JAP308 Japanese Buddhist Art

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Zuzana Kubovčáková, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites (in Czech)
JAP116 Japanese Buddhism || JAP103 Introduction to Japan. Studies || RLA10 Buddhism I || JAP216 Religions in Japan || JAP149 Buddhism: Teaching&Practice || RLA21 Buddhism || RLKA21 Buddhism || JPN313 Religions in Japan || JPNB26 Japanese Buddhism
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course draws on the course JAP206 Japanese Buddhism. The aim of the course is an artistic perspective of Japanese Buddhism. By means of specific displays of Japanese arts and architectural monuments the students will be introduced to the artistic expression of Japanese Buddhism in various periods of Japanese history.
Learning outcomes
After a successful completion of the course, student will be able to:
- identify and describe Japanese religious architecture;
- analyze basic symbolism of Japanese religious works;
- interpret basic Japanese religous thought reflected in religious architercture.
Syllabus
  • Buddhist Symbolism
  • Early Buddhism in Japan and its artistic expressions
  • Nara period sculpture
  • Construction of grand temples in Nara and Heian capitals
  • Lotus Sutra paintings
  • The Nara and Kyoto Daibutsu
  • Amidism in Japan
  • Early and Medieval Shinto Architecture
  • Esoteric Buddhist iconography
  • Kyóto gozan and zen calligraphy
  • Tokugawa period arts
Literature
    required literature
  • Bowring, Richard John: The religious traditions of Japan, 500-1600. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
  • Nanzan guide to Japanese religions. Edited by Paul L. Swanson - Clark Chilson. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. xii, 466. ISBN 0824830024. 2006. info
  • MASON, Penelope E. History of Japanese art. Edited by Donald Dinwiddie. second edition. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. 432 stran. ISBN 0131176013. 2005. info
  • VARLEY, H. Paul. Japanese culture. 4th ed., updated and expande. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. 383 s. ISBN 0824821521. 2000. info
    recommended literature
  • The Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art Series
  • Swann, Peter C.: Umění Číny, Koreje a Japonska. Praha: Odeon 1970.
  • Cambridge History of Japan- všetky kapitoly súvisiace s náboženstvom, buddhistickými školami, ľudovou vierou etc.
  • Beer, Robert: Symboly tibetského buddhizmu. Praha: BB/ Art, 2005.
  • Robert H. Sharf, Elizabeth Horton Sharf: Living images: Japanese Buddhist icons in context. Stanford: Stanford University Press, c2001.
  • Winkelhöferová, Vlasta: Mingei - lidové umění a řemeslo v Japonsku. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2006.
  • YOSHIKAWA, Itsuji. Major themes in Japanese art. Translated by Armins Nikovskis. 1st English ed. New York: Weatherhill. 166 s. ISBN 0834810034. 1976. info
Teaching methods
The course is structured as a combination of lectures by the instructor combined with illustrative presentations and audio-visual material led by students.
Assessment methods
There are two ways to end this course: with a colloquium (kolokvium: kv) and an exam (zkouška: zk). For a colloquium, the assessment requirements are active class participation (40%) and in-class presentation (60%). For an exam, the assessment requirements are active class participation (20%), in-class presentation (40%) and a final test (40%).
Number of presentations may vary depending on the number of participants in the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/JAP308