Medieval Japan

1. Medieval Japan

2. Yamato or Kofun Periodca. 300-710 ce • Yamato : “great kings” • Kofun: giant tomb mounds • Military aristocracy • Capital at Naniwa (Osaka) • Imported Chinese culture via Korea: • Writing • Confucianism • Buddhism

3. Kofun • Shaped either as a circle or a keyhole, hills were built over burial chambers. • The dead were accompanied by such objects as iron tools and weapons, jewelry, pottery, mirrors and, clay figurines called haniwa.

4. Haniwa

5. Yamato Fashion Yamato clothing consisted of two pieces, an upper and lower piece. The upper piece had tight sleeves. During this period the art of raising silk worms was introduced in Japan by Chinese settlers. At this time, they had no skills or techniques for dyeing clothes, so the silk fabric remained white.

6. Japanese Writing • Adapted from Chinese calligraphy, but a totally different language • Kanji: ideogrammatic use of Chinese characters • Manyo-kana:ideogrammatic and syllabic • Kana: syllabic • Hiragana: onna de or “women’s writing” -- cursive, does not require knowledge of Chinese • Katakana -- cursive, derived from Chinese

7. Prince Shotoku573-621 • Regent during reign of Empress Suiko (r. 592-628) • Wrote the Seventeen Article Constitution, the earliest piece of Japanese writing and basis for Japanese government throughout history • Led Japanese court in adopting Chinese calendar and sponsoring Buddhism Prince ShotokuKamakura period, early 14th centuryGilt bronze

8. Daibutu at Nara The Daibutu, literally Large Buddha, is known by the Japanese as "Daibutu-sama" or "Daibutu-san”: the largest bronze casting in the world 745-755ad

9. Asuka Period645-710 • Capital in the Asuka District • Establishment of Imperial Power under Taika Reform Edict • Temple building and sculpture introduced with Buddhism -- heavily influenced by Korean and Chinese models

10. Asuka Fashion During the Asuka and Nara periods sewing methods developed more, and clothing became longer and wider. Courtier's clothes were divided into three groups: formal clothes, court clothes and uniforms, the colors varying with rank.

11. Taika Reform Edicts: 645Fusion of Buddhism and Shinto • Influence of Chinese culture -- institutions, language, philosophy concept of national unity symbolized by Emperor's dual role: • Shinto religious leader with elaborate rituals, ceremonial functions • Chinese-like secular Emperor • Emperor ruled by Decree of Heaven with absolute authority and by descent from Amaterasu, the sun goddess • United provinces ruled by central bureaucracy • Government control of land culture

12. Ise Jingu: Grand Shrines of Ise Shinto

13. Shinto • Shinto is a general term for the activities of the Japanese people to worship all the deities (kami) of heaven and earth • Towards the end of the 6th century, the 31st Emperor Yomei prayed before an image of Buddha for the first time as an emperor for recovery of his illness. In accepting Buddhism, a foreign religion, the Japanese realized the existence of a tradition of their own faith. • The Japanese called the worship ritutals 'Way of Kami(the deity or the deities)'.

14. The Grand Shrine at Ise is Japan's most important Shinto shrine and serves as the center of all shrines nationwide. Situated near the banks of the Isuzu River, the shrine is surrounded by 800-year-old Ise Grand Shrine cedars. The smooth pebble-lined approach to the shrine lends the site a majestic air.

16. Ise Shrine, Geku (outer shrine), inner precint showing outer fence

17. The Naiku • The most revered of all Shinto shrines, the Naiku, is located at Ise. • The Naiku enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestral goddess of Japan's imperial house and the great ancestral deity of the Japanese people.

18. Amaterasu Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865). Amaterasu Emerges from the Light.(colored woodcut, nd).

19. Buddhism Golden Kondo Hall 7th century style, rebuilt in early 8th century

20. Buddhist Horyuji Temple: ca. 607-711Nara

21. Horyuji Temple Golden Kondo Hall 7th century style, rebuilt in early 8th century Pagoda (Stupa). Horyuji. 7th century style, rebuilt in early 8th century

22. Buddha Sculptures Nara - Temple Horyu-ji 7th c. Nara - Temple Chugu-ji 7th c.

23. COURTLYJAPAN

24. Nara Period: 710-794 • 710: first permanent capital established at Nara • 712: Kojiki:A Record of Ancient Matters:first book of orally preserved historic legends • Emperors embraced Buddhism leading to rapid and dramatic expansion • 759: The Manyoshu • 784: Rise in political power of Buddhist monasteries led to capital being moved to Nagaoka

25. Earliest Japanese Literature • 712 : The Kojiki(Record of Ancient Matters) -- an anthology of myths, legends, and other stories • 713:The Fudoki(Records of Wind and Earth), compiled by provincial officials describe the history, geography, products, and folklore of the various provinces. • 720: Nihon shoki(Chronicle of Japan) -- a chronological record of history. Kojiki – album cover Kitaro

26. The Kojiki • The Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) is traditionally viewed as Japan's first book. It was written in 712 by the courtier Ono Yasumaro (? - 723) at the behest of Empress Gemmei (661-721) and is in three volumes. • The Kojiki recounts the history of Japan from its mythological origins to the era of the Empress Suiko (554-628) in the Yamoto era and includes myths, legends, Imperial genealogy, history, and poetry. • Ono Yasumaru's work was based on the oral recitations of Hieda no Are Kojiki – album cover Kitaro

27. Izanami and Izanagi, the creator kami

28. The Meoto-Iwa, or Wedded Rocks, Shima Peninsula. Legend holds that the spirits of Izanagi and Izanami, Japan's creator gods, are housed in the rocks, which are connected to one another by a straw rope.

29. The Manyoshu • Collected ca. 759 • Anthology of over 4500 poems • Includes wide variety of poems: courtly, rustic, dialectical, military, travel • Identified and anonymous poets • Syllabic poetry: 5-7-5 • Choka: indeterminate number of lines culminating in a 7-syllable couplet • Tanka: 31 syllable poem: 5,7,5,7, 7

30. Wakawa-Japanese ka-poetry • Waka were first composed orally to celebrate victories in battle and love, or for religious reasons • Around the 8th century the fixed forms Choka (long poem) and Tanka (short poem) emerged. These Waka are based on a set number of Mora (syllables). • During the first great age of written waka in the seventh and eighth centuries, nagauta or choka 'long poems‘ were composed for performance on public occasions at the imperial court. • At the same time, tanka 'short poems', consisting of five 'lines' in the pattern of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables, became a useful shorthand for private communication between friends and lovers, and the ability to compose a tanka on a given topic became an essential skill for any gentleman or lady at court. • It was not uncommon for parties to be thrown just to recite waka. One ritual was the Utokai. At Utokai parties each guest would come with an original waka and recite it to the group. All of the waka would then be judged by the host and the winner would be welcomed to eat at the head table.

31. Nara Fashion During the Nara and the previous Asuka periods, techniques for dyeing silk were developed. Clothing consisted of many pieces including upper and lower garments, jackets, a front skirt, and a back skirt.

32. Heian Japan

33. Heian Japan • 794-1185 • Capital at Heian: present-day Kyoto • Highly formalized court culture • Aristocratic monopoly of power • Literary and artistic flowering • Ended in civil wars and emergence of samurai culture

34. The Kokinshu(Collection of Ancient and Modern Times) • Anthology commissioned by Emperor Daigo (r. 897-930) • 1111 tanka poems in 20 books • Set the pattern for later anthologies • Books divided by subject:love, seasons, felicitations, parting, travel, names of things, etc. • Poetic sequences – linked narrations • Renga: 'linked verse' : pairs or groups of poets would compose jointly, with one poet supplying the initial 5-7-5 of a verse and another the concluding 7-7, often building up to hundred verse sequences. • The initial 5-7-5 of a rengabecame a poetic form on its own, the haiku A confused array of red leaves in the current of Tatsuta River. Were I to cross, I would break the fabric of a rich brocade

35. Kokinshu Poets Fun'ya-no-Yasuhide Ono no Komachi Lady Ise Otomo-no-Kuronushi Ki no Tsurayuki Ariwara no Narihira

36. Thirty-six Immortal Poets The Thirty-six Immortal Poets (detail), Edo period (1615-1868)Ikeda Koson (1802–1867)Two-panel folding screen; ink and color on silk; 68 x 68 3/4 in. (172.8 x 174.6 cm)Property of Mary Griggs Burke

37. Heian Style • A culture more independent of Chinese influence • miyabi : courtlinessmakoto : simplicityaware :melancholymono no aware :evanescence • Emphasis on the exquisite and evanescent • Literary: poems, letters, pillow books • Extreme sensitivity to nature • Nocturnal • Importance of convention and fashion

38. Heian Fashion

39. Gagaku • Music and dance which was originally performed and practiced in the Imperial court, having established itself there in the early half of the 9th century. • It is usually referred to as the oldest extant orchestral music in the world. The present day gagaku repertory consists of the following four categories: • Kangen: Instrumental music consisting of an ensemble • Bugaku: Dance which is accompanied by part or all of the gagaku ensemble. These dances are divided into right and left styles.The dances can be solo, duets, or quartets with very colorful (and expensive) costumes and props. • Songs: The songs of gagaku, rouei and saibara, are simple melodies (mostly derived from ancient folk songs) accompanied by a scaled down version of the kangen ensemble. • Ritual music for Shinto ceremonies

41. Onna-e rich colors and subtle outlines. the medium for courtliness, appropriate to the literature of miyabi, such as The Tale of Genji. "cutaway" painting, in which interior scenes are painted by "cutting away" the roof. primarily concerned with the Japanese life that goes on inside the court or house Otoko-e strong calligraphic outlines on figures with washed colors so that these strong lines would not be overwhelmed by the color the medium for action subjects involving war or conflict; primarily concerned with the public life outside the court or house. Heian Painting: Yamato-e

42. Onna-e style from Genji-monogatari

43. Otoko-e style from the Shigisan engi emaki

44. Heian Literature • Men continued to write Chinese-style poetry • Women began to write in Japanese prose • First novel: Genji Monogatari by Lady Murasaki Shikibu • Diaries: • The Pillowbook by Sei Shonagan • As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams by Lady Sarashina

45. Lady Murasaki Shikibu

46. Murasaki Shikibu From a series of the 36 Immortal Poets Katsukawa Shunsho 18th c.

47. The Tale of GenjiLady Murasaki • Picture of life at the 10th c. Heian court • Relates the lives and loves of Prince Genji and his children and grandchildren • Unesco Global Heritage Pavilion: The Tale of Genji

48. Heian Society • Patriarchal but women inherited: matrilineal and matrilocal • Polygamous • Sexuality viewed as normal and necessary part of life • Men exercised political power, but marriages created political alliances, and women could exercise significant political influence

49. Origins of the Samurai • Failure of the central government in Kyôto to maintain adequate administration • Samurai became active in managing provincial governments • The first bushidan, or warrior bands, were family organizations, military units recruited by chieftains from among their kinsmen. • By the 11th century, however, bushidan had developed into more permanent entities structured on lord-vassal ties between fighting men • Taira and Minamoto “clans” emerged in the 10th and 11th centuries

50. Samurai • Literally, "one who serves" • Also known as bushi ("military gentry") -- the warrior elite of pre-modern Japan that emerged in the provinces from at least the early 10th century and became the ruling class of the country from the late 12th century until the Meiji Restoration of 1868.