Philosophy in East Asian Art

Mystical East Asian landscape paintings, the curious Chinese practice of stone-collecting, and classic Japanese ukiyo-e prints all were deeply influenced by the philosophies of Buddhism and Daoism. These ancient ways of thinking guided the choice of subject matter and the styles of composition of East Asian artists for over a thousand years. This class presents numerous wonderful artworks from over the centuries, looking at pieces that capture the profound concepts of karma, nirvana and compassion.