Religion and Thought in Medieval China: Song to Yuan Era

This module examines the unique characteristics of the Song dynasty, exploring the transformation of the Three Teachings, the heightened interiorization and rationalization of religious thought.

This module analyzes how the state controlled and supported religion through Confucian classics, with particular focus on the Northern Song dynasty's support of Daoism and the deification of imperial ancestors.

This module explores Chinese religion at the village level, examining how different religions coexisted and the central role of the earth god in Song period village life.

This module examines the rise of Heavenly Master Daoism, its collaboration with popular religion, the increased focus on exorcism, and the evolution of Daoist self-cultivation practices.

This module explores the two main forms of Song Buddhism: the elite Chan school and the popular Tiantai school, examining their different approaches to cultivation and ritual practices.

This module describes the emergence of Buddhist cave worship culture, examining cave murals, statues, and water-land ritual texts that made the Pure Land concept tangible for Chinese Buddhists.

This module explores the formation of Daoxue's two strains through Lu Jiuyuan and Zhu Xi, examining how Daoxue eventually became state orthodoxy.

This module examines Zhu Xi's transformation of Confucian thought, focusing on his creation of the Four Books canon, views on emotions, interest in local institutions, and the role of academies.