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Course Description

Summary

Daoism and Buddhism hold a significant place in the daily lives of most Taiwanese people. These philosophical traditions influence spirituality, meditation practices, and ethical values. Many Taiwanese incorporate elements of these philosophies into their daily lives to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing, and so can you. Students will be introduced to central concepts of Buddhism and Daoism through modern Mandarin interpretations of classic quotes, poems and stories. Students will explore these concepts and their relevance to modern life while building on their competencies in listening, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese.  Students will be given a packet of influential classic Buddhist and Daoist writings translated into modern Chinese along with a vocabulary list and grammar points for each reading. Students will be expected to read a section and prepare to discuss it in Chinese with the teacher and classmates during the next class meeting.