinking.  Students will be encouraged to uncover similarities and differences between aspects of Chinese and Western culture.

This trip is also a collaborative effort with St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, so Creighton students will also travel with Dr. Alice Yang (St. Mary’s professor) and students of her Women’s Studies class.  Dr. Yang will bring eight to ten St. Mary’s College students to join our group.

We are not situated in any one university for an extended period of time. The course itself is a cultural immersion experience in addition to some academic work prior to departure, in the country (e.g. group meetings and exchange with Chinese students), and after the trip (e.g. research paper/assignments). Information about specific course requirements will be given to you later. For the course work, service, teaching and travel experience, students are able to receive 3 credits (as approved through the College of Arts and Sciences).

This course will introduce the origin and development of the basic doctrines and beliefs of Buddhism, Buddhist Ethics and Arts from historical and philosophical points of view.  The entire course will be taught in China. Students will not only study the theories but will also visit ancient Buddhist temples, caves filled with Buddhist art and Chinese art heritage museums.  Creighton students will also have several chances to meet and interact with Chinese scholars and college students.  A service trip to a Chinese orphanage will also be the part of the learning process.

Students are required to take part in cultural learning projects.  Each student is required to do careful research on the Buddhist art works we encounter in the Yungang Caves (Datong), Shanghai Art Museum (Shanghai), Temple in the Air (Datong) and other historical places we will visit.  Students are required to do a comparison of Buddhist ethics, lifestyle and art to those in the West as well as note the influence from each of China's three main philosophical schools: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. We will have a few oral discussions on the influence these three schools have in Chinese culture.  

Before the team departs for China, there will be one day of class at Creighton on an introduction to Buddhism and taught by Dr. Jinmei Yuan (Philosophy Department).  While the team travels in China, the course will continue to be taught at a few host Chinese universities in Beijing and Nanjing. At these universities, our students will have the chance for cultural exchange by holding open "English Corners" for the Chinese students there in addition to playing our annual basketball game!

Course Attributes:
CCAS Core B International/Global Studies
CCAS Certified Writing
COBA International Culture-Asian Studies