Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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This course aims to teach the history of early Buddhism in South Asia using an object-based approach. Using the rich and diverse collections from the British Museum, students will be taught the origins of early Buddhist doctrines and the religious art and architecture which arose from it.
Please note: this is an online course, but we will be exploring objects that are in the collection of the British Museum. The hope is you are able to visit the museum on your own with a newfound understanding of its incredible Buddhist, South Asian art collection.
What will we cover?
- A brief examination of pre-Buddhist South Asian religious arts. - A biography of Siddhartha Gautama through a close examination of objects, particularly from stupas and stupa fragments. - Focussed examination of stupa reliquaries, architectural fragments (such as slabs and pillars), cave paintings, sculptures and some manuscripts.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Have a basic understanding of the pre-Buddhist religious landscape of South Asia at the time of Siddhartha Gautama’s birth and the key parts of his biography. - Be able to identify the key components of the Buddhist stupa. - Be able to understand the key iconographical features of early Buddhist art.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentation, lecture and discussion. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download via the college’s Google Classroom. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
Arjmand is a teacher and researcher in the fields of contemporary Indigenous Australian art and South Asian art. She has been teaching at City Lit since 2016. She holds Honours degrees in Political Science and Law from the Australian National University and an MA in Art History from SOAS University of London. She was Tutor of Indian art for many years for the Diploma of Asian Art programme at SOAS. In 2024 she was awarded a PhD from SOAS University of London. Her doctoral thesis examined how private galleries in London have represented contemporary Indigenous Australian art over a thiry year period. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2020.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/introduction-to-buddhist-art2491879Introduction to Buddhist arthttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/introduction-to-buddhist-art-1080.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Ancient & medieval world/Courses/Online courses/Courses/vm/South Asia season228511361177190417311353012285117711361653<p>Explore the early history of Buddhist art in South Asia in this introductory course.</p>252621094Introduction to Buddhist art7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/introduction-to-buddhist-art-1080_1.jpgInStockDaytimeThuOnlineAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-06-04T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB1227979Introduction to Buddhist art635179Arjmand Azizintroduction-to-buddhist-art/vb122-2526<p>Explore the early history of Buddhist art in South Asia in this introductory course.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-04 00:00:00<p>This course aims to teach the history of early Buddhism in South Asia using an object-based approach. Using the rich and diverse collections from the British Museum, students will be taught the origins of early Buddhist doctrines and the religious art and architecture which arose from it.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is an online course, but we will be exploring objects that are in the collection of the British Museum. The hope is you are able to visit the museum on your own with a newfound understanding of its incredible Buddhist, South Asian art collection.</p><p>Explore the early history of Buddhist art in South Asia in this introductory course.</p>- A brief examination of pre-Buddhist South Asian religious arts.<br/>- A biography of Siddhartha Gautama through a close examination of objects, particularly from stupas and stupa fragments.<br/>- Focussed examination of stupa reliquaries, architectural fragments (such as slabs and pillars), cave paintings, sculptures and some manuscripts.- Have a basic understanding of the pre-Buddhist religious landscape of South Asia at the time of Siddhartha Gautama’s birth and the key parts of his biography.<br/>- Be able to identify the key components of the Buddhist stupa.<br/>- Be able to understand the key iconographical features of early Buddhist art.This course is suitable for all levels.<br/><br/>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.<p>You will be taught online with slide presentation, lecture and discussion. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download via the college’s Google Classroom. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.<br/> </p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.<p>Imperial Arts of China</p><p> </p>Art historyAncient & medieval worldvirtual637951VB122NONEThu04/06/26 - 18/06/2611:00 - 13:0011:0013:003 sessions (over 3 weeks)31 to 4 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineArjmand AzizBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-04T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJun 2026Culture, history & humanities7979Introduction to Buddhist artintroduction-to-buddhist-art/vb122-2526<p>Explore the early history of Buddhist art in South Asia in this introductory course.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-04 00:00:00<p>This course aims to teach the history of early Buddhism in South Asia using an object-based approach. Using the rich and diverse collections from the British Museum, students will be taught the origins of early Buddhist doctrines and the religious art and architecture which arose from it.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is an online course, but we will be exploring objects that are in the collection of the British Museum. The hope is you are able to visit the museum on your own with a newfound understanding of its incredible Buddhist, South Asian art collection.</p><p>Explore the early history of Buddhist art in South Asia in this introductory course.</p>- A brief examination of pre-Buddhist South Asian religious arts.<br/>- A biography of Siddhartha Gautama through a close examination of objects, particularly from stupas and stupa fragments.<br/>- Focussed examination of stupa reliquaries, architectural fragments (such as slabs and pillars), cave paintings, sculptures and some manuscripts.- Have a basic understanding of the pre-Buddhist religious landscape of South Asia at the time of Siddhartha Gautama’s birth and the key parts of his biography.<br/>- Be able to identify the key components of the Buddhist stupa.<br/>- Be able to understand the key iconographical features of early Buddhist art.This course is suitable for all levels.<br/><br/>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.<p>You will be taught online with slide presentation, lecture and discussion. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download via the college’s Google Classroom. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.<br/> </p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.<p>Imperial Arts of China</p><p> </p>Art historyAncient & medieval worldconfigurable
19041136Ancient & medieval worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/ancient-medieval-world1/2/285/1177/1136/19041/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Ancient & medieval world
