ARTH 104(S) Buddhist Visual Worlds*

The richly decorated stupa gateways at Sanchi, the luscious wall paintings at Alchi, the serene Shakyamuni seated in the Sokkuram, and the glittering Phoenix Hall at the Byodoin are but a few of the diverse and dazzling sites we will study in Buddhist Visual Worlds. This introductory survey will begin by covering the origins of Buddhism in India and then trace the diffusion of the religion into Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia. Given the vast geographical and chronological ground to be covered, the material will be organized around the themes of transmission and transformation. This course will consider how Buddhist art and architecture were adopted and adapted by a variety of cultures. We will pay close attention to how rulers have used the religion and its art in their attempts to establish legitimate and prosperous governments. The importance of narrative art in the promulgation of Buddhism will be a reoccurring topic of discussion in this course. We will also examine the construction of the Buddha's body, including not only the iconography of Buddhahood, but also the variety of formal techniques artists used to represent the Buddha's divinity and wisdom. The spectacular pantheon of bodhisattvas and Buddhist deities will also be introduced. Another theme of the course will be the use of Buddhist art in the performance of rituals. We will thus consider eye-opening ceremonies, during which the image is animated with the divine presence, and other ritual activities that involve the use of imagery. Finally, consideration of the reception, interpretation, and creation of Buddhist images in the West will be woven throughout the semester.
Format: lecture. Requirements: in addition to an in-class midterm and a final exam, students will be expected to complete one 3-page paper and one 5- to 7-page paper.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 40 (expected: 30).

Hour: BECKER