Topics in Chinese Religions: Death, Funerals, Burial

In this seminar we will examine practices surrounding death in a variety of Chinese religions. We will explore the various understandings of the death process, preparation for death, and the afterlife. We will look at the post-mortem treatment of the body, changing funerary practices and different modes for the burial of the body along with other methods of disposing of the dead. The course will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on the medieval period. All readings for this seminar are in English.