Special Study in Asian Art Before 1900: Zen Arts of Korea, Japan, and China

Zen Arts of Korea, Japan, and China

“Zen” is an umbrella term that appears to be everywhere, from a Shiseido perfume bottle to a Zazen board game and restaurants with “Zen” in their names. Historically speaking, Zen (or “Sŏn” in its Korean pronunciation, and “Chan” in its Chinese pronunciation) emerged in seventh century China as a distinct Buddhist school claiming to represent an unbroken lineage stretching back to the historical Buddha. The course is thematically organized, covering a wide range of topics including preconceived notions of “Zen” in the United States, Zen-related ink landscape painting and canonical figures in the pantheon of Zen art including Bodhidharma, the white-robed Guanyin, and portraits of prominent Zen masters. Students will deepen their newfound knowledge by examining Buddhist artworks in the collections of the Spencer Library and the Spencer Museum.