Course Abstract:

This course will cover the art of esoteric Buddhism, primarily in China and Japan, with some inclusion of India and the Himalayas. We will begin first with an introduction to the religious background of esoteric Buddhism, from its inception in India to its transmission to East Asia.
Some of the issues to be considered include: the socio-political context of esoteric Buddhism, the role of ritual in esoteric Buddhist practice, monk-translators, and imperial patronage. Next, we will move on to the art of esoteric Buddhism, focusing upon selected sites and objects as a way to understand the role of material and visual culture in esoteric Buddhism, the iconography of esoteric Buddhist deities, Buddhist cosmology, and the transmission and reception of religious concepts across borders.
The art historical topics will include, but are not limited to: the Famensi reliquary, portable and mural paintings from Dunhuang, and Japanese mandalas.

The course format will be a combination of lectures by the professor, group discussion of assigned readings, and student presentations. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Museum Rietberg.
The readings will be mostly English-language; students who are proficient in French, Chinese, or Japanese are encouraged to undertake readings in those languages.
Among the scholars whose works we will read are: Ryūichi Abé, Raoul Birnbaum, Cynthea Bogel, Martin Brauen, Chou Yi-liang, Ronald Davidson, Sherry Fowler, John Huntington, Liying Kuo, Christian Luczanits, Geri Malandra, Charles Orzech, Fabio Rambelli, Robert Sharf, Henrik Sørensen, Michel Strickmann, Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis, Eugene Wang, and Dorothy Wong.