Early Japanese Art

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Early Japanese Art
K. Erickson AP Art History 2006
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Early Japan
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• Early Japanese History
• Jomon Period (from c. 1000-300 BCE) is earliest
  known artistic period, characterized by cord
  pottery
• First emperor (according to legend) is descendant
  of the sun goddess and ascends the throne in 660
  BCE
• Wet rice agriculture is imported from the Asian
  continent
• Dates vary - some say during the Jomon Period,
  others say 500 BCE
• Yayoi Culture (300 BCE - 300 CE) is the first
  fully agricultural society in Japan (this is
  roughly contemporary with Han Dynasty and Roman
  Empire)

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Vessel, from Miyanomae, Nagano Prefecture, Japan,
Middle Jomon period, 25001500 BCE. Earthenware,
1 11 2/3 x 1 1 1/4. Tokyo National Museum,
Tokyo. (Japanese 1 see Sotstad 11-2)Jomon
pots - looks like cord- were set in ground for
cooking (fire on all sides)- after 2500 BCE
decorative tops like this one- made by hunter
gatherers who lived in small family groups
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• Yayoi (300 BCE - 300 CE) and Kofun Periods
  (300-552 CE)
• During this 850 year period, Japanese culture was
  firmly established
• Transformation into an agricultural nation occurs
  later in Japan
• During period from 100-300, farming villages
  become more complex, becoming stratified social
  units
• Rice cultivation becomes widespread
• Immigrants with Korea brought more complex forms
  of society and govt
• Shift to settling down
• o Larger permanent settlements
• o Hierarchical form of social org
• o Class structure
• o Metal technology dates from this time
• o Ceremonial objects such as bells created
• o Iron knives iron tools replaced stone ones
• Around 300 Ce, it becomes common for emperors to
  be buried in large tombs
• Tombs were covered with with large amounts of
  pottery to pacify spirits of the dead and serve
  emperors in their next life

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Dotaku (bell) from Kagawa Prefecture, Japan,
Late Yayoi period, 100300 CE. Bronze, 1 4
7/8 high. Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo. (Japan
2 Not in Stokstad)- Compare with Chinese bells
from previous unit.- By this time, artisans are
working in metal.- During Yayoi period, Japanese
culture established. - Much comes from Koreans
who settle there.- Government is hierarchical
class system develops.
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Haniwa (cylindrical) warrior figure, from Gunma
Prefecture, JapanLate Kofun period, 5th to mid
6th century. Low-fired clay, 4 1 1/4 high.
Aikawa Archaeological Museum, Aikawa. (Japan 5
see Stokstad 11-4 for similar)- Typical later
Haniwa figure.- Haniwa means circle of clay.
- These were placed on top of burial mounds,
such as the keyhole tomb in previous slide. -
Precise function of haniwa figures is ambiguous.
- Initially just cylindrical jars. Might have
held offerings. - Later made in shape of houses
and boats. - Later still made creatures, and
finally humans. - Always slightly asymmetrical -
eyes off center or arms uneven length.
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Tomb of Emperor Nintoku. Sakai, Osaka Prefecture,
Japan, Kofun period, Late fourth to early fifth
century. (Japan 3 Not in Stokstad)
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Right Bust of a warrior (haniwa figure). Kofun
period (5th - 6th century) Earthenware with
painted, incised, and applied decoration H. 13
1/8 in.Metropolitan Museum of Art.

• - This is a keyhole tomb. An emperors tomb is
  inside the large mound surrounded by a moat to
  keep out commoners.
• - Atop mound, Haniwa figures were placed (see
  above right). Haniwa means circle of clay.
• - The moat separates sacred from common ground.
• - Keyhole tombs have not been excavated because
  they are considered sacred.
• - The Kofun period is named for these tombs
  (Kofun means old tombs).

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• Shinto
• Shinto (meaning the way of the kami) is a
  collection of beliefs from early Japanese times.
• Kami means sacred power and can refer to
  mythological deities or divinity manifested in
  nature.
• Shinto is generally considered an indigenous
  Japanese religion.
• Shinto stresses harmony among deities, man and
  nature.
• Many shinto shrines are near natural wonders -
  waterfalls, caves, rock formations etc.
• Purification through ritual use of water is
  important.
• Worship at a shrine is common.
• A shinto shrine can be very simple - even a
  clearing surrounded by trees (at right) with a
  gate.
• Offerings are left at shrines.
• Shinto predates Buddhism, Confucianism,
  Christianity but has been altered over the years
  by these belief systems.
• Today some Japanese worship at both Shinto and
  Buddhist shrines.

Today, a sacred Shinto area is often designated
by a Torii gate such as this one. This signifies
an area where nature is sacred.
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• This Shinto shrine is quite famous.
• It is dedicated to the sun goddess. - It is
  visited by pilgrims each year.
• Typical of Shinto architecture
• Wooden piles raising building off ground
• Thatched roof
• Unpainted cypress wood- Only imperial family
  and priests entered
• Reflects Japanese appreciation of natural
  materials
• Style echoes that of granaries raised on poles
• - Only priests entered the sacred enclosure that
  housed three symbols of Shinto sword, mirror,
  jewel.
• Inner shrine, Ise, 1st century CE, rebuilt 1993
  (Stokstad 11-5 Japan 5)

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Nachi Waterfall, devoted to kami veneration and
(from later times) to Buddhism. A rope across
the top designates this a shinto site.
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• Buddhism in Japan
• Buddhism reached Japan in the mid-6th century.
• By this time, Buddhism had been around for 1000
  years and the religion had grown, evolved and
  spread throughout Asia.
• Buddhism reached Japan in Mahayana form, with its
  many buddhas and bodhisattvas.
• From the 6th - 12th centuries, the governing
  regimes used Buddhism to centralize control it
  became the official state religion.
• By the 8th century, Buddhism coexisted with
  Shinto, which integrated some Buddhist beliefs.
• Buddhisms promise of salvation appealed this
  was an entirely new concept.
• After Mongols conquered China, many Buddhist
  monks fled to Japan (13th century).
• The Japanese warrior class was drawn to the
  starkness of Zen Buddhism, which emphasized
  enlightenment through meditation.

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Horyu-ji kondo (Golden Hall), Nara, Japan, Early
Nara (Hakuho) period, ca. 680. This is the most
significant early Japanese Buddhist temple.
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• Horyu-ji
• Founded by a prince who ruled as regent, an early
  proponent of Buddhism.
• Rebuilt after a fire in 670 CE, the complex
  features the oldest wooden building in the world,
  though much of it has been recreated.
• Includes a kondo (golden hall) and a five story
  pagoda.
• Japanese Buddhist temples had a main hall that
  housed sculptural icons.
• The covered porch was built in the 8th century
  and the upper railing is 17th century.
• Ceramic tiles are used as roofing material,
  following Chinese models.
• Next to the kondo was a five story pagoda that
  was a reliquary and thus was not entered.
• Nearby are lecture halls, dormitories for monks,
  and libraries for sacred texts.

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Visit this site to tour the temple complex
http//www.orientalarchitecture.com/nara/horyujii
ndex.htm

• This five-storey pagoda is the centerpiece of the
  temple complex at Horyu-ji.

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TORI BUSSHI, Shaka triad, Horyuji kondo, Nara,
Japan, Asuka period, 623. Bronze, 5 9 1/2
high(Stokstad 11-8 Japan 7).Tori Busshi was
well known artist 3rd generation Japanese, his
grand-father came from China. Sculpture shows
influence of Chinese art - frontal pose-
oversized face and hands- linear
draperyReflects Mahayana Buddhism, the form
that came to Japan. This is the traditional
Buddha - called Shakyamuni Buddha in Japanese.
Here he is Buddha with Bodhisattvas.This
sculpture is in the kondo at Horyu-ji.
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Hungry Tigress Jataka, panel of the Tamamushi
Shrine, Horyu-ji. Lacquer on wood, 7th century
CE, Asuka Period. (Stokstad 11-7 Japan 8).

• This lacquer panel is also from Horyu-ji.
• It came from a shrine called the Tamamushi
  Shrine, named for the tamamushi beetle.
  Originally, beetle wings were stuck to the panel
  to make it glitter.
• This panel depicts a scene from an earlier life
  of the Buddha (he had many lives before achieving
  nirvana).
• These tales from his earlier lives are called
  jakata tales.
• In this story, Buddha sacrifices his life to feed
  a starving tigress and her cub.
• He jumps off the cliff to break himself apart so
  that he is more easily eaten by the weary, weak
  lions.
• Buddha appears 3 times
• at the top, hanging his shirt on a tree
• diving downwards
• being devoured.
• Note the abstract treatment of the cliffs and
  trees and the slender, curvilinear forms. These
  are characteristic of an international Buddhist
  style.

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Heian (794-1185) PeriodEsoteric Buddhism and
Pure Land Buddhism

• During Heian period, capital is moved from Nara
  (which had been first permanent capital city) to
  Kyoto, partly to move away from overwhelming
  Buddhist influence felt in Nara.
• One of most important Heian works of art Tale of
  Genji, by Lady Murasaki (the worlds first novel).

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• Esoteric Buddhism
• Esoteric (or secret) Buddhism was introduced to
  Heian Japan
• Esoteric Buddhism is influenced by polytheism,
  Hinduism
• Historical Buddha was no longer important new
  hierarchy of buddhas, bodhisattvas, other gods
  developed
• Mandalas were created to diagram these deities
• Religion for educated aristocracy, not the masses
• Pure Land Buddhism
• Arose in late Heian during period when military
  class was on rise
• period of uncertainty decline of Buddhism has
  been predicted
• offered more direct means of salvation less
  complicated than Esoteric
• taught that faith could lead to Western Paradise
• appealed to people of all classes has remained
  most popular form of Buddhism in Japan
• One could reach the Pure Land by chanting a
  mantra

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In Pure Land Buddhism, people believed that by
hailing the Amitabha Buddha they could be reborn
in the Western Pure Land. Pure Land Buddhism
spread through Japan by traveling monks.Kuya
was a well-known, 10th c Buddhist monk. He is
shown chanting (right). The six small figures
emerging from his mouth represent the syllables
of chant. Kuya Preaching. Kamakura period.
Before 1207. Painted wood. Height 46 1/2.
Rokuhara Mitsu-Ji, Kyoto. (Stokstad 11-1 Japan
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Phoenix Hall, Byodoin, Uji, Japan, Heian period,
1053. (Stokstad 11-11 Japan 9)Pure Land
Buddhist temple. Originally a secular palace
designed to mimic Amidas palace in Western
Paradise. Called Phoenix Hall because of birds
on main roof also because the swing of roofline
mimics birds wings. Inside is sculpture of
Amida Buddha made with joined wood (see Stokstad
11-12).
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Scene from Minori chapter, Tale of Genji, late
Heian period, first half of twelfth century.
Handscroll, ink and color on paper, 8 5/8 high.
Goto Art Museum, Tokyo. (See another scene in
Stokstad 11-14 Japan 10).The tale of Genji is
a classic in Japanese literature. It was written
by a Heian court lady, Lady Murasaki. Written in
the 11th c., it is over 1,000 pages in English
translation.
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• Lady Murasaki wrote in Japanese at a time when
  most men were still writing in Chinese.
• The novel tells of love affairs of Prince Genji.
• In 12th century, unknown artists illustrated the
  tale on handscrolls.
• Women played an important role in Heian art.
• Their style is often called womens hand
  linear, with asymmetrical
• Compositions, viewed from above - as if roof has
  blown off.
• Emotions are conveyed by color, pose,
  composition, not by facial expression.

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Art of the Kamakura Period1185-1392

• During Heian period, clans of warriors called
  samurai from outside the capital (Kyoto) grew
  strong.
• Eventually, samurai leaders became strongest
  powers in Japan.
• Battles between two most powerful samurai clans -
  Minamoto and Taira - were legendary.
• Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace memorializes
  this subject.
• Samurai wore armor and fought on horseback with
  swords.
• Japanese sword technology was very advanced.
• Kamakura period began when Minamoto Yoritomo
  defeated his Taira rivals. He became the first
  shogun (general-in-chief).
• He established a military capital in Kamakura.
• He paid respects to emperor but held all military
  and political power.
• Rule by shoguns lasted until 1868.

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Detail of The Burning of the Sanjo Palace,
Kamakura period, thirteenth century. Handscroll,
ink and colors on paper, 1 4 1/4 high complete
scroll, 22 10 long. Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston. (Stokstad 11-16 Japan 12)Native
Japanese writing developed during Heian period
(roughly 9th-early 12th c)Chinese characters
were interspersed with simple, flowing symbols.
An asymmetrical calligraphy developed. The
subject here is a battle between the Minamoto and
Taira samurai clans. This was painted
approximately 200 years after the event it
depicts. The birds eye viewpoint of the Tale of
Genji is used. Samurai subjects became popular
in art. Here, there is much action.
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Attributed to Kao Ninga. Monk Sewing. Kamakura
Period. Early 14th c.Ink on paper. Cleveland
Museum of Art. (Stokstad 11-19 Japan 13)

• Zen Buddhism
• Reached Japan toward end of Kamakura Period.
  Already developed in China - called Chan.
• Interruption in relations between China and Japan
  during Heian period caused delay in its spread in
  Japan.
• Zen resembles original teachings of historical
  Buddha.
• Emphasizes role of individual in reaching
  enlightenment through meditation without help of
  deities or magical charms.
• Appealed to spirit of self-discipline among
  samurai.
• In Zen Buddhism, each monk takes care of his own
  tasks.
• Towards end of 14th c, Zen Buddhism - spirit of
  self-reliance - came to dominate Japanese
  culture.
• After this, key forces in Japanese culture
• - control by warrior class
• - Zen values
• Works such as that at right exemplify spirit of
  Zen Buddhism.

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Mark TobeyAdvance of History, 1964. Gouache and
watercolor on paper, 65.2 x 50.1 cm. Peggy
Guggenheim Collection.

• Cross-cultural comparison Mark Tobey (1890-1976)
  
• Although Jackson Pollock is credited with
  creating the first allover paintings, Tobey
  actually exhibited works such as the gouache at
  right before Pollock.
• Tobey was influenced by Chinese and Japanese
  brush painting and calligraphy.
• He felt liberated by the freedom of calligraphic
  line.
• When viewed up close, these works show
  intricately woven patterns of brushed lines.

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Mary Casstt, Maternal Caress, 1891. Drypoint,
soft-ground etching, and aquatinton paper.
National Gallery of Art, Washington.Stokstad
27-68.

• Cross-cultural comparison Mary Cassatt
  (1845-1926)
• The birds eye view favored by Japanese artists
  in works such as Tale of Genji and Night Attack
  on the Sanjo Palace influenced a number of later
  artists.
• The French Impressionists were familiar with
  Japanese art and drew inspiration for their own
  work from Japanese 19th century prints.
• Here, American expatriate artists Mary Cassatt
  employs a tilted picture plane similar to the
  Japanese style for an intimate domestic subject.
• .