ARH 382
ART OF THE SILK ROAD

WINTER 2004

ARH 382 - HOME >> Calendar

  • PAPER DUE MONDAY, MARCH 15, 3 P.M.
  • FINAL EXAM: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 8 A.M.
  • Tu., Jan. 6
    Introduction: the geography, topography, and cultures of ancient Central Asia

    Assignment:

    1. Baumer, Southern Silk Road, pp. XI-33.
    2. Look over: Sarianidi, The Golden Hoard of Bactria (reserve)
    3. 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?
    Th, Jan. 11
    Precursors of Buddhism: nomadic intruders (Saka, Yuechi) and the Xinjiang 'mummies.'

    Assignment:

    1. Harvey, Introduction to Buddhism, pp. 9-81; recommended pp. 83-94.
    2. Select one of the following texts and begin reading:
      1. The Buddha-Karita of Asvaghosha, in Cowell, Buddhist Mahayana Texts
      2. The Book of the Great Decease: Maha-Parinibbana-Sutta, in Rhys Davids, Buddhist Suttas.
    3. Prepare distributed questions for discussion on January 15.
    Tu, Jan 13
    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.
    Th, Jan. 15
  • The shaping of the Buddhist tradition: early Buddhist texts and representations.
  • Discussion of The Buddha-Karita of Asvaghosha and its implications for the making of art.

    Assignment:

    1. For Jan. 20: Karetzky, Early Buddhist Narrative Art (reserve), pp. xi-xli.
    2. For Jan. 22: Look over either Ingholt, Gandharan Art, or Hallade, Gandharan Art (reserve).
  • Tu, Jan. 20
    The shaping of the Buddhist narrative tradition: visual reflections of jataka tales

    Assignment:

    • Be prepared to discuss the style typical of Gandharan images and the specific image types typical of that tradition.
    Th, Jan. 22
    The art of Gandhara: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

    Assignment for January 29:

    1. Select and read one 'tale' from Whitfield, Life Along the Silk Road (reserve); be prepared to discuss your reading.
    2. 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.
    Tu, Jan. 27
    The art of Gandhara: visual reflections of the life of the Buddha
    Th, Jan. 29
    Discussion: early travelers along the Silk Road

    Assignment:

    • Bussagli, Central Asian Painting, pp. 69-94; OR Along the Ancient Silk Routes, pp. 67-145; OR Karetzky, pp. 11-51 (reserve)
    Tu, Feb. 3
    Art along the Silk Road, I: the northern route

    Assignment:

    • Bussagli, Central Asian Painting, pp. 53-67; OR Along the Ancient Silk Routes, pp. 146-215.
    Th, Feb. 5
    Art along the Silk Road, II: the northern route

    Assignment:

    1. Baumer, Southern Silk Road, pp. 53-120.
    2. To be handed in on February 12: Prepare a map of the Silk Road, including:
      • Ancient Bactria, Gandhara, Sogdia
      • All the important kingdoms of the Tarim Basin
      • The most important mountain ranges-the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, the Pamir, the Tien-shan, and the Kunlun--and the Taklamakan and Gobi Deserts.
      Using overlays or a 'map double,' show the modern nations covering the same area.
    Tu, Feb. 10
    Art along the Silk Road, III: the southern route

    Assignment:

    1. Complete map assignment for February 12.
    2. Baumer, Southern Silk Road, pp. 43-52.
    Th, Feb. 12
    Art along the Silk Road, IV: overview

    Assignment:

    • Prepare for midterm.
    Tu, Feb. 17
    Midterm examination.

    Assignment:

    • Baumer, Southern Silk Road, pp.15-42. Whitfield and Farrer, Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, pp. 108-191; OR, Whitfield, Cave Temples of Mogao, pp. 8-29 and look through images in rest of book; OR, Shafer, The Golden Peaches of Samarkand, Chapter 1 and one other of choice (reserve)
    Th, Feb. 19
    China looking out: trade, religion, and art, I

    Assignment:

    • Select ONE of the following volumes on AAA Reserve:
      • Rhie and Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion
      • Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sacred Visions, Early Paintings from Central Tibet
      • Berger and Batholomew, Mongolia: The Legacy of Chinggis Khan
      • Klimberg-Salter, The Tabo Monestary. Look over the art reproduced and read as extensively as you can to familiarize yourself with Lamaistic Buddhism.
    Tu, Feb. 24
    China looking out: trade, religion, and art, II

    Assignment:

    • Continue previous assignment.
    Th, Feb. 26
    The coming of Islam to Central Asia; the rise of nomadic empires in Central Asia and their impact on the kingdoms of the Silk Route

    Assignment:

    Tu, Mar. 2
    Lamaistic Buddhism in Tibet, I
    Th, Mar. 4
    Lamaistic Buddhism in Tibet, II

    Assignment:

    1. Baumer, Southern Silk Road, pp. 121-136.
    2. Read: Hopkins, Foreign Devils on the Silk Road OR Along the Ancient Silk Routes, pp. 24-49; OR, skim through EITHER Hedin, Through Asia (2 vols.) (reserve) OR A. Stein, Ancient Khotan (AAA XDS 793.E2S85 1975.
    Tu, Mar. 9
    Traces of Mongolian Buddhism

    Assignment:

      Continue previous assignment; prepare for discussion.
    Th, Mar. 11
    The rediscovery of CA in the 19th - 20th c
  • PAPER DUE MONDAY, MARCH 15, 3 P.M.
  • FINAL EXAM: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 8 A.M.
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