REL 233 Female Divinities and Demons in East Asia

This course examines the popular female deities and demons in East Asia. We will discuss the various forms in which women figured in the spirit world of China, Japan, and Korea, how these female images evolved and what they tell us about the nature of East Asian religions, and the social roles and relations attributed to women within Confucian communities/countries. Course readins include primary texts and modern scholarship. Comparisons with Western traditions will be integrated. [H, GM1]