Lesson Plan

HEIKE UNIT PLAN

Unit Title: Initiates’ Scroll

Duration: 3 Periods (50 minute periods)

Downloadable Lesson Plan: https://goo.gl/Q4YivG

Main Themes

• Pure Land Buddhism
  • Taima Mandala
  • Rokudo Mandala
  • Purpose as a Plot Device
• Chinese Precedents
  • Shangyang Lady
  • The Man Who Strayed In The Realm Of Immortals
  • Tripitaka Master
  • The Sutra of Cause and Effect
  • The Sutra of Dragons and Other Beasts
• Impermanence
• Kenreimon-in
  • Enlightenment
  • Purpose to the Story
  • The Ending Of Her Life

Objectives

Students will: Obtain an understanding of, and be able to identify, the different Buddhist concepts which are referenced in the Initiates’ Book from the Tale of the Heike. Students will also be able to understand the Initiates’ Book as a literary work (a secret text, added to the Tale of the Heike later in the 13^th century).

Student-Friendly Learning Targets

I can:

• Give a brief synopsis of the Initiates’ Book
• Can explain, in very simple detail, the basics of Pure Land Buddhism
• Identify and have some general knowledge about Chinese quotes in Japanese literary work
  • The idea of having an antecedent to justify further actions
• Understand Kenreimon-in’s life in the Tale of the Heike as a journey through the six realms (rokudo)

Vocabulary

Tier 1:

• Rokudo-Mandala
• Pure Land
• 10-ft Square Hut
• Amida Buddha
• Jakko-in
• Nine levels of Rebirth

Tier 2:

• Vimalakirti
• Shrine of Ise

Tier 3:

• Shangyang Lady
• Dragon Palace
• Go-Shirakawa

Essential Question(s)

• How does Pure Land Buddhism act as a plot device in the Initiates’ Chapter
• What insight does the Alternate ending provide to the Tale of The Heike? Why might it be significant?
• Why is the Initiate’s Chapter important to the overall narrative of The Tale of the Heike
• What was Kenreimon-in’s purpose?
• Did Kenreimon-in achieve enlightment?

Materials and Resources

• Powerpoint: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rdg6ewI2p-wYJ6vuCMcnxK-j63mV5Scs33V7-RzqPkk/edit?usp=sharing
• Rokudo Mandala: https://shop.r10s.jp/tirakita/cabinet/34/np-tanka-44.jpg
• Taima Mandala: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Taima_Mandala_%28Junenji_Kuwana%29.jpg

http://web.mit.edu/stclair/www/horai/tai-a4.htm

• Jakko-in: http://kyotomoyou.jp/jakkoin-20140529
• The Tale of the Heike (as translated by Royall Tyler)

Assessment(s)

• Attendance Quizzes
• Kahoot Quiz https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/e43b8275-2a44-4c3a-8880-e46d958d3850
• Draw your interpretation of the Rokudo

Closure/Follow-up/Homework

• Read the Noh-Play and write a summary/reflection of it. (https://goo.gl/2NCk9U)