Asian Languages & Civilization 291 - Playing with Ink and Brush: Painting and Calligraphy in East Asia

(Offered as ARHA 291 and ASLC 291) How do we read ancient East Asian painting and calligraphy, created primarily with ink and brush? What were the typical themes and styles? Who were the artists and their audiences? Why did they venerate certain works of art over others? To answer these questions, we will examine masterpieces of Chinese painting and calligraphy from the Six Dynasties (220-589) to the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). In addition to weekly lectures and discussions, this course will include several studio sessions to give you basic hands-on experience with ink and brush.

Limited to 20 students. Fall 2025: Visiting Associate Professor Yanlong Guo.

How to handle overenrollment: Preference to majors in ARHA and ASLC.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Focus on close looking at art objects, critical reading of scholarly texts, visually oriented writing and speaking, collaborative discussions of texts and artworks, and hands-on experience with ink and brush.