FF:RLB54 Buddhist Iconography - Course Information

RLB54 Buddhist Iconography

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).

Teacher(s)

doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts

Timetable

each even Monday 12:30–14:05 J21

Prerequisites (in Czech)

( RLA10 Buddhism I && RLA11 Buddhism II ) || ( RLKA10 Buddhism I && RLKA11 Buddhism II )

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Study of Religions (programme FF, B-HS)
• Study of Religions (programme FF, B-PH) (3)

Course objectives

Course description: A basic survey of Buddhist iconography (descriptive analysis of Buddhist visual art) and iconology (interpretation of its meanings). Besides the iconographical topisc the course also describes Buddhist architecture, sacral and cults buildings. Special attention is paid to (1) the history a nd typology of the stúpa; (2) description and interpretation of the particular Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. At the end of this course, students should be able to understand the basic iconographical texts as well as be able to explain rituals connected with the text. Another outcome will be knowledge of the visuals connected with the text, i.e. peaceful and wrathful figures in Buddhism.
At the end of the course students should be able to:
define basic relations amongst Buddhist pantheon
define basic forms of Buddhist gods and other figures in the pantheon
describe basic structure of the Buddhist pantheon
describe basic examples of the particular Buddhist pantheons.

Syllabus

• (0) Introduction.
• (1) Literary sources; Czech and foreign; printed as well as Internet sources.
• (2) Iconography and iconology.
• (3) Buddhist symbols (eight auspicious symbols, mudras, ásanas, attributes).
• (4) Buddhist architecture: Historical and geographical overview.
• (5) Stúpa and other cultic constructions.
• (6) Historical Buddha Shakyamuni and his iconography in the history of Buddhism.
• (7) Description and analysis of various Buddhist pantheons; history, myths and legends connected with the major firures of the pantheon.
• (8) Tibetan art and Tibetan pantheon.
• (9) Mongol and Buryats Buddhist art.
• (10) Tibetan Buddhist pantheon: Buddhas and bódhisattvas.
• (11) Tibetan Buddhist pantheon: Protectors of the Dharma.
• (12) Tibetan Buddhist pantheon: Important historical and legendary figures.

Literature

• HELLER, Amy. Tibetan art :tracing the development of spiritual ideals and art in Tibet, 600-2000 A.D. Milan: Jaca Book, 1999, 239 s. ISBN 88-16-69004-6. info
• Tibetan art :towards a definition of style. Edited by Jane Casey Singer - Philip Denwood. London: Laurence King & Alan Marcuson, 1997, 319 s. ISBN 0-8348-0394-1. info
• RHIE, Marylin M. and Robert A. F. THURMAN. The sacred art of Tibet. Expanded ed. London: Thames and Hudson, 1997, 488 s. ISBN 0500017182. info
• FISHER, Robert E. Art of Tibet. London: Thames and Hudson, 1997, 224 s. ISBN 0500203083. info
• RAWSON, Philip. Sacred Tibet. London: Thames and Hudson, 1991, 96 s. : il. ISBN 0-500-81032-X. info

Teaching methods

lectures, class discussions, reading of texts, homeworks

Assessment methods

Colloquim requirements:
(a) written essay;
(b) active attendance on the lectures.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2013, recent)
  
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