Buddhism and Japanese Artistic Traditions

Harvard Extension School

HUMA E-160

Section 1

CRN 26798

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This course is designed to enable students to analyze a wide range of Japanese artistic creations—including the traditional Noh theater, modern Japanese paintings, and contemporary anime—by illustrating the influence of Buddhist philosophy both on their forms and in their depths. The first part of the course is a study of major Buddhist theories and their impact on Japanese literature. The second part observes Buddhist ritual practices and their significance for Japanese performing arts. The last part traces the development of Japanese Buddhist art, and considers the influence of Buddhism on diverse contemporary popular Japanese art media.

Registration Closes: January 23, 2025
Credits: 4

Term

Spring Term 2025

Part of Term

Full Term

Format

Live Attendance Web Conference

Credit Status

Graduate, Noncredit, Undergraduate

Section Status

Open

Instructor Info

Ryuichi Abe, PhD

Reischauer Institute Professor of Japanese Religions, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University

Ryuichi Abe

Reischauer Institute Professor of Japanese Religions, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University

After completing an undergraduate degree in economics at Keio University, Tokyo, Professor Ryuchi Abe acquired a master's degree from the School of Advanced International Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University. He then turned to religious studies and was awarded an MPhil and PhD from Columbia University. Abe's research interests center around Buddhism and visual culture, Buddhism and literature, Buddhist theory of language, the history of Japanese esoteric Buddhism, Shinto-Buddhist interaction, and Buddhism and gender. He has been teaching wide-ranging graduate and undergraduate courses on East Asian religions and premodern and early modern Japanese religions. His publications include Great Fool: Zen Master Ryokan (University of Hawaii Press), The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse (Columbia University Press), "Word" (in Critical Terms in Buddhist Studies, edited by Donald S. Lopez, Jr, University of Chicago Press), "Genjo sanzo no toei: Shingon hasso gyojozu no saikaishaku" (in Tripitaka Master Xuanzang and His Reflections: reinterpreting the narrative painting series Deeds of the Shingon Patriarchs, edited by Sano Midori, et. al.), Chusei kaiga no matorikkusu II (Matrix of Medieval Paintings II, Seikansha Press), "Heian shoki tenno no seiken kotai to kanjo girei" (Early Heian Imperial Succession and Abhiseka Ritual, edited by Nemoto Seiji, et. al.,) Nara Bukkyo no dento to kakushin (Tradition and Innovation in the Buddhism of Nara, Bensei Shuppan Press), "Revisiting the Dragon Princess: her role in medieval origin stories and its implications in reading the Lotus Sutra" (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies), and "Women and the Heike nokyo: The Dragon Princess, the Jewel and the Buddha" (Impressions, The Journal of the Japanese Art Society of America).

Meeting Info

Th 5:30pm - 7:30pm (1/27 - 5/17)

Participation Option: Online Synchronous

Deadlines

Last day to register: January 23, 2025

Notes

This course meets via web conference. Students must attend and participate at the scheduled meeting time.

Syllabus

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Tuition

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All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates

26798 1 Online Synchronous Ryuichi Abe Open Th 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Jan 27 to May 17

This Course May Contribute to:

Visual Arts Graduate Certificate

Religions of the World Graduate Certificate

Religion Master’s Degree Program

Religion and Society Graduate Certificate

Psychology Master’s Degree Program

Museum Studies Master’s Degree Program

International Relations Master’s Degree Program

History Master’s Degree Program

Government Master’s Degree Program

English Master’s Degree Program

Creative Writing and Literature Master’s Degree Program

Biology Master’s Degree Program

Bachelor’s Degree Program

Anthropology Master’s Degree Program

Buddhism and Japanese Artistic Traditions

Registration Closes: January 23, 2025
Credits: 4

Term

Part of Term

Format

Credit Status

Section Status

Instructor Info

Meeting Info

Deadlines

Notes

Syllabus

Tuition

All Sections of this Course

This Course May Contribute to:

Harvard Extension School

Harvard Summer School

Harvard Professional & Executive Development

Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement

Buddhism and Japanese Artistic Traditions

Registration Closes: January 23, 2025 Credits: 4

Term

Part of Term

Format

Credit Status

Section Status

Instructor Info

Meeting Info

Deadlines

Notes

Syllabus

Tuition

All Sections of this Course

This Course May Contribute to:

Registration Closes: January 23, 2025
Credits: 4