11-+Japanese+Art+before+1392

= = Japanese Art Before 1390 

__Timeline of Important Events __ 30,000 years ago-Earliest traces of human habitation in Japan 15,000 years ago-melting glaciers cause separation of Japanese islands from mainland Asia a. 12,000-300 BCE-Jomon Period(**BCE**) b. 300 BCE-300 CE-Yayoi Period(**BCE-BEGINNING OF 4TH CENTURY**) c. 300-552 CE-Kofun Period(**BEGINNING OF 4TH-MID 6TH CENTURY**) d. 552-646 CE-Asuka Period(**MID 6TH-MID 7TH CENTURY**) e. 646-794 CE-Nara Period(**MID 7TH-LATE 8TH CENTURY**) f. 794-1185 CE-Heian Period(**LATE 8TH-LATE 12TH CENTURY**) g. 1185-1392 CE-Kamakura Period(**LATE 12TH-LATE 14TH CENTURY**) a. Jomon Period(12,000-300 BCE) •Main Ideas and Vocabulary:
 * 1) Named for the patterns on the pottery produced during this time (made by pressing cords onto damp clay).
 * 2) Primarily a hunting & gathering society, with people living in small communities.
 * 3) Many early Jomon pots have pointed bottoms; planted firmly into ground to use for cooking...others with straight, flat sides were used for storage.
 * 4) During the middle Jomon period, the basic shape of the pots was retained, however the rim was highly decorative and unusually shaped(asymmetrical designs, but sometimes geometric patterns).
 * 5) ** Dogu **-small clay humanoid figures made in the middle and late Jomon periods which tend to have large faces with small arms and hands and compact bodies. While their purpose remains unknown, they were most likely used as effigies to transfer illness or misfortune to.

•Artwork/Architecture:



This late Jomon vessel is cylindrical at the bottom, but expands at its rim. The grooves are made by pressing cord into the damp clay, and the artist has also incised designs onto it. The rim shows that it is a Jomon piece of pottery because of its playful, creative rim that is unique to this era. In addition, the shape of the vessel makes it possible for this piece to be put into the ground and be stable enough to cook with.



The Dogu is a clay humanoid figure that is distorted into a peculiar shape, made during the late Jomon period. This particular one has a cat-like face, thin, disproportionate arms, and incised marks all overits body. Its haunting energy, created by its slit eyes and pose, as well as its peculiarity, are characteristicof the Jomon potters, as they truly expressed uniqueness in each individual figure.

•Things to Remember:
 * **TUBE SHAPED POTTERY**- earlier=simpler, later=crazy rims
 * **DOGU**- weird humanish figure things

b. Yayoi Period(300 BCE-300 CE) •Main Ideas and Vocabulary: •Artwork/Architecture:
 * 1) Japan transforms into an agricultural nation, with rice cultivation becoming widespread.
 * 2) Larger permanent settlements, division of labor, more hierarchical forms of social organization, more centralized government.
 * 3) Bronze begins to be used for weapons and ceremonial objects such as bells.
 * 4) People lived in thatched houses with sunken floors and stored their food in raised granaries.
 * 5) Granary architecture, with its use of natural wood and thatched roofs, reflects Japanese appreciation of nature; architectural designs also persist in later centuries.



This shrine is a relatively small wooden structure, with heavy logs providing the roof, while smaller slats make the walls. It is characteristic of the era due to its thatched roof anduse of natural wood as the material. The construction of this shrine reflects theJapanese appreciation of natural materials.

•Things to Remember:
 * **CHANGE FROM HUNTER GATHERERS TO FARMERS**
 * **ARCHITECTURE**-materials and styles reflect respect for nature

__c. Kofun Period(300-552 CE)__ •Main Ideas and Vocabulary: •Artwork/Architecture:
 * 1) "old tombs" period: named for the large royal tombs that were built then which were built following Korean examples.
 * 2) Beginning of imperial system with emperors equated with deities.
 * 3) Tombs are highly sacred places protected by moats to preserve the land from commoners-Japanese government STILL hasn't allowed major tombs to be excavated.
 * 4) ** Haniwa **-ceramic works of sculpture that were placed on top of the artificial hills built over tombs. Originally simple cylinders that may have held jars with ceremonial offerings, but gradually transformed into shapes of ceremonial objects, and then living creatures, and finally humans of all genders, professions, and classes(NOT GLAZED, show interest in expressive potentials of simple & bold form rather than technical skill).
 * 5) Shinto-Nature based religion(** kami **-deities that inhabit many different aspects of nature) inspired the creation of shrines, as well as ** torii **-wooden gateways that are the only sign that a place is sacred.



This Haniwa, in the shape of a warrior, represents the latest form of these figures, as it has the most modern subject. The warrior is not glazed, and he is imperfect and asymmetrical. All of these qualities show the aesthetics of the Japanese, as they were more concerned with expressive simplicity than immaculate detail. These figures could be found representing any type of person with any profession, from a warrior to a commoner.

•Things to Remember:
 * **GODLY EMPERORS=ROYAL TOMBS**
 * **HANIWA**-sculptures that are found near sacred tombs; exhibit great life and individuality due to the representation of a wide variety of people and subjects.

__d. Asuka Period(552-646 CE)__ •Main Ideas and Vocabulary: •Artwork/Architecture:
 * 1) New forms of philosophy, medicine, music, foods, clothing, agricultural methods, city planning, arts, and architecture were introduced from Korea and China.
 * 2) Buddhism reached Japan in Mahayana form(multiple buddhas and bodhisattvas). Once it was accepted by the imperial family, it became the national religion (Entirely new idea of religion, used focused temples for worship rather than simply finding beautiful areas in nature; more structured in a modern sense).
 * 3) ** Pagoda **-tiered tower with multiple eaves, mainly used for religious buildings.
 * 4) Due to quick acceptance of Buddhism, art takes a major shift towards buddhas and Buddhist symbolism.



The Temple of Horyu-ji is a home to a plethora of priceless pieces of art. The exterior of the building is also spectacular with its elaborate 5-story pagoda and earth-toned colors. Inside, the kondo(golden hall) is filled with Buddhist images, such as the //Shaka Triad//(see below). These sacred grounds blend with nature from the outside, and provide sanctuary forthe sophisticated believer on the inside.



The //Shaka Triad// is a gilt bronze sculpture of Buddha. While it is in the kondo of Horyu-ji, it displays thestrong Chinese influence on Japanese art, as it is elaborately decorated with perfectly executed designs.In addition, the frontal pose and expert treatment of the draping of the fabric suggest that he was wellaware of the models that were being produced on the mainland. Also, the use of bronze further links itto this period in Japanese history.

•Things to Remember:
 * **BUDDHISM**-Entirely new religion creates major changes in artwork
 * **HORYU-JI**-Most significant surviving early Japanese temple

__e. Nara Period (646-794 CE)__ •Main Ideas and Vocabulary:
 * 1) Named for Japan's first permanent imperial capital. Before this, when an emperor died, his capital was considered tainted so the new ruler would pick a new capital city
 * 2) More centralized authority led to the construction of magnificent Buddhist temples and monasteries that dwarfed those built previously.
 * 3) Art of the Nara period is sacred, with a robust splendor that testifies to the fervent belief and great energy of early Japanese Buddhists. (Considered the Golden Age of Buddhist painting)
 * 4) While Shinto and Buddhism coexisted peacefully throughout most of history, during this time Buddhism advanced to become the single most important element of Japanese culture.

•Artwork/Architecture:

The temple of Todai-ji is the grandest temple of the Nara period, and was the largest wooden structure in the world for a thousand years after it was built. Its pagodas are characteristic of Asian religious buildings, and the use of wood as its material shows the continued respect the Japanese had for nature. This temple is so large that its pagodas could accommodate the entire main compound of Horyu-ji.

•Things to Remember:
 * **STABLE CAPITAL CITY**- more time to build extravagant temples
 * **PART OF GOLDEN AGE OF BUDDHIST PAINTING**-era also includes the Tang Dynasty of China and the United Silla period in Korea

__f. Heian Period(794-1185 CE)__ •Main Ideas and Vocabulary: •Artwork/Architecture:
 * 1) Esoteric Buddhist Art: extremely large number of deities, each with magical powers. Hierarchical, with deities having complex relationships with one another. This led to the creation of ** mandalas **-cosmic diagrams of the universe that portray the deities in schematic order. Esoteric Buddhist art is characterized by its sense of spiritual force and potency.
 * 2) Pure Land Buddhist Art: Western Paradise could be reached through nothing more than faith; spread rapidly to all levels of education and sophistication, and is still the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan. Inspired the building of the Byodo-in.
 * 3) ** joined-wood sculpture **-a technique of wood sculpture in which a statue is created by carving out separate sections of sculpture from different pieces of wood, hollowing them out, and then assembling them. This enabled them to make larger, lighter statues that wouldn't crack.
 * 4) "woman's hand" painting style: characterized by delicate lines, strong if sometimes muted colors, and asymmetrical compositions usually viewed from above through invisible, "blown away" roofs.
 * 5) The first known novel, //The Tale of the Genji//, by Lady Murasaki, inspired many secular paintings and works of art.

The Byodo-in, or Phoenix Hall, is a Pure Land Buddhist temple located in the Uji Mountains. It is unique due to its striking color, which contrasts greatly with the deep green wilderness around it. Originally, it was a secular palace meant to suggest the actual Western Paradise of Amida, but it was later converted into a temple. It is called the Phoenix Hall due to its pair of phoenix images on the roof, as well as the overall shape of the building itself, from the lightness of its thin columns to the gentle laying on the edge of a pond.

There are 20 scrolls such as this one that are illustrated to show the chapters of the first novel ever recorded,//The Tale of the Genji//. Although the ink is starting to fade in some spots, the deep colors are elegantly applied in the "woman's hand" painting style, as it appears gentle and delicate, while still portraying the narrative that it attempts to.

•Things to Remember:
 * **JOINED-WOOD SCULPTURE**-made a difficult, heavy medium lighter, easier to work with, and more durable
 * **SECULAR PAINTING**-Inspired by //The Tale of Genji//, in "woman's hand" painting style

__g. Kamakura Period(1185-1392 CE)__ •Main Ideas and Vocabulary: •Artwork/Architecture:
 * 1) Due to the aristocracy neglecting their own responsibilities for governing, samurai leaders became the real powers in the country.
 * 2) End of the era of poetic refinement, and the new world of action and warfare began to dominate secular art.
 * 3) Kamukara-era portraiture saw a new emphasis on realism, even including the use of crystal eyes in sculpture for the first time.
 * 4) ** Raigo **-"welcoming approach"; paintings created depicting the Amida Buddha, accompanied by bodhisattvas, coming down to Earth to welcome the souls of dying believers.
 * 5) Zen Buddhist art became the leading force in Japanese art by the end of this era due to its spirit of self-reliance and its appeal to those who were not satisfied with the older forms of Buddhism.

This narrative painting illustrates an infamous battle between the two most powerful clans of warriors, the Minamoto and the Taira. The shameless depiction of gruesome warfare shows a dramatic change in subject of secular painting that happened durring the Kamakura era. There is an immense amount of detail with a bold choice of color, and the figures are less stylized than those of previous eras, showing the push to realism of this period.



The raigo is a painting which portrays the Amida Buddha and several deities coming down to Earth in order to welcome a dying soul.The expressions and colors of the figures exude harmony and compassion, as they are meant to help a peaceful transition into the afterlife. These figures, although still stylized, are more proportionate, and the complexity of the media used is greater.(ink and colors with cut gold on silk)

•Things to Remember:
 * **WARRIORS**-held power, were portrayed in artwork
 * **REALISM**-many sculptors and painters became experts in depicting faces, forms, and drapery with great attention to naturalistic detail

h. Videos
 * Exploring Nara Architecture-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4rWWtSWf_k
 * Decoding Jomon Pottery-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMhU6nBlyyA
 * Lost Treasures of the Ancient World-Japan-[]