Arts of Japan

Survey the arts of the Japanese archipelago from the Neolithic period to the present day. This course investigates diverse works such as funerary remains, Shintō architecture, Buddhist sculpture, castle architecture, woodblock prints, hanging and hand scrolls, gardens, tea ceremony, oil and ink painting, and fashion design. We will use visual analysis to discuss themes such as patronage, religious expression, social organization, traditional technologies, indigenous and imported techniques, urban design, and the political functions of art. This course emphasizes various connections between Japan and other cultures through the 21st century that have helped shape its dynamic aesthetic traditions.

Image Credit: Photograph taken by the author in Kamakura, Japan.