PREMODERN JAPANESE ART HISTORY*

概要

Why does Japan have so many sacred places? How did these places come to be regarded as sites imbued with sacred qualities? How did they work at different points in history? Why could they continue to attract people to visit? This class examines sacred places in Japanese visual culture, particularly how they were constructed, imagined, and represented in different visual media. We will also discuss the transformations of sacred sites in history and what they meant for people who used and visited these sites. By discussing these various aspects of sacred places, we will have a deep understanding of how they affected society and people’s behavior, identity, and sense of the past. Sacred space does not only exist in the physical world but also the realm of imagination. Thus, we will look at places, such as temples, shrines, religious architecture, tombs, memorials, natural landscapes, mountains, islands, mausoleums, etc., which have a physical existence but also those, such as paradise, mandalas, heavens, etc., which exist in people’s conception of the otherworld. As this course focuses on the visual aspects of sacred sites, students will be expected to analyze and discuss images in class, view exhibitions in museums, and visit actual sacred sites in Tokyo.

目標

After taking this course, students will be able to: -formulate their own ideas, arguments, and research topics on sacred sites in Japan -develop skills in academic discussion and presentations -think of Japanese culture in spatial and visual terms -analyze sacred sites within their historical contexts and along with associated artistic and religious practices. -understand historical developments of sacred sites and issues regarding the relationship between the secular and the sacred, the construction of history through sites of memory, and controversy over the use of culture heritage.

授業外の学習

-finish reading assignments before each class (70 minutes) -prepare for class discussions and activities (60 minutes) -work on writing assignments (60 minutes)

所要時間: At least 190 minutes per class