This course offers an introduction to the art and architecture of Buddhism. From the consecration of the Buddha's relics to construction of modern pagodas, we will use primary sources and close looking to analyze how art and architecture have been made, used, and understood by monks, artists, and donors throughout history. We will place special emphasis on the earliest developments surrounding images and relics in South Asia, and then explore the diverse forms and functions of Buddhist art as it spread to China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. We’ll also examine the interplay between Buddhist artworks and the various environments—monasteries, caves, and museums—made to house them. Specific topics include: the role of art and architecture in the transmission of Buddhism, Buddhist theories of representation and reality, and the relationship between art and meditation.