Buddhist Art of Asia

3 credits · Undergraduate

A survey of Buddhist art and architecture of Asia from 566 B.C.E. to the 19th century, including India, China, Japan, Tibet, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. How works of art and architecture reflect or engage with the doctrine and practice of different schools of Buddhism. Topics include the making of "the Buddha image," the relationship between patronage, styles, and the ritual use of arts, the notion of sacred space, and the political usage of Buddha images. Discussion of issues such as the body, gender, and sexuality in the light of Buddhist arts and cultural context.