in the momoyami era, outside was embellished with gold
Castles
Hirosaki Castle
Matsumoto Castle
Nota:
https://www.japan-guide.com/g8/6051_01.jpg
feudal era
a wooden interior
defend
against
enemy attack
Kummamoto Castle
Osaka Castle
Nagoya Castle
Detailed and intricate
roofs, 3-5 storeys high
Deference Structures:
Water, moats and Nawabar etc.
Designed around topographical features
Fushimi Castle
Gold leaf backgrounds
brilliantly
coloured
paintings
built during the
civil war as
means of
fortification/protection.
only TWELVE
major castle
keeps survive
from the feudal
era
Temples
symmetrical
minimalist design
usually near water
some entirely made out
of wood
A space of relaxation and
separation from reality.
Domestic Architecture
wood
Plaster
smooth over
Woven Straw
mats
Rice Paper
Silding Screen
natural elements
Early
Cultures
Shinto
In relation to buddhism
Primitive Shintoism never attempted to portray Gods
First Shinto Shrine, Shindan Shrine, was made from Buddhist influence
acquisition of knowledge rather than religion
a way of life
shrines
relation to nature
mountains
agriculture
fox status
"old shinto"
shinto before buddhism
birth
wedding
Buddhism
Zen Buddhism
- “Zen meditation, is a way of vigilance and self-discovery which is practiced
while sitting on a meditation cushion. It is the experience of living from
moment to moment, in the here and now. It is through the practice of Zazen
that Gautama got enlightened and became the Buddha.” From:
http://www.zen-buddhism.net/
- “Zen is not a moral teaching, and as it is without
dogma, it does not require one to believe in anything. A
true spiritual path does not tell people what to believe
in; rather it shows them how to think; or, in the case of
Zen - what not to think.” From:
http://www.zen-buddhism.net/
be mindful of your thoughts
- Living in the moment, peaceful, very accepting
“Zen Buddhism is not a theory, an idea, or a piece of
knowledge. It is not a belief, dogma, or religion; but
rather, it is a practical experience.”
Nota:
.” http://www.zen-buddhism.net/
- Very interpersonal, very paradoxical, intense
discipline that should result in spontaneity and
living your life
- All beings are Buddha,
but you must discover
truth within yourself
- Finding happiness and harmony
- There is no set way of “Buddhism”, it is your own spiritual journey
Lots of meditation,
chanting, to focus the
mind and body, being
aware of mind and body
- Strong sense about the relationships with
other human beings, being humble and
respectful
Sculpture
- Nara School created founded by
Raijo – school for master sculptors
- Communal building kind of like
arts funding went towards
sculptures
Mid 12th century – 14th century was
labeled as the sliver age of art
Different Buddha Poses
Protection Buddha / Overcoming Fear
Calling The Earth To Witness / Earth Touching Buddha
Meditation Buddha / Serenity Buddha / Calming Buddha
The Nirvana Buddha / Reclining Buddha
Medicine Buddha
Teaching Buddha / DharmaChakra Buddha
Happy Buddha / Ho Tai / Prosperity Buddha
Buddha Sculpture
bronze
strong Korean
influence
Miroku Bosatsu
The Great Buddha in Kamakura
unusual because it sits in open air, national treasure by the Japanese government - size falls short to the Great Buddha of Todai-ji
Temple in Nara - construction occurred in 1252 and believed that priest Joko gathered donations from the people - records show
that it was damaged and destroyed in 2 typhoons and 1 earthquake
Nehanzo of Nanzoin Temple 1995 - may be the biggest bronze Statue in the World - three different types of buddha poses: sitting, standing, and
reclining. - this one is reclining: rare type, meaning nearing the end of death (nirvana) - built to house the ashes of a Buddha
Yosegi-Zukuri (joined wood-block
construction)
Gorinto 19th Century - Buddhist stone made with 5-tiered
stupas that represent the sky, wind, water, fire, and ground
Protection Figures
Represent good fortune and
luck
Success in
Business
Gold = wealth, White= Happiness, Black = is to ward off evil or
illness
Maneki Neko Cats (The beckoning cat) – The Edo Period (1600-1850)
Sculptures of the period (1185 – 1333) Considered to be a highpoint in Japanese art - Sculptures displayed high realism and innovation - Artists
began to sign their work. More specific tracing. Powerful warrior clans. This is because it was a time of political disruption - Elite warriors
became a new source of art patrons. For religious arts) - Chinese influences
Painting
History
Yamato-e: classical Japanese painting
style
Sumi-e - The ink style is reminiscent of ancient Chinese style. - It’s more abstract and naturalistic
than that of the Chinese style
Tale of Genji Scoll
The Tale of Genji, thought by many to be the first novel in the history of world literature, was written by
a woman, Murasaki Shikibu, in the eleventh century. Lady Murasaki lived during the Heian Period
(794-1185), an era remarkable for the poetry, diaries, and fiction produced by court
ladies.(afe.easia.columbia.edu)
Katsushika Hokusai, Famous Paintings
Katsushika Hokusai - The Great Wave off
Kanagawa
o Spirituality
o Respect for nature
o Waves in foreground with Mount Fuji visible through the waves
no cropping of image
Katsushika Hokusai - The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife
- reminded of the story of Princess Tamatori
o Ukiyo-e style, beautiful women/folktale
o Fantasy, but within nature
o White background with text
o Warm colours of tentacles as focal point
Tenmyouya Hisashi - Japanese Spirit No.
14
Japanese Ghost Paintings
Characteristics
Long Black
Hair
White
Kimono
Long Arms
Flowing
Sleeves
No body displayed after the
waist
• Jikiniki – “Human eating ghosts”; spirits of greedy, selfish or impious people. Were cursed when they
died for their behaviour. Forced to seek out and consume corpses.
• The Yurei of Aizuwakamata, The Black
Hair
• spirits on leave from hell to complete an outstanding
mission.
Impressions
Unique/different
can tell the subject matter is ghosts and
demons
possession, exorcism and
shamanism
monster like
dark and
terrfiying
The art depicts the spirit of the object rather than the actual object
(literally)
- Pigments came from pants and minerals - rettan yellow (specific pigment) - indigo blue and rouge would come
from plants - powdered jade, white pearl, malachite (for green), azurite (for blue) - Black ink made out of soot from
pine combined animal glue - made in a stick format (painters have to grind ink with water)
Rimpa Style
Simple natural subjects such as birds, plants and flowers, background filed with gold
leaf
emphasis on refined design and
technique
colours are usually
bold
images are crisp, distinct and readable
from afar
Woodprints
CARVING
PROCESS
o cutting the lines with the main carving knife (toh)
o removing wide unwanted
areas with the round chisels
(marunomi)
o trimming away waste close to the printing
areas with the small flat chisels (aisuki)
History
• Woodblock printing widely used
in china but then adopted by
japan in the EDO period
initially, the woodblock printing process
was used to reproduce traditional
hand-scrolls as affordable books, but it was
soon adopted as a means to mass-produce
prints.
Development of Kento method
Techniques
complex process involving a
series of steps, each performed
by a different person that is
skilled and specialized in that
step
artist draws a sketch (gako) and makes changes
by gluing new paper over certain areas
Relief carvings and
conscious color
application.
Characteristics
Nota:
"The Unique History and Exquisite Aesthetic of Japan's Ethereal Woodblock Prints." My Modern Met. October 03, 2017. Accessed December 04, 2017. https://mymodernmet.com/ukiyo-e-japanese-woodblock-prints/.
Rich Color Palette
‘The Plum Garden in Kameido' by Andō Hiroshige (1857)
Photo: Utagawa; Hiroshige (I) , Utagawa died 1858;
Uoya Eikichi Hiroshige (I) [Public domain, Public domain
or CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
FLAT COMPOSITIONS
‘Bathhouse Women' by Torii Kiyonaga (c.
1780) Photo: Library of Congress
BOLD LINES
‘Kanbara' by Andō Hiroshige (1833-1934) Photo:
Hiroshige [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Subjects
Bijinga - young women
Yakushae - popular Kabuki actors
Caricature - comical pictures
Tobae - long-limbed human characters
Comics - Ethan (art manuals)
Shunga - sex scenes
Meishoe - famous landscapes
Mushae - famous samurai,
who had appeared in
legends, fantastic tales
and history
Rekishiga - historically famous scenes
Materials
made of cherry wood
Chisels used to carve the woodblocks
Paper came from the inner
part of Mulberry trees
Reproductions could
be made into the
thousands before
they old would wear
down
Her most celebrated works are impenetrable webs of
black thread that enclose a variety of household,
personal, and everyday objects, such as old chairs, a
burnt piano, a wedding dress, and sometimes the
artist herself.