Collaborative Research
D Comparative Study of Proselytizing Cultures
| Type of Research | Basic Research |
|---|---|
| Project Title | Historical Research on Exchange and Cultural Change |
| Supervising Head of the Research Team | KURUSHIMA Hiroshi |
| Research Title | D Comparative Study of Proselytizing Cultures |
| Head of the Research Team | HAYASHI Masahiko (Meiji University) |
| Research Period | 2006–2009 |
| Research Team |
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| Purpose | With the arrival of 21st century in Eurasia, it is not necessary to emphasize that the importance of religion is steadily increasing. The purpose of our research is to establish a model process for understanding a religion not only through reading and understanding its scriptures, doctrines and organizations but also for comprehending how it is integrated into peoples’ lives. For this purpose, we undertook research on the forms of entertainment, tales, and paintings used in the propagation of religion, and illustration, the common method used for all of them. Religious paintings and literature exist in across religions, in Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam and Christianity. The expressive means for diffusion, and the restriction and integration into real life of such entertainment, tales and paintings as stated above can be supposedly and collectively termed "Advocating Culture". We try to build a model for boosting mutual understanding among the religions of Eurasia by analyzing, in a transverse manner, the various events arising from such cultures The purpose of this research is to comprehend religious culture by studying how it is integrated in real life, how it is communicated and how its images have been fixed and later transformed. This research, for instance, covers only Buddhism in Eurasia but the area of coverage will be progressively widened to other areas and religions. It starts with the initail focus of our reasearch–to comprehend how deeply Buddhism has penetrated into Eurasia by analyzing its current practices and customs, and especially issues related to Buddhism. We will conduct our investigation and research according to the following themes: 1. Comparative analysis of entertainment culture Investigating how Eurasia and Japan have been mutually connected since ancient times by reviewing the forms of entertainment supported by religious thought, which later are turned into literature and tales. Based on reflections from traditional comparative analysis, which tends to limit its objective to analyzing literature, we will try to include alternate forms of entertainment. 2. Comparative analysis of illustration We are happy to inform you that the research recently conducted produced definite results on illustration–the method of advocation through the use of paintings which depict religious philosophies and religious tales. We want to broaden our area of research to the Eurasian continent and establish the theory through investigation of the relationships between pictoral art and advocation in religions other than Buddhism. |
2008
Progress
(1) We cooperatively held a preparatory workshop in working towards the international symposium which will be held at the end of this year. At this workshop, we determined the theme of this international symposium and selected overseas panelists.
(1) First Workshop Schedule: April 26, 2008 |
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Presenters:
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(2) Second Workshop Schedule: November 3, 2008 |
Presenters:
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Result
As stated above, we disclosed our research results to public by holding the international symposium and by editing and publishing the draft version of the report.
2007
Progress
1. Workshop Schedule: May 12 and 13 |
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Presenters:
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2. International Symposium Schedule: September 2 |
Presenters:
Commentators: Junichi Koike, Koichi Matsuo, Yun Guanbon, Kim Shi–Deog, etc. Director: Masahiko Hayashi |
3. Workshops: Schedule: September 22 to 24 |
Presenters: HAYASHI Masahiko Demonstration of illustration techniques by a Tibetan illustrator |
Result
We issued two research reports; one after the workshop held in May and another written in Korean after the international symposium held in September.
