This course offers an in-depth study of the history and archaeology of the Nara areain general and Tōdaiji temple in particular to fully prepare the students for participation in History and Visual Culture Fieldwork. The weekly meetings are lecture-based but build on the historical, political, social, and cultural background provided in the required readings (secondary sources in Japanese and English). Throughout the course studentsalso read and discuss relevant primary sources (inscribed wooden tablets, Shōsōin documents, excerpts from ShokuNihongi and Tōdaijiyōroku, etc.). Although students will be expected to prepare short translations of primary sources, prior knowledge of kanbun is not required.
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