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CS92PROD
Buddhist Art and Architecture in East Asia
ARHA 284
Fall 2023
Section: 01  
Crosslisting: CEAS 284

Visual imagery plays a central role in the Buddhist faith. As the religion developed and spread throughout Asia it took many forms. This class will first examine the appearance of the earliest aniconic traditions in ancient India, the development of the Buddha image, and early monastic centers. It will then trace the dissemination and transformation of Buddhist art as the religion moved north and then east through Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. In each region indigenous cultural practices and artistic traditions influenced Buddhist art. The class will address topics including the nature of the Buddha image, the expansion of the Buddhist pantheon, the function and reception of Buddhist images, the political uses of Buddhist art, and the importance of pilgrimage, both in the past and the present. Over the course of our study we will consider four important movements in Buddhist practice: Mahayana, Pure Land, Esoteric, and Zen.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ART
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Requirement for: (ARHA-MN)(ARHA)(ARST)(CEAS-MN)(CEAS)(CEAS-Lit&Cult)(IDEA-MN)
Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74%

Last Updated on OCT-07-2024
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