This course introduces students to several key religious traditions originating in Asia, such as Hindu traditions in India; Confucianism, Daoism, and popular religion in China, Buddhism and Shinto in Japan; and Buddhist traditions of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. Students will read and analyze primary sources in English translation. By examining artifacts from literature, art, and poetry, students will also learn about cultural history. Throughout the course, students will employ hermeneutical methods in the field of religious studies, such as methods of comparisons. Prerequisites: ENGL 110C and 3 credit hours in PHIL or REL, or permission of instructor.