080031 PS Case Study II/III: Cave Temples of Early Medieval China (2020S)

Cave Temples are major monuments of early Buddhist art in China, and a testament to the importance of Buddhism as a political tool for the Northern Wei emperors. This course aims will attempt a “close reading” of the richly decorated Dunhuang, Yungang and Longmen caves, as well as explore how recent archaeological discoveries and developments in the historiography of the region can help us re-evaluate this site. Attention will be paid to the place of cave temples in the transfer of Buddhist motifs from South and Central Asia, as well as the presence of motifs hailing from the nomadic context in Yungang’s decorative repertoire. Secondary literature on the site will be read critically, with an eye to how interpretations of the cave are grounded in deeper assumptions on the nature of northern Chinese identity in the medieval period.
Objectives: By the end oft he course, students should be able to:
1. The ability to identify elements of Buddhist iconography, including figures, narratives and motifs, characteristic for the medieval Chinese period.
2. A sophisticated understanding of the iconography, stylistic development, architecture and social history of the Dunhuang, Yungang and Longmen Cave Temples, as well as related cave-temple complexes.
3. Comprehension and proper use of relevant art historical terminology.
4. The critical use of visual, archaeological and written sources for medieval Chinese art history, as well as the secondary literature in the field.
Contents and Methods:
Seminar discussion, identification exercises, group exercises, presentations with peer-feedback sessions, essay.