Arts of Asia Lecture Series

Arts of Asia Fall 2019 – Seeking the Divine: The Lesser-Known Religious Traditions of Asia

Composite Image - Faravahar Zoroastrian Symbol; Red Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan

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Videos of the lectures are now available on the Asian Art Museum’s YouTube channel. Click here to view the available videos from this lecture series.

For over 25 years, the Arts of Asia Lecture Series has explored the many facets of Asian art, culture, and history. Now for the first time, we will delve into the finer points of religious beliefs in Asia – not the major religions with which our audience is already familiar, but the facets of Asian religious beliefs that are less known in the West yet continue to inform cultural traditions today.  The lectures in this series will explore Zoroastrianism in the Iranian world, Manichaeism in Central and East Asia, Bon in Tibet, Mongolian Tengriism, Muism of Korea and folk religions in Asia.  We will also explore Daoism in China, Shintoism in Japan, and Jainism in India, and examine more recent traditions such as Sufism in Asia, and Sikhism. Please join us for this informative and fascinating journey.

August 23
Other Paths – A Panorama of Asia’s Lesser Known Divine Traditions Study Guide
Sanjyot Mehendale, UC Berkeley

August 30
Zoroastrians in Time and Space: Iran, India, and the Silk Road Study Guide
Jenny Rose, Claremont Graduate University

September 6
Peaceful Warriors: The Origins and Continuing Vitality of Jainism Study Guide
Jeffery D. Long, Elizabethtown College

September 13
The Great Unnamed Religions of East Asia: Divine Presence, Numinous Power and Magical Efficacy Study Guide
James Robson, Harvard University

September 20
Daoism and the Arts of China Study Guide
Stephen Little, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

September 27
Shinto and Japanese Nationalism Study Guide & Presentation
John Nelson, University of San Francisco

October 4
Sky and Earth: Exploring the Non-Buddhist Religious Traditions of Mongolia Study Guide
Uranchimeg (Orna) Tsultem, University of Iceland

October 11
How is Mansin Like a Painting: The Work of Shamans in Korea Study Guide
Laurel Kendall, Columbia University

October 25
The Pearl and the Dragon: Silk Road Christianity From Syria to Xi’an Study Guide
Scott Johnson, University of Oklahoma

November 1
The Religion that (Almost) Disappeared: Chinese Manichean Art and Its Methods of Identification Study Guide
Zsuzsanna Gulacsi, Northern Arizona University

November 8
Sikh Religion in the Language of Colors Study Guide
Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Colby College

November 15
Seeking the Divine through Architecture: A Baha’i Architect’s Perspective Study Guide
Hossein Amanat, AIA

November 22
The Tibetan Bon Religion and the “Nameless Religion” of Tibet Study Guide
Brandon Dotson, Georgetown University

December 6
Sufism, Beauty, Love: Ecstasy and Rapture of Islam in Asia Study Guide
Carol Bier, Graduate Theological Union

Attendance

Registered attendees of the lecture series are encouraged to attend in-person in Samsung Hall. Otherwise, registered attendees can attend via Zoom. Drop-ins for individual lectures are only available in-person in Samsung Hall on a space available basis. Drop-ins for individual lectures are not available on Zoom. The lecture series is organized as 14 separate Zoom webinars. A Zoom webinar confirmation email with information on how to join each week’s webinar will be sent to all registered attendees 2 or 3 days before each lecture. Even though it is not required by Zoom, we recommend that you download and install Zoom on your computer or mobile device in advance, and set yourself up with a free account. Attendees will have a chance to participate in the Q&A via Zoom Q&A. Read our Arts of Asia Zoom Webinar FAQs.

Registration Policies

The Society for Asian Art’s cancellation policy requires at least one week’s advance written notice in order to receive a refund of registration fees. This excludes our Travel programs, which have separate cancellation policies, as well as any programs where a specific refund policy is stated on the event page. Your fees will be returned to you through a check in the mail. To cancel, please contact us.

For programs located within the Asian Art Museum, the museum entrance fee must be paid separately and is not included with your registration fee.

Please note that by registering for a program, you are giving consent to the SAA to be photographed or videoed as a participant.

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