Buddhist Pilgrimages and Sacred Spaces in Asia

This course introduces students to Buddhism and Hinduism, with a focus on the manifestation of Buddhism in Korea.

Invited to teach this course for the 2019 and 2020 International Summer Session in HUFS Korea.

The history and broad development of Buddhism and Hinduism, two major religions of Asia, are approached through the lens of pilgrimage and sacred spaces. Pilgrimages have shaped the physical and spiritual landscapes of Asia, and by focusing on pilgrimage, as a sacred journey to a sacred space, students combine primary source research with investigations into the rich sensory environments that inspired and influenced past pilgrims and devotees. As such, we see the powerful relationship between experience, space, and society come to life.

In this course, particular attention is paid to the manifestation of sacred spaces and temples present in the Seoul area for student field trips, in addition to a temple stay at a nearby Buddhist monastery. By approaching history through sacred spaces and the act of pilgrimage, the students experientially explore, capture with exciting new digital tools, and connect with history in a meaningful manner. And as the next generation of digital historians, students develop new or refine existing skills to critically and analytically engage with old questions in new ways.

Some of the digital tools that are integrated into the course extend to the suite of Google tools, such as Google Earth Pro and Google Lens, in addition to Space Syntax programs and social media. These open-source digital resources permit for student-lead cartographic research, communication, and experiential learning.