HISTORY OF BUDDHISM: ARCHEOLOGY AND MATERIAL CULTURE

This course provides an introduction to the study of early Indian Buddhism for those with no or little previous knowledge of the subject. It will explore the cultural context, the main doctrines and scriptures, ethics, ritual and other practices, monastic life. The course will focus on arts, archaeology and cultural materials, and will explore these aspects through case-studies, mostly chosen amongst the most important archaeological sites of South Asia.
By the end of this course a typical student should be able to do most of the following:
Locate the origins of Buddhism in its socio-religious context;
• Outline the spread of Buddhism in South Asia;
• Explain the fundamental concepts of Buddhism and relate these to the practices;
• Describe its main scriptural authorities;
• Identify a range of motivations underlying ordination and the relation between monasteries and the society;
• Discuss some of the above with reference to relevant primary and secondary sources.
The course is an elective for the BA in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and North Africa.

By the end of this course unit students should normally:

1. Have gained a good knowledge and critical understanding of the main topics concerning the cultural history of early Buddhism in South Asia;
2. Have gained an understanding of the continuities and discontinuities between the main schools of early Buddhism;
3. Be able to find and use critically a range of materials including books, journals, primary sources, and web-based resources relevant to the topics studied in the course.
4. Write a sustained argumentative essay on the basis of their study of the bibliography of the course.

No prerequisites: the course is for students with no or little previous knowledge of the subject.

History of Buddhism (South Asia): art history, archaeology and material culture.
The course will approach the subject through the following path:
1) Geography and general chronology (introduction)
2a) Life of the Buddha (readings from Buddhist texts, in particular from the Mahaparinibbanasutta; commentary by O. von Hinüber)
2b) Birth and first spread of Buddhism: chronological problems and archaeological debate (readings on the historicity of the Buddha)
3a) The Maurya phase: sites, religious policies, epigraphy
3b) Expansion of early Buddhism in the North-West: sites and archaeological evidence (readings from Heirman e Bumbacher 2022)
3c) The texts of the Maurya edicts
3d) Indo-Greeks (selected readings from the Minindapanha)
4a) How to read Buddhist art
4b) Gandhara (North-West, including Kapisa) and Mathura
5) The End of Buddhism in South Asia (Reading: R. Salomon; Himanshu P. Ray)

H. Prabha Ray, Archaeology of Buddhism in Asia. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Asian History [PDF su Moodle]
H. Prabha Ray, The Return of the Buddha: Ancient Symbols for a New Nation. Routledge (selected classroom readings)
Milindapanha, Ubaldini Editore 1982 (selected classroom readings)
R. Salomon, The Buddhist Literature of Ancient Gandhara. Wisdom 2018 (selected classroom readings)
G. Pugliesi Carratelli, Gli editti di Asoka. Adelphi 2003 (selected classroom readings)
Luca M. Olivieri, Stoneyards and Artists in Gandhara. The Buddhist Stupa of Saidu Sharif I, Swat (c. 50 CE) https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/it/edizioni4/libri/978-88-6969-577-3/
G. Tucci, Vita di Buddha. Luni Editrice 2019
A. Heirman, S.P. Bumbacher, The Spread of Buddhism. Brill 2022 (selected classroom readings)

Handouts on sites, architecture and monuments will be available on Moodle.
Selected texts and epigraphic material will be available on Moodle.

A short written summary will be requested every 4 lessons.
Individual material cataloguing and study exercises will be conducted on materials uploaded on the ICherish teaching platform
Before the exam, the candidate will present a short (about 3000 words in English or Italian) research essay on a topic selected by the candidate that references and cites the texts we have studied.

Lectures and reading assignments. Seminars on early Indian Buddhism with guest lecturers. E-learning platform on Moodle.

English

For any inquires write to lucamaria.olivieri@unive.it

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development