This class invites students to explore the rich history and lively world of East Asian art. Through twelve case studies, we will examine the materials and designs of objects from the region called East Asia today and trace how they historically crossed geographical locations and destabilized disciplinary boundaries. These objects are from local and digital collections, including sculptures, architecture, handscrolls, bound books, ceramics, ornaments, furniture, and textiles. We will pay special attention to the long-standing entanglement between East Asian art and the living world, studying the transcultural meanings of subjects such as animals, plants, and landscapes, East Asian religious and philosophical ideas on life and art, as well as the environmental and ecological milieus within which these objects are made and circulated. Over the semester, students will learn critical frameworks and visual vocabulary to appreciate and analyze these objects within their interconnected cultural and political contexts. No prior knowledge of East Asia is required.