Academic
Academic essays.
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~ Introduction & Overview ~ What Is Buddhism? Buddhism is both a philosophy of liberation and a world religion that began in northern India in the 5th–4th century BCE with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (“Awakened One”). At its heart are a few key ideas: Over centuries Buddhism spread across Asia:…
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Introduction Confucianism, as a philosophical and socio-political system, has deeply influenced the development of East Asian societies for over two millennia. While it has been praised for promoting social harmony and moral ethics, its long-standing impact has also contributed to the entrenchment of patriarchal, hierarchical, and authoritarian systems. As a feminist and leftist, I argue…
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Shintō (神道), often translated as “the Way of the Gods,” is Japan’s native spiritual tradition; a set of beliefs and practices that long predates the arrival of Buddhism, Confucianism, or Christianity on its shores. Rooted in the worship of kami, or divine spirits, Shintō emerged organically from the rhythms of daily life, the cycles of…