This course surveys the arts of Japan from early times to the nineteenth century.  Topics
include the evolution of Buddhist arts through traditional, esoteric, and "Pure Land" imagery; the
emergence of narrative painting and other arts reflecting contemporary social and political
movements; the unconventional, spontaneous styles of Zen painting and landscapes in ink
monochrome; garden design, ceramics, and other arts associated with the tea ceremony; the
decorative arts of painted screens, lacquer, and textiles; and the rise of popular woodblock prints,
"pictures of the floating world."  These and other topics are considered in the context of the
history of religion, society, politics, and other forms of culture in Japan.
Students should gain a good knowledge of works of art that represent various aspects of
Japanese culture over history, and an understanding of the interactions between these works and
the cultural environments that produced them.
There sill be two midterm tests, two papers, and a final exam.
SHHS; CSA, no prerequisites.