Explain what is Taoism about Watsuji’s philosophy.
You should be prepared to answer all of the following in two to four sentences each:
1. What is the difference between State Shinto and Shrine Shinto?
2. Draw a torii and explain its significance in Shinto as a gateway.
3. What is the significance of the word ningen (??) in Watsuji’s philosophy? Be sure to explain what each of the two characters (nin ? and gen ?) signifies.
4. What does Watsuji mean when he says, “we have discovered ourselves in climate”? What does he mean when he says, “climate does not exist apart from history, nor history apart from climate?”
5. What is Watsuji’s dialectic of double negation? Explain it by applying it to ningen and to fudo (??).
6. Explain what is Confucian about Watsuji’s philosophy.
7. Explain what is Daoist about Watsuji’s philosophy.
8. Daoism says we should take nature as our teacher. Explain how a Shintoist would do this.
9. Shinto holds that kami is in everything. Buddhism says that all things are interconnected and co-arise dependently. What is one important philosophical difference between these two positions?
10. Watsuji says that an ethical life is one in which nin (?) and gen (?) are held in balance. When in doubt, which side will he say you should lean toward, and why?
Essays
You should be prepared to answer all of the following in three to four short paragraphs each:
1. Shinto holds that kami is constantly learning, and that because of this it can be rough or gentle. Buddhism holds that because everything is buddha-nature, everything is impermanent. In what way are these two doctrines similar, and in what respect are they different?
2. In Watsuji’s philosophy, Confucianism and Daoism come together. Explain how this is so. In your analysis, be sure to explain why it is remarkable to see Confucianism and Daoism come together in one philosophical position. (In other words, why are Confucianism and Daoism at odds with one another in the first place?)
3. What is the importance of sincerity (makoto) in Shinto? Why does this make Shinto unique?
4. Why is it inadequate to translate kami as “spirits” or “gods”? Why is it better to describe kami as “gentle” and “rough” rather than “good” and “evil”? What is the difference between “high” and “low” kami?
