Non-Western: Japan

Japan Before 1333 Japanese archipelago Four main islands Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushi (+ many smaller ones) Japans geography Mountainous island terrain making travel/communication difficult Japans proximity to Asia revealed through imported ideas: Buddhism, Chinese writing systems, etc. Sea around Japan protected from invasions/ allowed development of individualistic/unique character

Japan Before Buddhism Buddhism introduced to Japan in 552 CE, divides early history of art in Japan into pre-Buddhist/Buddhist eras.

Jomon and Yayoi Periods Jomon = Japans earlist distinctive culture, 10,500-300 BCE Jomon (cord markings) refers to Japanese potters technique of the Jomon period. Jomon people were hunter-gatherers, enjoyed settled lives, villages consisted of pit dwellings (shallow round excavations with raised earthen rims and thatched roofs). Shards (pottery fragments) found in Japan dated before 10,000 BCE (older than any other shard from the world)

Middle Jomon Pottery Yayoi Dotaku Yayoi artisans produced dotaku (bells), not used as musical instruments but rather as ceremonial bells (often deposited in graves). Dotaku generally feature raised geometric decoration presented in bands or blocks (such as simple line drawings of people and animals) Dotaku engravings are the earliest examples of pictorial art in Japan. Yayoi period 300BCE 300CE, name derives from the Yayoi district of Tokyo (where evidence was first found) Culture emerged in Kyushu (southernmost of the Main Japanese islands, and spread northward). Increased interaction with China/Korea + immigration from Korea resulted in social and technological developments Pit dwelling villages began to grow in size and developed fortifications Japan beginning to have walled towns, many small kingdoms, and a highly layered social structure Yayoi pottery less sculptural than the Jomon ceramics, sometimes polychrome, and involved development of bronze casting and loom weaving. Middle Jomon period 2500-1500 BCE Jomon pottery surfaces adorned w/ rope markings, incised lines, and applied coils of clay Population of this period mainy resided in mountainous inland region Jomon pottery adornment often transgressed the basic functionality of the vessel due to wealth displayed through sculptural treatment. Jomon vessels storage/cooking/bone burial/elaborate ceremonial function The Japanese vessels are extremely thick and heavy as compared to the Neolithic Chinese Earthenware (which are harder, thinner, and lighter while emphasizing basic ceramic form and painted decoration).

Kofun Period Kofun Period 300-352, named after the tumuli that began to appear in the third century (ko = old, fun = tomb) The tumuli recall earlier Jomon practice of placing the dead on sacred mountains

Tomb of Nintoku Largest tumuli in Japan, located at Sakai, usually identified as the tomb of Emperor Nintoku

 Haniwa

Central mound takes shape of a key hole Contains stone-walled burial chamber w/ coffin containing objects to assist transition to next life Exalted individuals often had symbolic items and imperial possessions placed within their coffins

Haniwa unglazed ceramic sculptures placed around Kofun tumui, Hani = clay, wa = circle Haniwa often took shapes ranging from abstract shapes to objects, animals, and human figures (such as warriors/female shamans) Haniwa served as spiritual barriers protecting both the living and dead from contamination Were set in curving rows/in groups around a haniwa house placed directly over a deceaseds burial chamber (tumuli) Number of haniwa reflected the stature of the deceased

Shrine of Amaterasu Religion during Yayoi/Kofun eras Shinto Religion Japanese imperial clan traces their origins to the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu Ise Shrine Attributed to Amaterasu, most important Shinto religious center Destroyed and rebuilt every 20 years, reflects primary characteristics of Shinto (sacred space, ritual renewal, and purification) Unique in design due to connection to Japanese imperial family Sole construction material at Ise is wood (fitted together in a mortise-and-tenon system) Mortise-and-tenon system wallboards are sliped into slots into pillars Two massive freestanding posts support the ridgepole (the beam at the crest of the roof) Ise Shrine highlights connection between nature and spirit materials are derived from natural world and shrine stands at a specific location where a kami is believed to have taken up residence

Shinto Shinto Way of the Gods Developed in Japan in conjunction w/ advent of agriculture during the Yayoi period. Venerated local deities/spirits called kami, believed to exist in the features of nature as well as charismatic people Also venerated the places the kami occupy (considered sacred) Clans (local groups claiming a common ancestor/basic societal unit during Kofun period) had their own protector kamis, which they offered prayers to in Spring for successful planting and in fall for successful harvests Purity was central religious belief of Japanese religion, people would abandon settlements if hinted at spiritual defilement Rebuilding common in Shinto, ridding sacred site of physical and spiritual impurities that otherwise might accumulate Shinto practice changed after introduction of Buddhism, e.g. Shinto deities didnt exist until after introduction Still serves today as religion of many rural denizens

Buddhist Japan 552 CE- Ruler of Paekche (one of Koreas Three Kingdoms) sent Japans ruler a gilded bronze of the Buddha along w/ sutras (Buddhist scriptures) translated into Chinese, marks beginning of the Asuka period. Asuka period 552-645 CE, Japans ruling elite embraces major elements of continental Asia (which became firmly established in Japan, including Chinese writing, Confucianism, and Buddhism) 645 CE- series of reforms led to establishment of a centralized government in place of individual clans, marking beginning of Nara period (645-748 CE). Nara period ruled from series of capitals south of modern Kyoto, which adopted forms and rites of the Chinese court Buddhism established firmly in Japan half a century after introduction in 552

Shinto deities gained new identities as local manifestations of Buddhist deities

Asuka and Nara Periods During Nara and Asuka periods, Japan followed Korean and Chinese prototypes of arts associated w/ Buddhist practices Buddhist architecture in Japan resembled mainland architecture of that era very closely

Tori Busshi Earliest examples of Japanese sculpture includes a bronze Buddha triad (Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas) Tori Busshi received commission from Empress Suiko for a votive offering after Prince Shotuku fell ill in 621 Dedicated to the princes well-being in the afterlife after his death Busshis Shaka triad depicted a seated Buddha, reflecting the style of early to mid-sixth century in China and Korea (characterized by elongated heads and stylized drapery folds that form illogical swirls)

Horyuji Kondo Busshis Shaka triad was created for an Asuka Buddhist temple at Horyuji, was placed in the kondo (Golden/Main hall) around 680 Interior walls of the Golden Hall at Horyuji preserved some of the finest examples of Buddhist wall painting in eastern Asia (until a disastrous fire in 1949) Most important wall paintings depicted Buddhas of the four directions Amida (Buddha of immeasurable light and infinite life), became exclusively worshiped as a major trend in Japanese Buddhism, resulting in depictions of his paradise in many pieces

Daibutsuden, Todaiji The kondo at the Todaiji temple is known as the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), of the Nara period. Served as the administrative center of a network of branch temples built in every province Built w/ concerns of imperial authority and Buddhism throughout the country The original Daibutsuden had 11 bays, while the current now has 7. Still the largest wooden building in the world

Heian Period 784 imperial house moved its capital north (possible escaping power of the Buddhist priests in Nara) Heian period 794-1185, takes name from the new capital th Eventually, ties w/ China deteriorated, court-sponsored contracts had ceased by the end of the 9 century, resulting in a more self-directed Japanese culture

Esoteric Buddhism Early Heian period, Esoteric Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China Named Esoteric due to the secret transmission of its teachings Two Esoteric Sets: Tendai (805) and Shingon (806). Tendai based on the Lotus Sutra Shingon (True Word) based on two other sutras Both Tendai and Shingon Buddhists held ideal of individuals possessing Buddha nature and can achieve enlightenment through meditation rituals and careful living Shingon disciples use mudras (special hand gestures) and recite particular words or syllables (mantras/shingon) th Shingon became primary form of Buddhism in Japan through the mid-10 century

Tale Of Genji Japans most admired literary classic Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikubu (Lady Murasaki) around 1000

Provides readers w/ a view of Heian court culture Hiragana Sound-based writing system developed in Japan from Chinese characters, became primary script for Japanese court poetry Handscrolls with pictures alternating w/ text

Heian Court Culture During Nara/Heian periods, Japense imperial court developed as the center of an elite culture Aristocracy had the leisure to play musical instruments in poetry Exchanging of poems became common social practice/frequent preoccupation of lovers Heian court members complied the first great anthologies of Japanese poetry and wrote Japans most influential secular prose Tale of Genji, by Lady Murasaki, generally considered the worlds first lengthy novel, which tells of the life and loves of Prince Genji and of his heirs. Displayed sensitivity to sadness caused by transience of love and life

Kamakura Period Late 12 century, series of civil wars between rival warrior families led to the end of the Japanese imperial court as a major political and social force The victors of the wars, headed by the Minamoto family, established a shogunate (military government) at Kamakura in eastern Japan The imperial court remained in Kyoto as the theoretical source of political authority, but actual power resided with the shoguns, first shogun being Minamoto Yoritomo During the Kamakura shogunate, contact with China brought an appreciation for recent Chinese cultural developments ranging from architectural styles to Zen Buddhism
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Heian and Kamakura Artistic Workshops Until the late Heian period, major artistic commissions came almost exclusively from the imperial court or other great temples Shogun warrior families gained wealth and later became great art partrons Artists were affiliated with workshops, which produced most Japanese art Membership in workshops often based on familial relationships, each workshop dominated by masters with his main assistants and apprentices (which were his relatives) Eldest son would inherit the masters position after extensive training as a youth School of art in Japan Network of workshops tracing their origins back to the same master in a kind of artistic clan Artistic cooperation also surfaced in court bureaus, an alternative to family workshops, located at the imperial palace emerging in the Heian period Master painters of painter bureaus would lay out the composition by brushing out lines and contours, junior painters would apply the colors, and the master would complete the work by brushing in fresh contours and details such as facial features. Priest-artists were trained in temple workshops to produce Buddhist art objects for public viewing as well as images for private priestly meditation.

Muromachi The Kamakura period had ended with a civil war (much like how it began). One shogun emerged supreme and governed Japan from his headquarters in the Muramachi district of Kyoto after several years of conflict

Japan, 1336 To 1868 1185 Japanese emperor in Kyoto appointed the first shogun in Kamakura in eastern Japan

Shogun managed the country on the ruling emperors behalf, emperor lost all governing authority Japanese Shogunate Daimyo (local lords), leaders of powerful warror bands composed of samurai, paid obeisance to the shogun Kamakura shogun ruled Japan for longer than a century, collapsed in 1332 Civil war followed, ending when Ashikaga Takaji established domination of his clan over all Japan and became the new imperially recognized shogun

Muromachi Period Muromachi Period 1336-1573, marked by the rise of the Ashikaga clan Named after the district in Kyoto in which the Ashikaga shoguns maintained their headquarters Zen Buddhism rose to prominence alongside the older traditions (Pure Land, Esoteric Buddhism, etc) Pure Land faith stressed reliance on the saving power of Amida, the Buddha of the West Zen emphasized rigorous discipline and personal responsibility, holding special attraction for upper echelons of samurai and their loyalty codes (loyalty, courage, and self-control) Chinese Zen culture also carried implications of superior knowledge and refinement, giving elevated stature to the warrior elite Those who embraced Zen also accepted other Buddhist teachings, giving way to Zen temples as centers of secular culture (as well as their functions as religious institutions) Chinese art, literature, and learning was conducted at such temples Muromachi painting often consisting of splashed-ink style

Zen Buddhism Zen Buddhism began filtering into Japan in the 12 century, impacting Japanese culture starting in the 14 century during the Muromachi period Zen teachings assert that everyone has the potential for enlightenment, but worldly knowledge and mundane thought patterns suppress it. Achieving enlightenment would require breaking of everyday perception and logic, often through meditation Some Zen schools stressed meditation, others emphasized the benefits of sudden shocks to the worldly mind. One shock includes Kano Motonobus Zen Patriarch Xiangyen Zhixian Sweeping With a Broom, in which shattering of fallen tile roof opens the monks mind Zen beliefs advocate the idea that Buddhists can transcend their ego and release themselves from the mundane world through cultivating discipline and intense concentration Zen temples often served as centers of Chinese learning and handled funeral rites
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Kano Motonobu Opposite pole of Muromachi painting style represented by the Kano School, a virtual national painting academy th by the 17 century Kano Motonobu largely responsible for establishing the Kano style during the Muromachi period Kano style involving use of bold outlines to define the forms

Momoyama Period By the 15 century, Japan was experiencing violent confrontations over territory and dominance as Daimyos themselves began to seize opportunities to expand their power Last century of the Muromachi period referred to as the Era of Warring States 1573 Oda Nobunaga overthrew the Ashikaga shogunate in Kyoto, later killed by one of his generals. Toyotomi Hideyoshi took control of the government after Nobunagas assassination, ruling until 1598 Tokugawa Ieyasu emerged victorious in the struggle following Hideyoshis death, assuming title of shogun in 1603 These warlords reinforced their power through construction of huge castles with palatial residences, symbols of authority as well as fortresses
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The Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony involves the ritual preparation, serving, and drinking of green tea. Simple forms of the tea ceremony started in Japan in Zen temples as a symbolic withdrawal from the ordinary world to cultivate the mind and spirit Grand tea ceremonies served as an excuse to display treasured collections of Chinese objects such as porcelains, lacquers, and paintings As the ceremonies became popular, freestanding teahouses became common

Sen No Rikyu The tea ceremony was a favorite exercise of cultivation and refinement in the Momoyama period. The ceremony eventually began carrying various political and ideological implications, becoming so serious that warlords granted or refused their vassals the right to practice it. Sen No Rikyu Most venerated tea master of the Momoyama period, who was instrumental in establishing the rituals and aesthetics of the tea ceremony. Rikyu was also the designer of the first Japanese teahouse built as an independent structure. Taian teahouse at the Myokian Temple in Kyoto is the oldest in Japan, also attributed to Rikyu.

Shino Ceramics Sen no Rikyu was influential in the determining the aesthetics of tea ceremony utensils, encouraging the use of tea items whose value was their inherent beauty rather than their monetary worth. New aesthetic of refined rusticity/wabi was consistent with Zen concepts, suggesting austerity and simplicity. Sabi The value found in the old and weathered, suggesting the tranquility reached in old age th th Shino generally refers to ceramic wares produced during the late 16 and early 17 centuries in kilns in Mino. Shino vessels typically have rough surfaces and feature heavy glazes containing feldspar.

Edo Period Tokugawa Ieyasu abandoned Kyoto, the official capital, and set up his headquarters in Edo (modern Tokyo), initiating the Edo Period. Instituted many policies designed to limit the pace of social and cultural change in Japan Tokugawa rulers banned Christianity and expelled all Western foreigners (except the Dutch) in fear of the destabilization of their social order Confucian ideas of civic responsibility and public duty made into public policy by Tokugawa rulers

The Rinpa School By the 18 century, Kano masters also served as the primary painting teachers for nearly everyone aspiring to a career in the field Earliest major alternative school to emerge in the Edo period Rinpa Rinpa works feature vivid color and extensive use of gold and silver and often incorporate decorative patterns Rinpa School traces its roots to Tawaraya Sotatsu
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Honami Koetsu One of the earliest Rinpa masters, heir of an important family in the capital of Kyoto, and a greatly admired calligrapher Credit given to him for overseeing the design of wooden objects with lacquer decoration

Ogata Korin Primarily a painter, also designed lacquers in Keotsus manner. Korin reduced motifs to a minimum in his works in order too offer a dramatic contrast of forms and visual textures.

Literati Painting

17 -18 centuries, Japans increasingly urban, educated population spurred cultural and social restlessness among the lower classes Illustrations in printed books and imported paintings of lesser quality brought limited knowledge of Chinese literati painting into Japan Literati were cultured intellectuals whose education and upbringing as landed gentry gave them positions in bureaucracy that governed the country Japanese literati artists painted to earn a living

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Ukiyo-e Growing urbanization led to an increase in the pursuit of sensual pleasure and entertainment in places such as pleasure houses Tokugawas efforts to control these activities ended in vain, in part due to demographics Developments in the printing industry led to the availability of numerous books and printed images, which could convey the citys delights for a fraction of the cost of participation Ukiyo-e Picture of the floating world Main subjects of these paintings and prints came from the realms of pleasure (brothels, popular theaters, etc), even depicting young women in domestic settings and landscapes

Japanese Woodblock Prints Ukiyo-e woodblock prints became enormously popular during the Edo period Sold at the cost of bowls of ramen, being able to be bought by even those of very modest income Designers sold drawings to publishers, who oversaw their printing Master ukiyo-e printmakers were primarily men Japanese prints during the Edo period tend to have black outlines separating distinct color areas Ukiyo-e prints extended to Western culture and disseminated widely throughout Europe due to their affordability and portability

Mordern Japan Edo period and the rule of the shoguns ending in 1868, when rebellious samurai from provinces far removed from Edo toppled Tokugawa. Power rested with the emperors cabinet after the revolution Meiji (Enlightened Rule) named after the emperors chosen reign name as a symbol of imperial authority Oil painting became a major genre in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912)

Showa Period Japan became increasingly prominent in economics, politics, and culture on the world stage during the 20 century Participation in WW2 during the Showa Period (1926-1989), one of many events which propelled Japan forward After the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, American occupation led to imposing of democratic institutions in Japan
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Japanese artists internalized Western lessons and transformed them into a part of Japans own vital culture