Print this page Living Art History in Kyoto

Kyoto is a city where art, history and daily life remain closely intertwined. This course explores Kyoto through a famous 17th-century painting, using it as a guide to the city’s evolving streetscape, culture and traditions. We trace how historical layers continue to shape contemporary Kyoto, from temples and markets to everyday rituals. Ideal for those interested in Japanese history, art and the lived experience of place.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face / Online

COURSE OUTLINE

• Explore Kyoto’s spirit through historic streetscapes and centuries-old Rakuchū-rakugai-zu screen paintings offering detailed bird’s-eye views of the city
• Discover how these 16th–17th century artworks, created long before photography, captured temples, markets, hills and sacred sites, revealing Kyoto as it once was
• Learn why the roughly 80 surviving screens are rare and invaluable windows into Kyoto’s cultural and architectural heritage
• Compare the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ screen with the real streets they depict to trace enduring rhythms of the city
• Experience Kyoto through art history, moving from temples to gardens and landmarks to lively arcades, guided by curators and historians for a deeper way of seeing

LEARNING OUTCOMES

*By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Visit Kyoto and explore the streetscape of this ancient Capital with an eye for history
2. Gain a deeper understanding of the 1200 year history of this beautiful city