HISTART 466-001 / ASIAN 465-001

This class surveys the religious arts of Japan from pre-history to the present day, focusing especially on different notions of sacred images and places. It considers how sculpture, painting, architecture, decorative arts, and topography work in concert to produce and condition particular experiences of the sacred. Not only will we examine traditions such as kami worship (Shintô), Buddhism, mountain cults, and Christianity in Japan, we will also consider more general theories of sacred experience from other disciplines such as anthropology and religious studies.

Each class will focus on a particular monument or set of objects from Japanese art, ranging in date from the sixth century to the present day. Throughout the course, we will engage questions concerning the status of the icon, the role of ritual, viewer reception, pilgrimage, and views of the natural world. The class provides both an overview of the religious currents of Japan as seen through art as well as an introduction to visual analyses of material culture.

Estimated Cost of Materials:$0-$50.

HISTART Distribution Requirements: 2. Medieval, 3. Early Modern, C. Asia (includes China, Japan, India, South and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific).

Textbooks/Other Materials: all necessary course materials will be provided to the students through Canvas