ARTH-A 204 BUDDHA AND BEYOND: KEYWORDS FOR THE STUDY OF EAST ASIAN BUDDHIST ART (3 CR.)
Through classroom discussion and direct study of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artworks in the Eskenazi Museum, this course examines the history of East Asian Buddhist art from the fourth century to the present. Each week is devoted to a particular keyword, from "buddha" and "bodhisattva" to "pagoda" and "pure land."
1 classes found
Spring 2024
Component | Credits | Class | Status | Time | Day | Facility | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEC | 3 | 33681 | Open | 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | MW | WY 015 | Braxton M |
Regular Academic Session / In Person
LEC 33681: Total Seats: 71 / Available: 1 / Waitlisted: 0
Lecture (LEC)
- IUB GenEd World Culture credit
- IUB GenEd A&H credit
- COLL (CASE) A&H Breadth of Inq
- Above class open to undergraduates only
- IUB GenEd A&H credit
- IUB GenEd World Culture credit
- COLL (CASE) A&H Breadth of Inquiry credit
How should we understand the construction of enduring, massive temple complexes and statues by a religion focused on constant change? Everything changes: this is, in its simplest and most fundamental formulation, one of the essential teachings of Buddhism. And yet, in cut stone and carved cliffsides, followers of Buddhism have attempted to make enduring expressions of the Buddha's teachings in the form of monumental structures meant to stand the test of time. Some of the world's greatest cultural heritage sites are a legacy of this goal to create permanence out of the teachings of impermanence. Buddha and Beyond explores this paradox through an extensive study of major Buddhist sites across Asia. Following Buddhism's spread eastward, we will examine major sites in India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. Each week will focus on a major monument and how the careful design of its site reveals underlying cultural and religious principles. Prominent works of painting, sculpture, and architecture at each site will be examined as works meant to actively engage viewers in Buddhist practice. Classes each week will begin with discussion of a particular keyword, starting with the basics (e.g., "buddha" and "bodhisattva") and proceeding toward more specialized terms, including "pilgrimage," "cosmology," and "pure land." Through this visual tour of the major Buddhist monuments of the world, students will understand key aspects of Buddhist teachings, how these challenging and abstract concepts are expressed in concrete form, and Buddhism's major impact on the art and culture of East Asia.