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Master Program for Chinese Religious Studies in English

Fudan University (Shanghai, China)

1. Overview

China has been called “land of gods” since ancient times. Chinese people have

unique religious experience as well as practice. Other than Abrahamic or Hindu

religion, Chinese religions form a distinctive system. In recent decades, discussion in

public sphere and academic research about Chinese religions is becoming a

cross-cultural phenomenon, in the tide of globalization and revitalization of faith. For

the purpose of training experts in the future and promising young scholars in the

field of Chinese religions, School of philosophy Fudan University resolves to launch a

master program for Chinese religious studies in English, starting in fall semester 2015,

which is open for global application.

Unique features

First and so far the only master program for Chinese religious studies (in English)

in mainland China;

Comprehensive and systematic academic training about Chinese religions;

Unique location and irreplaceable resources of field research;

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Direct access to local religious communities and venues, and personal contacts

with prominent religious leaders;

Possibilities of scholarship application;

Master degree issued by Fudan University (acknowledged by ministry of

education), after obtained the required credits and passed thesis defense.

Fudan University locates in Shanghai, the most dynamic and international

mega-metropolis of China. Besides the cultural diversity and vital economic life, this

city and surrounding area are also known for her abundant resources of all religions,

both in history and at present. School of Philosophy Fudan University has long-year

corporation and friendship with all religious communities in Shanghai as well as in

mainland China. This program plans to organize regular visits for all students, and

provides sites for field research, so that students are able to have direct encounter

with living Chinese religions, besides the understanding of theory and classical texts.

Based in Shanghai, this program gives also the opportunities for excursion to

adjacent provinces, such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In the near future, this program will

co-ordinate intensive courses and exchange semester with the leading universities

and research institutes in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and South-East

Asia.

2. The department, the School, and the University

Fudan University was founded in 1905. It is one of the top universities in mainland

China. The school of philosophy ranked 17 (the highest in Asia) in QS World

University Rankings (2013). The affiliated department of religious studies is

well-known for her tradition and academic reputation. It is among the very few

institutes that have undergraduates majored in religious studies in Great China. Some

famous professors are teaching in the department, among them more than 20 give

lecture in English. Their research area covers Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Islam,

Christianity, popular religion, and new religious movement. The department is

undisputedly one of the best institutes for religious studies in Great China. Professors

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from other department (such as Chinese literature, history, historical geography,

sociology and international relationship) in Fudan University, in Shanghai, as well as

from all over China, will be integrated in this program too, in order to build up a

cross-disciplinary teaching team.

Faculty members and their research field (incomplete, for your reference only):

- Prof. Zhang Qingxiong (Ph.D. of Fribourg University, Switzerland): Philosophy of

Vijnanavada, Phenomenology, Christian theology;

- Prof. Xu Yihua (Ph.D. of Princeton University): Religion and international politics,

religious policy;

- Prof. Li Tiangang (Ph.D. of Fudan University, Director of department for religious

studies): Chinese church history, Chinese popular religion, study of Confucian

classics and Confucianism;

- Prof. Wang Xinsheng (Ph.D. of Fudan University): Catholic theology, Chinese

Islam;

- Prof. Benoit Vermander (Ph.D. of Sciences Politique de Paris, French):

Anthropology of religion, spirituality;

- Prof. Wang Gang (Ph.D. of Chicago University): Taoism, Taoist literature;

- Prof. Bai Tongdong (Ph.D. of Boston University): Pre-Qin philosophers, Chinese

political philosophy;

- Prof. Lin Zichun (Ph.D. of Oxford University): Sino-Christian theology, Christian

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thought;

- Prof. Milton W. Y. Wan (Ph.D. of Oxford University): Chinese Culture and

Christianity, Chinese Philosophy, Spirituality;

- Associated Prof. Liu Ping (Ph.D. of Fudan University): Chinese Christianity, biblical

study;

- Associated Prof. Zhu Xiaohong (Ph.D. of Fudan University): Chinese Catholicism,

feminist theology;

- Associated Prof. Eberhardt Guhe (Ph.D. of Mainz University, German): Buddhist

philosophy and logic, Sanskrit;

- Associated Prof. Lawrence Y.K. LAU (Ph.D. of Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology): Buddhist philosophy, relationship of religion and politics, Theravada

Buddhism;

- Associated Prof. Liu Zhen (Ph.D. of Munich University): Buddhist history, Sanskrit;

- Associated Prof. Zhang Shuangli (Ph.D. of Fudan University): Western Marxism

and religion;

- Associated Prof. Cai Qinghua (Ph.D. of Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology): Taoism

- Assistant Prof. Yu Zhejun (Ph. D. of Leipzig University, Program coordinator):

Sociology of religion, Chinese popular religion.

Partner:

Institute of Sino-Christian Studies (Hong Kong): established in 1995, it aims to

promote Christian studies, construct Sino-Christian theology, and enrich Chinese

culture.

3. Credit system:

Duration of every individual student is normally two years. Accordingly, we have a

flexible credit system, which balances compulsory and elective courses.

Total required credit: 30.

All courses are delivered in English. In addition, this program provides course of

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Chinese language, to improve the language skill of students in listening, reading and

writing.

Three Modules of credit:

- Courses of Chinese language: 6 credit (2 X 3 courses, compulsory);

- Practical courses (field research and visit): 4 credit (2 X 2 courses, compulsory);

- Major courses: 20 credit (6-7courses, elective).

Requirements of granting degree:

- get the prescribed credit (normally within two years);

- Write an academic thesis under the supervision of a mentor, and pass the

defense.

All graduates will be conferred with a master-diploma and graduation certificate by

Fudan University.

4. Courses

The courses of this program cover a wide scope of almost all religious traditions in

China, including Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and popular

religion. They also aim to provide interdisciplinary understanding of Chinese religions

from multiple approaches, such as history, classical studies, philosophy, theology,

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ritual, psychology, anthropology and sociology etc.. Some subjects are listed as below

(incomplete, for your reference only):

History of Chinese Buddhism and Sutra-reading;

Study of Confucian Classics and rites；

Muslim ethnical groups in China, Islam-Confucian dialogue, Menhuan system;

Contemporary urban religion and field research;

Festival and ritual of Chinese popular religion;

History and future of Sino-Christian theology;

Chinese translation of Bible, indigenization of Christian theology in China;

Christianity and Judaism in Chinese context;

Relationship between religion and politics, religious policy in China;

Faith and ritual of ethnical groups in south-western China;

Sociological study of Chinese religions;

Hermeneutics of classical text of Chinese religion

The courses are divided into three levels, namely basic, intermediate and advanced,

so that student can choose different ones according to his/her own pre-knowledge in

the area (see the diagram below, incomplete, for your reference only).

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Buddhism Christianity

Confucianism,

Taoism and

popular

religion

Islam Methodology

Basic

Introduction of

Chinese

Buddhism

Introduction of

Chinese

Christianity

Introduction of

Chinese

traditional

religion

Introduction of

Chinese Islam

Intermediate

Selected

reading of

Buddhist Sutras

Topics of

Chinese

Christianity

Selected

reading of

Taoist and

popular

religious texts

Topics of

Chinese Islam

(I)

Introduction of

sociology of

religion;

Introduction of

anthropology

of religion;

Text-criticism

and

hermeneutics

Advanced

Topics of

Chinese

Buddhism

Sino-Christian

theology;

Chinese

Translation of

Bible

Intensive

reading of

Chinese

traditional

religious texts

Topics of

Chinese Islam

(II)

Topics of

sociology of

religion;

Topics of

anthropology

of religion

5. Application and Admission

Number of global enrollment (fall semester, 2015): 50 students.

Basic requirement: applicant must have an acknowledged bachelor degree.

Application documents:

- Copy of passport

- CV

- Document of diploma

- Notarized copy of academic records

- Two letters of recommendation

- Personal statement

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- Research project

Application fee: 500 RMB (non-refundable!).

Deadline: Application documents of fall semester 2015 must be sent to the following

address before March 15th, 2015:

Master Program for Chinese Religious Studies

Guanghua Tower (west) 23rd

Floor

School of Philosophy, Fudan University

Shanghai, China

Zip: 200433

Admission list will be announced on the website

(http://philosophy.fudan.edu.cn/p6981c8529/list.htm) of the program before June

15th, 2015. The official (printed) admission notification will be sent by post

afterwards.

6. Tuition and Scholarship

The tuition fee is 50,000 RMB/year.

If student is not able to obtain the credits or pass the thesis-defense within two years,

he/she CAN postpone graduation. But one must pay 25,000 RMB fee for every

extended term.

All students can apply for scholarship from China Scholarship Council (CSC) and

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Shanghai City Government.

7. Accommodation

Students can apply for the dormitory for international students of Fudan University,

which costs 55-80 RMB/day in Handan Rd. campus. It’s also easy to find private

apartment for students near the campus.

For more information pleases contact: yuzhejun@fudan.edu.cn