TWO DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS IN EAST ASIAN RELIGIONS

Job Description

Two Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1017) in East Asian religions are available at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (IKOS), University of Oslo.

Project Descriptions

PhD project 1 – The River, the Snake, and the Lute: The Changing Meanings of Benzaiten

This PhD candidate will study the popular Japanese goddess Benzaiten, who is often associated with the Indian river goddess Sarasvatī. Benzaiten is arguably one of the most interesting deities in the country: she refuses to be classified as either Buddhist or Shinto, showing up at institutions belonging to both; she is associated with river creatures such as snakes and dragons, while also featuring in pacification rituals for animals killed for food or lab experiments; she is the patron goddess of artists and musicians, but also widely worshipped as a prosperity goddess (people literally wash their money in streams associated with her, hopi...