Art History 203 – Survey of Asian Art 

Buddhist Art in Asia

 

Prof. Robert DeCaroli                                                          

Mon., Wed, Fri -- 10:30-11:20                                              Fine Arts Building B110

 

Course Description/Objectives:

 

From its inception in ancient India to the present, Buddhism has inspired some of the world's most astounding artistic creations. This course will provide an in-depth analysis of a few of these works, which have been selected from sites located in India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and the Himalayas. The lectures will provide an understanding of the importance of each site or object through an analysis of the cultural, religious and political factors that surrounded its creation and use. The student will be expected to develop a basic understanding of the Buddhist teachings and be able to recognize the variations between some of its major schools. Special attention will be given to the manner in which Buddhism has adapted and changed as a result of interaction with indigenous traditions throughout Asia and the way those differences are expressed through art. The course will require a museum visit.

 

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11:30-12:30 and by appointment

in Robinson B 371D

 

Email: rdecarol@gmu.edu

 

Course Web Site - http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/decaroli/s2001/arth203

 

Course Requirements:                     

Participation                 10%                                                    

2 Quizzes                     10%

Midterm                       25%    

Research Paper            25%

Final                             30%

 

The class meetings will consist of lecture-discussions on specific topics with occasional discussions based on the weekly readings. These meetings will form the core of the course material so it is strongly advised that you attend class consistently

 

            The quizzes will be comprised of Slide Identification questions and Terms. The Midterm and Final will be longer versions of the quizzes and will also include Essay Questions.

            Term lists will be available at the beginning of each new lecture topic.

            The paper will be 5 pages in length and will be written in conjunction with a visit to the Sackler-Freer Museum. I will be happy to look at rough drafts.          

            I will be providing you with information detailing the writing assignment later in the term.

 

Grading Policies:

 

A+       100-99%         C+       79-77%

A         98-93%           C         76-73%          

A-        92-90%           C-        72-70%

B+       89-87%           D         69-60%          

B          86-83%           F          59% and lower                        

B-        82-80%                      

 

Attendance is necessary; much of the material will only be presented in class lectures and discussions. You are responsible for keeping up with the material and for getting notes for missed classes.

 

            A student’s class participation grade will be evaluated not according to the amount of talking that student does, but rather according to whether that student contributes thoughtfully and constructively, based on a careful consideration of the class readings.  Obviously, students cannot contribute to class discussion if they are absent; consequently, repeated unexcused absences will be reflected in their participation grade.

 

Make-up tests and extensions will be given ONLY in cases of emergencies or illnesses with proper documentation (doctor’s note etc.) In all other legitimate cases (family obligations, religious holidays, disabilities etc.), extensions may be granted if I am informed well BEFORE the deadline.

 

Papers are due IN CLASS on the day specified in the schedule. Late papers will be marked down five points (half a grade) for every weekday and ten points (a full grade) for every weekend they are late.

I will not accept papers over email.

 

Papers will be handed back in class once. If you are not present on the day papers are handed back it is your responsibility to ask me for the graded assignment.

 

                                                       Adherence to codes of academic honesty is expected on all assignments and in all testing situations. I take the Honor Code (as stipulated in the university undergraduate catalog) very seriously. This code is a simple expression of respect for the course, your classmates and yourself. Cheating and Plagiarism are forbidden (obviously).

 

For those who do not know what Plagiarism is, it can be defined as: presenting as one’s own the words, work or opinions of someone else without giving them proper acknowledgment. Plagiarism can also refer to borrowing the sequence of ideas, arrangement of material, or pattern of thought of someone else without giving them proper credit. Plagiarism can easily be avoided by proper use of footnotes.

 

Museum Visit:

            The class will be visiting the Sackler and Freer Galleries of the Smithsonian Institution. Information on the trip will be provided later in the term.

 

Texts:

1) Denise Patry Leidy. The Art of Buddhism: An Introduction to its History and Meaning. (Boston: Shambala Publications, 2008).

 

2) Course Reader - – on electronic reserves, JSTOR, or Google Scholar –

         e-reserves: http://oscr.gmu.edu/    Password: buddhism

         Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/

         JSTOR: http://www.jstor.org/

 

Readings and Lectures: (This schedule is subject to change)

 

----Readings need to be completed BEFORE the day under which they are listed----

 

Week 1

M 8/31            Introduction to Buddhism

 

W 9/2              Development of Buddhist Practices

Pal, Pratapaditya. et al. Light of Asia: Buddha Sakyamuni in Asian Art. (Los Angeles:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1984) 17-21, 39-49. (on e-reserves)

 

F 9/4                The Life of the Buddha

Leidy 1-5.

 

Week 2

M 9/7              Labor Day – No Class           .

 

W 9/9              Early Indian Buddhist Art (Jataka Tales)

Leidy 9-29

 

F 9/11              Sanchi

The Jataka E.B. Cowell Translation (available through Google Scholar)

No. 407 Mahakapi Jataka pg 225-227.

No. 316 Sasa Jataka pg 34-37

 

Week 3

M 9/14                        Origin of the Buddha Image

Leidy 31-55

 

W 9/16            Ajanta and Ellora

Leidy 57-64

 

F 9/18              Southern Indian Buddhist Art

 

Week 4

M 9/21            Late Indian Buddhist Art I

I-tsing. A Record of the Buddhist Religion as Practised in India and the Maylay

Archipelago AD 671-695. J Takakusu trans. (available through Google Scholar) 71-78, 139-166.

 

W 9/23            Late Indian Buddhist Art II

Leidy 127-141

 

F 9/25              Sri Lanka

Leidy 141-145

 

Week 5----- Arrange Weekend Museum Visit---- Writing Assignment Given

M 9/28                        The Arrival of Buddhism in Southeast Asia– Dvaravati

Leidy 163-169

           

W 9/30            Thai Buddhism --- Quiz #1

 

F 10/2              Thai Buddhism

Leidy 269-275

 

Week 6

M 10/5                        Burma (Mon and Pyu)

Bunnag, Jane. The Way of the Monk and the Way of the World: Buddhism in Thailand,

Laos, and Cambodia” in The World of Buddhism: Buddhist Monks and Nuns in Society and Culture. (London: Thames and Hudson, 1984) 159-170. (on e-reserve)

 

W 10/7            Burma Pagan

 

F 10/9             Burma: the Decline of Pagan

Leidy 263-269

 

Week 7

M 10/12           Columbus Day (class meets Tuesday)

Tuesday 10/13   Indonesia ----The Monuments of Java

Leidy 178-187

 

W 10/4            Cambodia Buddhist Art – the Bayon

Leidy 169-178

           

F 10/16            Class Cancelled

 

 

Week 8

M 10/19          Cambodia / Review Midterm

 

W 10/21           Midterm

 

F 10/23            Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Silk Road

Leidy 65-79

 

Week 9

M 10/26          Origins of Chinese Buddhism – Silk Road Continued

Sarah E. Fraser. “Formulas of Creativity: Artist’s Sketches and techniques of Copying at DunhuangJournal of the Royal Asiatic Society,Vol. 10, No. 3 (Nov., 2000), pp. 341-362 (available on JSTOR)

 

W 10/28          The Western Caves

 

F 10/30            China

Orzech, Charles. “Saving the Burning-Mouth Hungry Ghost” in Religions of China in

Practice. Donald Lopez, Jr. ed. (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1996) 278-283. (on e-reserve)

 

Week 10

M 11/2            China: Tang Dynasty

Leidy 81-99

 

W 11/4            China Sung Dynasty

Welter, Albert. “Buddhist Ritual and the State” in Religions of China in

Practice. Donald Lopez, Jr. ed. (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1996) 390-396. (on e-reserve)

 

F 11/6              China: Yuan Dynasty

 

Week 11

 

M 11/9            China: Yuan to Ming

Leidy 189-203

 

W 11/11          China --- Quiz #2

 

F 11/13            Late Chinese Buddhist Art

Leidy 277-289

 

Week 12

M 11/16          Korea

Leidy 101-108            

 

W 11/18          Korea

Leidy 205-207

 

F 11/20            Japan

Deal, William E. “Buddhism and the State in Early Japan” in Buddhism in Practice.

Donald Lopez, Jr. ed. (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1995) 216-227. (on e-reserve)

                       

Week 13        

M 11/23          Japan------- Writing Assignment Due

Leidy 108-125

 

W 11/25          Thanksgiving Break  

 

F 11/27            Thanksgiving Break 

 

Week 14

M 11/30          Japan

Leidy 208-229

 

W 12/2            Japan and Zen Buddhism

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings. P. Reps and N. Senzaki eds. (New York: Anchor Books, Doubleday, no date given) pgs. 27, 41, 48, 87. (available on Google Scholar)

 

F 12/4              Japan and Zen Buddhism

Leidy 295-303

 

Week 15

M 12/7            Himalayas –Nepal and Tibet

Leidy 231-245

 

W 12/9            Himalayas - Tibet

Leidy 247-261

 

F 12/11            Himalayas - Tibet

 

Week 16

 

Final Exam ---- Dec 16th 10:30 am – 1:15 pm