Graduate School

Major in Buddhist Studies(Master's and Doctoral Courses)

Buddhist Studies at Otani University emphasizes the academic study of the spirit of Buddhism, thus nurturing the individual along the path towards finding his true self. Methodologically, the department places importance on the philological study of source materials. A study of canonical languages —Pāli, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese — is required for reading the original Buddhist texts. With the changing trends in world thought today, the study of Buddhism has become increasingly international, demanding that one also learn modern Western languages. In this way, while pursuing a serious study of Buddhist texts, Buddhist Studies also elucidates the implications of Buddhist thought for contemporary problems. In addition, the Joint Research Room in the Korukan is designed to encourage interchange with other departments in hopes of fostering interdisciplinary studies in Buddhism.

Having played a leading role in the field of Buddhist studies, Otani University owns numerous valuable works, including the Peking edition of the Tibetan Tripit.aka, of which the only other complete version is in the National Library in Paris, over 4500 Tibetan texts, palm leaf sutras written in Pāli and donated by the Thai royal family, and rare books written in classical Chinese, some of which are designated as Important Cultural Properties. Supported by its firm tradition and achievements, this course of study aims at further enriching the modern study of Buddhism.

Master's Course
Basic Courses
   Buddhist Thought
   Basic Studies of Buddhism (textual studies)

Core Courses
   Advanced Studies of Buddhism I (lectures)
   Advanced Studies of Buddhism II (textual studies)
   Advanced Studies of Buddhism III (seminars)

Doctoral Course
Basic Courses
   Buddhist Thought

Core Courses
   Advanced Studies of Buddhism I (lectures)
   Advanced Studies of Buddhism II (textual studies )
   Advanced Studies of Buddhism III (seminars)

Related Courses
   Studies of Foreign Cultures(textual studies)