Tu., Jan. 9 Introduction: the geography, topography, and cultures of ancient Central Asia; trade and travelers.

Assignment:
Look over: Diège and Bührer, The Silk Road Saga (AAA Reserve) Sarianidi,The Golden Hoard of Bactria: look over carefully and be prepared to discuss the variety of styles and ethnic traditions represented
at Tillya-Tepe, and the stylistic tastes indicated there. (AAA Reserve)

Map assignment:
Using a good atlas or a map in one of the books on reserve for this course, develop the map you will use and continue to expand for future reference for this course. The map should be clean, clear as to places and physical features such as deserts and mountains, and you should allow space on adjoining paper or sheets for the addition of notes about the region we will be "traveling through." Your map should include India on the south, Iranian lands on the west, present-day Kazakhstan on the north, and
China on the east.


Th, Jan. 11 No class.

Journal assignment:
Consider the treasure of Tillya-Tepe: what is your assessment of the style of the material found there? How do you understand the eclecticism and the taste in materials represented by the Tillya-Tepe hoard?

Tu, Jan. 16 Precursors of Buddhism: nomadic intruders (Saka, Yuechi) Assignment:

Read:
Harvey, Introduction to Buddhism, chapter 1; look over chapters 2, 3. Begin reading: The Buddha-Karita of Asvaghosha, in Cowell, Buddhist Mahayana Texts; prepare responses to the questions given in class. (for Tu., Jan. 23)

Journal assignment:
Analyze the presentation of the events from the life of the Buddha: how is the passage of time and experience created? What are the textures and visual sensations with which these events are narrated?


Th, Jan. 18 The emergence of Buddhism and the Theravada tradition in India; Buddha and his teachings; the political patronage of Asoka and Kanishka

Assignment:
Finish reading and preparing for discussion The Buddha-Karita of Asvaghosha.


Tu, Jan. 23 The shaping of the Buddhist tradition: early Buddhist texts. Discussion of the Buddha-Karita of Asvaghosha and its implications for the making of art.

Assignment:
Read either (assigned): 1) The Travels of Fa-Hian (Fa Hsien) in either Giles, The Travels of Fa-hsien or in Beal, Si-yu-ki, pp. 11-54; OR Hsuan Tsang’s travel diary, in Beal, Si-yu-ki, Vol. 1: Bk. 1; OR Beal, Vol. II, Bk. II.; prepare discussion of texts for Jan. 30.


Th, Jan. 25 The shaping of the Buddhist tradition: visual reflections of Buddhist texts

Journal Assignment:
Develop an analytical drawing(s) of a stupa, labeling all parts. Indicate how the stupa functions as a cosmic diagram.


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Tu, Jan. 30 Discussion: early travelers through the Silk Route

Assignment:
Harvey, pp. 139-147. Look carefully over either Ingholt, Gandharan Art, or Hallade, Gandharan Art (all AAA Reserve). Be prepared to discuss either the style typical of Gandharan images or the specific image types typical of that tradition. Recommended: Bussagli, Central Asian Painting, pp. 19-29


Th, Feb. 1 The art of Gandhara: intregration of cultural traditions

Journal assignment:
Consider the ways in which images are turned into story telling: what elements are required to create the sense of a beginning, a middle, and end? Take the relief sculptures from the Freer Gallery, representing the life of the Buddha and reproduced as a part of the Image Reserve for this week. Copy them, if you wish, from the web site and then analyze the stories being told; label the symbols and the symbolic functions they serve.


Tu, Feb. 6 The art of Gandhara: visual reflections of the life of the Buddha

Assignment:
Bussagli, Central Asian Painting, pp. 69-94; or Along the Ancient Silk Routes, pp. 67-145 (both AAA Reserve)


Th, Feb. 8 Art along the Silk Route, I

Assignment:
Bussagli, Central Asian Painting, pp. 53-67; or Along the Ancient Silk Routes, pp. 146-215


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Tu, Feb. 13 Art along the Silk Route, II

Journal assignment:
Draw out a map of the Tarim basin with all its kingdoms, indicating surrounding mountains and surrounding countries; or copy into your notebook the best map you can find. Over the next few classes, you will be adding to that map (using some system of ‘tagging’ sites that suits your needs) images and descriptions of styles characteristic of each site. In other words, this map should be the basis for you to reconstruct your understanding of the transmission and modification of Buddhist subjects and styles.


Th, Feb. 15 In-class, open book examination

Assignment:
Read: Hopkins, Foreign Devils on the Silk Road. Look over: EITHER Hedin, Through Asia (2 vols.) (AAA Reserve) OR A. Stein, Ancient Khotan (AAA XDS 793.E2S85 1975); prepare discussion questions. Your impressions of your chosen book and your responses to discussion questions become part of your Journal.


Tu, Feb. 20 Open discussion: the rediscovery of CA in the 19th – 20th c

Journal assignment:
Develop a time-line for visualizing the chronology of culture and sites across the Silk Route, especially within the Tarim Basin.


Th, Feb. 22 Open discussion: Foreign Devils on the Silk Route.

Assignment:
Along the Ancient Silk Routes, pp. 215-219 and Bussagli, Central Asian Painting, pp. 69-114.


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Tu, Feb. 27 Art along the Silk Route, III

Assignment:
Whitfield and Farrer, Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, pp. 9-23, and look through catalogue (AAA Reserve)
Shafer, The Golden Peaches of Samarkand, Chapter 1 and one other of choice (AAA Reserve)

Begin paper assignment
Prepare a review of one of the following volumes on AAA Reserve: Rhie and Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion, OR Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sacred Visions, Early Paintings from Central Tibet ; OR Berger and Batholomew, Mongolia: The Legacy of Chinggis Khan ; OR Klimberg-Salter, The Tabo Monestary. Your discussion should include an analysis of the art included in the volume and the manner in which it is organized; and a formal and symbolic analysis of one major painting or sculpture presented in the volume. It should also include a thoughtful critical review of the book.


Th, Mar. 1 China looking out: trade, religion, and Tun Huang

Assignment:
Readings (to be assigned) on the expansion of Turkic empires, Islam, and the Mongol empire; this material should also be incorporated into your Journal.


Tu, Mar. 6 The rise of nomadic empires in Central Asia and the coming of Islam


Th, Mar. 8 Lamaistic Buddhism in Tibet, I