japanese art before 1392 1
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Japanese Art Before 1392 Rachel Celotto, Alexis
Parente, and Molly Sachs
Overview
Earliest traces of human habitation in Japan at least 30,000 years old
Four islands compose the country and were linked to the East Asian landmass, forming a ring from Siberia to Korea around the Sea of Japan
Japanese art can be divided into 3 periods
Jomon Period (11,000-400 BCE) Named for the patterns on the pottery, which were made by
pressing cord onto damp clay (Jomon means “cord markings”) Jomon people were able to develop a hunting/gathering culture Around 5,000 BCE agriculture emerged with the planting &
harvesting of beans and gourds After, Jomon period remained mostly hunting and gathering society
that used stone tools and weapons People lived in small communities & seemed to have enjoyed a
peaceful life, giving them the opportunity to develop their artistry for endeavors such as ceramics
Jomon Pottery Jomon ceramics may have begun the immitation of reed
baskets Burns on the sides suggest they may have been planted
firmly in the ground, then used for cooking Applying fire to the sides, rather than the bottom,
allowed the vessels to heat more fully and evenly Other vessels were crafted with straight sides and flat
bottoms (more useful for storage) Potters usually crafted using coils of clay then firing
them in bonfires at low temperatues It is believed that Jomon pottery was made by women During this period, communities became much larger
and each family wanted their vessel to be a specific design
The basic form remained the same, but he rim took on new flamboyant shapes
Jomon potters favored asymmetrical shapes & “meaningful” designs
“Flame Ware” Vessel- Middle Jomon Phase
Dogu People of Jomon period used
clay to create small humanoid figures
Usually never realistic but rather distorted into fascinating shapes
The dogu tend to have large faces, small arms and hands, and compact bodies
The purpose remains unknown, but most scholars believe they were effigies, representing the owner or someone else
Some believed they could transfer illness or unhappiness to a dogu, ten break it to destroy the misfortune
Dogu Figure & Venus of Willendorf
*The dogu of Kurokoma has a face like a cat’sIts tail appears to be touching its chestThe marks on the face, neck, and shoulders suggest tattooing and were most likely incised with a bamboo stick
Yayoi (400 BCE-300 CE) & Kofun (300-552 CE) periods Transformation of Japan into agricultural nation (rice cultivation) Stimulated by arrival of immigrants from Korea, who brought complex
forms of society and government Yayoi was a shift from hunting and gathering to social changes:
permanent settlements, division of labor into agricultural and non agricultural tasks, more hierarchical forms of social organization, and a centralized government
Emergence of class structure and metal technology developed Bronze was used to create weapons and ceremonial objects such as
bells Yayoi people lived in thatched houses with sunken floors Sensitive use of wood and thatch suggest Japanese appreciation of
natural materials
Kofun Period (300-552 BC) Also known as “old tombs” period, named for large royal tombs that
were built Government system equated the emperor with deities such as the sun
goddess When an emperor died, chamber tombs were constructed (influence of
Korea) Various gods were placed inside the tomb chambers, including pottery
to pacify the spirits of the dead Some of the largest tombs during the 5th and 6th centuries were
constructed as a large keyhole and surrounded by moats
Daisen Burial Mound: pottery forms of cylinders, buildings, animal & human figurines (placed atop tombs)
Haniwa Placed atop the hills of the tomb sites First simple cylinders that held jars with
ceremonial offerings Made in the shapes of ceremonial objects,
houses, and boats Living creatures, such as birds, deer,
dogs, monkeys, cows, and horses were added to them
By 6th century, haniwa in human shapes were crafted
Haniwa were left unglazed to reveal their clay bodies
Never perfectly symmetrical (slightly off-center eyes, irregular bodies, and unequal arms)
Asuka Period (552-645 BC)
New forms of philosophy,medicine, music, foods, clothing, agricultural methods, city planning, and arts and architecture introduced from Korea and China
Most significant introductions: Buddhism, centralized government structure, and a system of writing
After Buddhism was accepted by the imperial family, it was adopted as the state religion
Worship was focused in temples Buddhism offered profound teachings of meditation
and enlightenment, and introduced new methods of painting and sculpture
Horyu-Ji
Within the compound, there are only two buildings, the kondo (golden hall) and the five-story pagoda
Kondo is filled with Buddhist images & used for worship ceremonies
Pagoda serves as a reliquary and is not entered
- Most significant japanese temple & oldest wooden temple in the world- Founded in 607 CE by Prince Shotoku- Built as an early monument to the Buddhist faith- Consists of a rectangular courtyard
Buddhist Symbols Lotus Flower: usually shown as white water lily. Symbolizes
spiritual purity, wholeness of creation, and cosmic harmony. Lotus Throne: Buddhas are frequently shown seated on an open
lotus as a representation of nirvana Chakra: ancient sun symbol, the wheel (chakra) symbolizes states
of existence (the wheel of life) and the Buddhist doctrine (the wheel of the law).
Mandala: diagrams of cosmic realms, representing order and meaning within the spiritual universe
Nara Period (645-794 BC)
Named for Japan’s first permanent imperial capital Imperil system solidified into an effective government that could
withstand the powerful aristocratic families that had traditionally dominated the political world
Strong central authority was the construction in Nara of magnificent Buddhist temples and monasteries
Shinto became more formalized, while Buddhism advanced to become the most significant element in Japanese culture
Sutras- important method for copying Buddhist sacred texts - believed to be beneficial and magical - the copying of the words of Buddha was considered an effective act
of worship by the nobility
Nara Art Most of the art in the Nara period was sacred Murals represented what many scholars believed to be golden age
of Buddhist painting, an era that embraces the Tang dynasty in China, the unified Silla period in Korea, and the Nara period in japan
Amida Buddha (710 CE)
- Wall painting of the Amida Buddha of the western Paradise.
- Amida’s body is rounded, his face is fully fleshed and serene, and his hands form the dharmachakra
- Nara period was an age of faith, and Buddhism permeated the upper levels of society
Heian Period (794-1185 CE)
Generally peaceful conditions contributed to a new air of self-reliance on the part of the Japanese
The imperial government severed ties to China in the 9th century and was sustained by support from the aristocratic families
An efficient method of writing was developed, and the rise of vernacular literature generated masterpieces, such as the world’s first novel, Lady Murasaki’s The Tale of Genji.
Two major religious sects emerged: Esoteric Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism
Esoteric Buddhist Art
Two esoteric sects of Buddhism named Tendai and Shingon, grew to dominate Japanese religious life
It was strongly influenced by polytheistic religions, such as Hinduism The universal Buddha, Danichi (“Great Sun”), became more popular Esoteric Buddhism is hierarchical Esoteric Buddhist images had a
sense of spiritual force and potency It was a religion for the educated aristocracy, not for the masses
Pure Land Buddhist Art
During this period of the later half of the Heian period, a rising military class threatened the peace and tranquility of court life
Pure Land Buddhism taught that the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha could be reached through faith
Pure Land Buddhism held that the chanting of mantra- the phrase Namu Amida Butsu (“Hail to Amida Buddha”) would lead to the rebirth of the Amida Paradise. Monks spread this chant to all parts of the country.
It appealed to all levels of education and sophistication. Pure Land Buddhism has remained one of the most popular forms
of Buddhism in Japan ever since
Calligraphy & Painting Women were a vital force in the Heian society and the place of women in
Japanese society contributed greatly to the art at the Heian court Women were noted for their poetry and prose, including diaries, mythological
tales, and courtly romances Lady Mursaki (The Tale of Genji) wrote in Japanese at a time when men still
wrote prose in Chinese, and her work remains one of the world’s great novels One prominent style of Japanese calligraphy during this period was “women’s
hand” This style was characterized by delicate lines, strong colors, and asymmetrical
compositions usually viewed from above through invisible roofs The Genji paintings do not show emotion on their faces, instead, their feelings
are conveyed by colors, poses, and the total composition of the scenes. Each line is brisk and lively, and there are no strokes of the brush other than
those needed to depict each scene The paintings are rendered in small size
Detail of Frolocking Animals (handscroll ink on paper)
Scene from Tale of Genji
Kamakura Period (1185-1333 CE) Countries of the Heian era became so engrossed in their own
refinement that they neglected their responsibilities for governing the country
Clans of warriors (samurai) from outside the capital grew increasingly strong
Samurai leaders soon became the real powers in Japan and dominated the secular arts
The era began when Minamoto Yoritomo defeated his Taira rivals and assumed power as a general in chief
To resist the softening effects of courtly life in Kyoto, he established his military capital in Kamakura
He began a rule that lasted in various forms until 1868
“Burning of Sajo Palace” The Tale of Genji
-One of the greatest painted hand scrolls in Tale of Genji
-Battle fought between the Minamoto & the Taira, whose battles for domination became famous in literature & art
-Scroll conveys a sense of eyewitness reporting
-Style of painting includes brisk and lively line work, refined brushstroke, and color
-Main element is the savage depiction of warfare
-The era of poetic refinement was now over in Japan, and the new world of the samurai began to dominate the secular arts
Kamakura Period: Pure Land Buddhist Art The beginning of the 11th century in Japan was marked
by rising militarism, political turbulence, and the excesses of the imperial court
The unsettling times seemed to confirm the coming of Mappo (a long prophesied dark age of spiritual degeneration
The Japanese reacted by turning to the promise of simple salvation extended by the Pure Land Buddhism
Monk Sewing Kosho’s Kuya Speaking epitomized the faith expressed in Pure
Land Buddhist art At the same time, Zen Buddhism was being introduced to Japan
from China Zen monks lived settles lives in monasteries- usually in the
mountains Japanese Zen monks grew and cooked their own food In addition to meditation, they practiced genjo koan, taking an
ordinary circumstance in their immediate world, such as mending a garment, as an object of meditation
Monk paintings has a sense of activity within daily life, involving the viewer directly with the painter and the subject, which was a feature in many Zen paintings
Kosho, Kuya Preaching, Kamakura periodEpitomized the faith expressed in Pure Land Buddhist art
Raigo Paintings Pure Land Buddhism taught that even one sincere invocation of the
sacred chant could lead the most wicked sinner to the Western Paradise
Paintings called raigo were created depicting the Amida Buddha, accompanied by bodhisattvas, coming down to earth to welcome the soul of the dying believer
Golden cords were often attached to these paintings, which were taken to the homes of the dying
Raigo paintings radiate warmth and compassion In every form of Buddhism, paintingds and sculpture became very
important elements in religious teaching and belief
Descent of Amida and the Twenty-five Bodhisattvas
A portrayal of Amida Buddha and 25 bodhisattvas swiftly descending over mountaings
Employs gold paint and silvers of gold leaf in elaborate patterning to suggest the radiance of their draperies
In the flickering light of oil lamps and torches, raigo paintings would have gleamed and glistened in a temple or a dying person’s home
Maesta (Madonna Enthroned)- Cimabue 1270 CE
Review The history of Japanese art illuminates an interplay between native
traditions and transmitted culture Jomon culture produced the world’s first ceramics & their early technology
developed into a distinctive pottering style Yayoi and the Kofun periods saw technological developments, including
new ceramic techniques and the casting of bronze Mounded tombs appeared with haniwa figures to guard them
During the Asuka and Nara periods, cultural transmission from China by Korea brought a new system of writing, the Buddhist religion, and a new tile-roofed architecture a permanent capital city was established & a Chinese style government was
developed During the Heian period, the Japanese developed sects of Esoteric
Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism The artistic legacy of these sects is seen in mandalas and raigo painting Calligraphy was created The Kamakura period was ruled by military shoguns The shogun and samurai ddopted a new form of Buddhism from China, called
Zen, in which they found self discipline