“Goddess of Thunder” by Mayumi Oda, 1977.

BERKELEY — Two Japan-related events are taking place this week at UC Berkeley’s Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS), 2223 Fulton St. (southwest corner of the campus).

• Patricia Graham will discuss “Veneration and Imagery of Buddhist ‘Saints’ in Japan from 1700-Present” on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 4 p.m. in the IEAS Conference Room on the sixth floor. This book talk is part of the “New Perspectives on East Asia” series. The introduction will be given by Gregory Levine, who teaches history of art at UC Berkeley.

Graham will explore the reasons for the enduring popularity in the Japanese Buddhist pantheon of Buddhist “saints” — monks known as Rakan (Luohan in Chinese, Arhat in Sanskrit) and laity known as the Buddha’s 10 Great Disciples (Shaka Judai deshi). Both groups were devout, unconventional personages who gained enlightenment after hearing the teachings of the Buddha in India.

Their popularity as personal saviors continues to the present and has inspired the creation of numerous idiosyncratic images by artists working within and apart from formal Buddhist organizations. Their widespread appeal is emblematic of their transcendence beyond Buddhism to universal symbols of individualism and integrity.

Graham, a former professor of Japanese art and culture, and museum curator, is an independent scholar and Asian art consultant based in Lawrence, Kansas. This talk is drawn from her new book, “Faith and Power in Japanese Buddhist Art, 1600-2005” (University of Hawaii Press, 2007).

• Artist Mayumi Oda will give a walk-through of her work currently on display in the solo show “Goddesses: Prints by Mayumi Oda” at the IEAS Gallery on Friday, Sept. 12, from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Oda will also appear in conversation with author Liza Dalby (“Geisha”) from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Conference Room.

Shaped by training in traditional Japanese arts and informed by contemporary concerns, Oda’s “Goddesses” interprets the Buddhist pantheon with a feminine flair. Environmentally aware and encompassing in her religious vision, Oda’s vibrant compositions bring to life an array of icons from household gods to Buddhism’s supreme dieties.

Sept. 12 is the last day of the exhibit, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Dalby will engage in a dialogue with Oda as a finale.

The artist and author have taken a different approaches to celebrate women’s beauty, power, intelligence and strength. The conversation will be an opportunity to hear about their backgrounds, how they were drawn to their field and developed their styles as they explored the relationship with the society, the environment, and the self.

Both events are co-sponsored by the Center for Japanese Studies and Center for Buddhist Studies.

For more information, call (510) 643-6536 or visit http://ieas.berkeley.edu/.