Japanese Art

Students will be able to…

• Explain the forms of Buddhism practiced in Japan and their effect on the country’s culture

• Examine Japan’s literary and dramatic developments

• Describe themes associated with Japanese art forms

Zen Buddhism

• Prince Shotoku encouraged the spread of Buddhism in Japan

• Buddhism was practiced alongside Shinto• The Buddhist belief that peace and happiness

could be gained by leading a life of virtue and wisdom appealed to many.

Japanese Forms of Buddhism

• Different forms of Buddhism developed in Japan– Tendai Buddhism focused on the intensive study

of texts– Shigon had complex rituals– Amida, Pure land, believed that people might have

salvation in a pure land after their death– Zen believed that something precious and divine

exists in each person

Zen Buddhism• Beginning in the 1100’s Zen

Buddhism became common• Zen Buddhism emphasizes on

self-discipline, simplicity, and meditation

• “Zen” = meditation• Followers believe that quiet

reflection was more useful than performing ceremonies or studying scriptures

• Focus on individuals attempt to achieve inner peace

Zen Buddhism• Samurai favored Zen

Buddhism because they thought it would give them inner peace and strength in battle

• Samurai reflected the strength they felt they achieved in meditation by drawing in black ink and using thick, strong, black lines

Literature and Drama

• A great period of literature began beginning in the 800’s

• Around 400 The Japanese begun using Chinese characters to write Japanese words– The Japanese use characters to stand for specific

objects, actions, ideas, or sounds

Japanese Drama• Drama began to gain

popularity in the 600’s • In the 1300’s Noh theater

began– Retelling of legends and

folktales– Actors wore painted wooden

masks to show emotions– Gestures, costumes, and music

were used to help tell the story– Most actors were men and the

plays were often performed for both upper and lower classes

Japanese Drama

• In the early 1600’s Kabuki developed

• Combined melodramatic singing and dancing with elaborate costumes

• Actors wore heavy make up

• More informal than Noh• Themes dealt with

common people• Only performed by men

Tale of the Genji• In the early 800’s Japan ended

diplomatic relations with China• Literature reflected emerging

Japanese culture independent from China

• One of Japan’s finest writers was Lady Murasaki Shikibu. She lived at the emperors court in the early 1000’s

• She wrote a book called The Tale of the Genji about life in the imperial court – important because it focused on realistic events focused on one individual. The world’s first important novel

Japanese Poetry: Haiku

• Short form of poetry 5, 7, 5

• Usually about love, romance, or nature

• Matsuo Basho a famous poet from the 1600’s– He wrote poems that

had a quiet reflective spirit of Zen

An old silent pondInto the pond a frog jumpsSplash! Silence again

Distinctive Japanese Arts

Calligraphy and Painting• Japanese consider writing as

a way to express beauty • Each character is painted in a

set order of brush strokes• Brush painting with ink on

paper scrolls and silk began in the 600’s– Depict landscapes, historical

events, and daily life– Sometimes a short description

was on the painting itself

Distinctive Japanese Art

Flower Arranging and Gardening

• Ikebana- The art of flower arranging was brought to Japan by Buddhists– Emphasis on simplicity

• Bonsai – art of growing miniature trees and shrubs in small pots or trays

• Zen gardens are designed to help people think quietly– Arranged with rocks and

pathways and few flowers or trees