This course introduces the art and architecture of Buddhist temples in Japan. The Buddhist temple (tera)—monastery, convent, private chapel, hub of devotion and popular culture, and so forth—has been a key religious space in Japan and has had an enduring impact upon architecture and the visual arts. We will examine selected sites and explore their histories and art histories, keeping an eye on broader themes: what were temple architectural and artistic requirements; how did painted and sculpted icons make deities and Buddhist teachings present for religious communities; and how were ensembles of art and architecture developed in relation to doctrine and ritual? We will also consider the preservation of temple architecture and the transformation of icons into works of art during the 19th and 20th centuries.

This course fulfills the following Major requirements: Geographical area (B) and Chronological period (I) or (II).