Classic Restraint

Muromachi (1333-1573)

In 1333, Ashikaga Takauji overthrew the Kamakura dynasty and became shogun.  He moved his government back to Kyoto, into the Muromachi district.  With the return of an imperial court, the arts returned to the aristocracy, becoming elitist. Zen influence regained confidence perhaps best demonstrated in monochromatic ink paintings which drew inspiration from nature.   Talents considered typically Japanese flourished included landscape painting, classical noh drama, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony. These disciplines, featuring classic restraint and simplicity, were a direct result of Zen influence.

Kinkaku-ji Temple (1397) since restored

Many of Kyoto’s famous gardens and temples date from this period, which is considered the classical age of garden design.  Integrating buildings into landscapes was an important feature.  The Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple Kinkaku-ji (1397) is a beautiful example.  As we walked the gardens, we learned the temple’s tragic history - it was burned down by a novice monk in 1950.  Thankfully restored, the temple’s top two storeys glitter with gilt making it a perfect picture reflected in the lake.

Garden Art

We were fortunate to visit the famous rock garden at Ryoan-ji Zen Temple before crowds arrived.  It was pleasant to be able to observe the garden and get a feel for its Zen spirit.  The garden is quite small, has little vegetation (only moss) and is made up of stones set in white gravel.  Fifteen stones are arranged in specific groups and the gravel is raked daily by monks.  The garden is meant to be contemplated from a seated position on the veranda, where you are not meant to see the garden in its entirety.  This ability only comes only with enlightenment. 

Ryoan-ji Zen Temple Garden is even difficult to photograph

Elaborate tea ceremonies came into being during this period.  Like many cultured activities, the tea ceremony, conducted within a rigid framework of rules, provided guests an opportunity to appreciate artisan skills.  In particular, the tea ceremony gave rise to new types of pottery.  Cracks or chips were often repaired with coloured lacquer, which added interest and value to a pot or cup.

Perhaps not quite in keeping with tradition
but we learned so much

Japan gradually became overwhelmed by ambitious noblemen resulting in a general breakdown of law and order.  The Onin War broke out in 1467 and Kyoto was almost destroyed.

Missing Photos...not again!

Oh Bother!

It would seem that by closing down (and removing) the TT Early Years blog I have inadvertently deleted my photos from those posts migrated to this blog.  They did not fly across the cybersphere and will now need to be re-installed - one by one.  This is punishment indeed for skipping from Vox to Wordpress to Typepad to Blogger over the last few years. 

There will be plenty more "bah-humbugs" (or worse) uttered until this mess is sorted out....which will take time. I knew I shouldn't have patted that black cat yesterday.  He looked too smug.  

Feudal Rule

Kamakura (1185-1333)

This was a period of warrior values and adventure.  It was also a period of civil war and strife due to clan clashes.  Eventually, the seat of government was relocated by the Minamoto clan to Kamakura, a seaside village.  Art became more austere and, because of Samurai influence, to centre on a belief in the afterlife. Even so, portrayal of individuals was given realistic treatment.  Temples at Nara (Todai-ji) were restored although a new style of pagoda, reminiscent of the Chinese style was introduced.  Contact with China had been revived.  

From Wiki

During this time, the Mongols under Kublai Khan reached Korea in 1259 and sent a fleet to attack Japan in 1274. Mongol soldiers were repulsed and again in 1281.  Zen Buddhism arrived with monks escaping these Mongol invasions.  Zen doctrine, although initially treated with some suspicion, appealed to the Samurai class with its stark art forms filled with tension and drama.  Zen’s austerity influenced architecture with buildings presenting a simple, lineal grace and rational structure. 

Chion-in was originally built in 1234 to honour the founder of Amida Buddha in Japan.  Its temple beams are carved with the Tokugawa family crest (three hollyhock leaves) and nightingale floors (squeaky) to warn of intruders.  The grounds are the site for a monthly market and although the temple is a National Treasure, I need not explain where our attention was diverted.  

Samurai Armour (Wiki) looks
quite surreal even for body armour
(Kamakura Period)

Despite a society based on warrior values, artisans concentrated on improving techniques and art flourished.  Toshiro visited China in 1223 and returned setting up a kiln at Seto – this became world famous. Painting in inks became increasingly popular.  Ever evolving architecturally, the Kofuku-ji Temple complex at Nara had a 3 storeyed pagoda added (1185).  Later a 5 storeyed (1426) storeyed pagoda was added too.  Japanese sculptor, Unkei, carved two stunning guardians (1203) which flank the Todai-ji Temple in Nara.  His realistic works, and that of his sons, was based on close observation of individuals and meticulous studies of personality.

Artistic Women

More on the Heian Period

Visiting the Heian Shrine

Although not a construct of this era the Heian Shrine, a partial reproduction of the Heian Palace, was planned in 1895 to commemorate 1100 years of Heian-kyo’s existence.  Later, it came to symbolise the determination of Kyoto’s citizens to revive diminishing fortunes and a languishing culture after the capital was moved to Tokyo.  Graceful traditional court life is reflected in the brightly coloured shrine with its vermillion pillars and green roof.  We wandered past various buildings, admiring them for their dignified grandeur, then took some time to walk the Chinese inspired gardens.  Extensive grounds, known as Okazaki Park, contains museums, ornamental pools and a zoo.  Maruyama Park leads through giant overhanging oaks, inner gardens and ponds.  April is Cherry Blossom time and we hoped that a few blooms might still be left.  However, the heat and humidity had returned in earnest so we missed out on lavish tourist brochure displays. 

Garden views were special

Lacquer work was popularised during the Heian period. First discovered in China, lacquer work was introduced to Japan as early as 3 AD.  Most early examples can be found in Shosoin, Nara.  By the Heian period, craftsmen had achieved a high degree of skill and perfection and it was much in demand by the aristocracy and used as we use plastics today. Traditionally, lacquer is made by tightly covering a wooden core with silk.  Unishi (filtered sap of the lacquer tree which dries on contact with air) was painted over this core in a number of coats.  Each layer was left to dry in a damp chamber to prevent cracking.  Colour was enhanced by adding iron filings, gold, bronze and tin dust (metallic). Pearl shell inlay was also used.  The item was finished with a transparent coating. 

Check Book Depository
 or Amazon

The development of native characters in literature led to a popular trend of “love stories”, some written and illustrated by women.  This popular pastime led to an innovative art form – e-maki or the picture scroll.  The best known is “Tale of Prince Genji”.  An epic novel, it was written in the year 1000 by Murasaki Shikibu, a noblewoman of Kyoto. Her story tells of a life in an aristocratic society bound by courtly customs and is a fascinating read.  This site has some nice photographs too.

While courtly elegance sustained the aristocracy, a powerful force was on the rise in the provinces – the samurai class (1156).  

The powerful Fujiwara family was undermined and destroyed.  Rebellion ensued and finally a military government was established some 500 miles from Kyoto.  Life under the Samurai or warriors was austere and based on feudal social order.

Baroque Vigour

Heian Period (794-1185)

This was the period of “art as entertainment” but not quite as we know it!  It was a peaceful and very prosperous era.  During early times, Chinese influence was still felt but civil unrest in China forced Japan to look internally for inspiration.  There was a flowering of literature, the arts and religious thinking, including a new interest in mysticism which also affected art.

In the Temple Gardens

Art spread to homes, not just temples, with painted wall panels, albums or scrolls available.  Rules and conventions strictly guided painting but there was some freedom to experiment.  Caricature came into being; artists depicted animals carrying on human activities.  This was probably produced by monks.  Lavish decoration was connected with Buddhism whilst a revival of Shintoism’s previous use of symbolism evolved into image-making. 

Free to follow new practices, teaching monasteries were built in surrounding countryside and otherwise “inaccessible” areas to provide worshippers with a sense of harmony with nature and peace to communicate with ancestors.  Temples located in landscaped gardens of willow and cherry trees was a popular and elegant improvement.  Due to Kyoto’s surrounding rugged terrain, the pagoda’s basic shape had to be altered - its base became cylindrical, supporting a raised, rounded roof.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple (778) set in the hills surrounding Kyoto takes its name from the waterfall (pure water) within the complex.  The temple is a massive timber structure amazingly completed without nails and its large main hall veranda offers impressive city views.  We stopped to take the waters, check if the cherry blossoms were still flowering and people-watch. Pilgrims negotiated an impressive array of fortune tellers, souvenir stalls and incense sellers while Maiko in elaborate costumes added to the beauty of the gardens.

Garden Stone Work

Built alongside the south gate to the Heian Kyoto, To-ji Temple (796), one of three, stood as a mark of protection for its capital.  The pagoda, the tallest wooden tower in Japan, is set in beautiful gardens.  Although not able to visit the Temple we were fortunate enough have our last day scouring the famous flea market. With suitcases already bulging, we managed to cram in yet more fabrics, pieces of old kimono and even some beautiful ceramics.

Silk Road Bounty

Nara Period (645-784)

Nara was Japan’s first fixed capital from 710 to 784.  Then known as Heijo-kyo, the city was the eastern-most Silk Road destination.  Despite exposure to various cultures, Nara is considered the birthplace of Japanese culture.  This peaceful period in Japanese history parallels the Tang Dynasty in China and consequently the arts reflect a deep influence yet display a creative and restrained growth. This era is noted for its distinctive masks, Noh, used at ceremonial dances.

Todai-ji Temple

During the Nara period temples adhering to strictly to Chinese models were quickly erected. One such structure is the Todai-ji Temple in Nara (728).  The Great Buddha Hall, the main building, is the only one to survive.  It houses a huge bronze statue of Dainichi (Cosmic Buddha).  Towards the rear is a wooden column with a small square hole in it.  The line up to “ensure enlightenment” by squeezing through was rather large, so we had our fortunes (by numbers) read instead.  (Thus saving the embarrassment of getting stuck in the column…). 

Starting young

The nearby Shosoin (756) or storehouse holds Imperial belongings regarded as national treasures and world heritage items. These include lacquered and enamelled works, bronze mirrors, musical instruments, textiles and importantly, documents from the temple’s dedication ceremony in 752. The building shows Chinese influence but is purely Japanese style.  It is box shaped and raised from the ground on wooden piles made of triangular logs.  These logs swell during the rainy season blocking out the damp but in the heat shrink to let air circulate. 

Kasuga Grand Shrine

The Kasuga Grand Shrine, a Shinto shrine, was built by the powerful Fujiwara family in 768.  The shrine is famous for its bronze lanterns housed inside.  The path to the shrine runs through the famous Deer Park (1880) where we were set upon by friendly, overfed (wild?) sika deer.  These deer are said to be the sacred messengers of Shinto gods, so they rule the roost with some conviction.  We marvelled at the stone lanterns lining the path up to the shrine.

Ever-so-cute Sika Deer

The powerful Buddhist priesthood proved a burden for Emperor Kammu, who strategically moved his capital to Heian (Kyoto) in 794.  This cunning plan improved the Emperor’s coffers and deconstructed monastic power.  A change in political and religious influence was gaining momentum.  Prayer became peaceful and meditative heralding a change in art that moved into the refined Heian period.

Moss covered stone lanterns Nara Deer Park

Chaos Theory

Well, I've been struggling to keep both Textile Tourist  and  Early Years up and running.  Finally I've given in, so here you have it - all combined in a bit of a mish-mash.  Things could be worse!  Over on the right is a Ready Reference which should be of some assistance in bringing together all related posts. Early Years will sadly fade away once I've had a chance to check that it's all transferred nicely.

Chipping away at chaos, one post at a time....

Time to zen out for a bit (Nepal)

Enlightenment

Asuka Period (552–645)

In 538, Japanese Emperor Kimmei was sent an enormous gilt & bronze statue of Buddha from Korea.  Buddhism (552 AD) soon gained a firm hold on Japan and eventually become its official religion.  Buddhism teachings showed it was possible to develop mind, body and soul, offering new horizons for human thought and education.  Magnificent artworks and wondrous temples were constructed to house the many statues produced.  

Following the arrival of Buddhist monks, artists and artisans from China or Korea, Japan’s first great temple complex, Asukadera (588) was completed.  The Asuka period was further guided by the enlightened rule of Prince Shotoku, a devout Buddhist, who imported many laws and general ways of life from China. 

Prince Shotoku ordered the construction of Horyu-ji Temple at Nara (607) as his private temple.  It was to become a great cultural influence and is currently the Far East’s oldest surviving wooden structure.  The complex consists of 41 separate buildings.  Temples were constructed within a walled precinct which had a main gate to the south.  Buildings were formally grouped around a courtyard presenting a blank exterior to outside world.  Within would be a main pavilion, a multi-storeyed pagoda, accommodation for monks, a reading room and a refectory.  Inside, carefully laid out gardens were arranged around apartments with verandas.  These building were mostly made from wood and bamboo with stone used to build foundations and lower walls.  This proved sound in a land of regular seismic activity.

Photo - thanks again to Wiki.
(clearly I was remiss & off my camera oats that day!)

Textile manufacture also reached levels of excellence during the Asuka period. Chinese influence was widely felt and most converted to adopt Chinese dress codes. Textile examples housed at the Shosoin, Nara offer proof of an advanced textile industry and demonstrate the quality available at that time, naturally to the aristocracy.

Prince Shotoku with his son & brother
in aristocratic dress of the day.  Wiki

Persuasion

It’s easy to believe that summer is over. 

First sure signs are a fresh pink camellia on my footpath and the smell of eucalyptus smoke wafting across the island on cool, wet evenings.  

The first for this year....

I'll get back to textiles sooner or later.  The Quilt Album is going along nicely although the time has come to do a bit more research.  Also my photos from Japan are starting to make sense - despite the trip being more than a few years ago.  I've posted them on what was essentially my old Vox blog but one day I might just combine these two to save my sanity...

Great Tombs of Nara

Chronology

Segments in this Chronology section are mostly illustrated by the photos I took as we visited monuments, museums and buildings and are referenced to lots of reading material online.  An excellent Japanese Art Timeline with photographed collections can be found on-line thanks to the Met.

Photo Ref: Wiki

Little art has survived from Japan’s earliest cultures.  Eventually, increasing contact with the Asian mainland brought with it stimuli that would affect all facets of life.  Whilst Japanese society had shaped ceramic funerary figurines, new techniques allowed bronze and iron work to be produced and allowed a diversified life in growing communities.  Importantly, these communities were exposed to Buddhism.   Initially, Japan maintained almost continuous contact with Korea.  Yet another wave of influence came during the Chinese Tang period and again during the Nara and Sung Dynasties.  Buddhism was strongly linked with these three main Chinese influences.  Buddhism educated mind, body and spirit inspiring the Japanese to achieve many things including a refined culture uniquely theirs and a subtle yet rich language of art.

By the time of the Renaissance in Europe (14 & 15 centuries) Japan had already developed a delicate, graceful and precise style.  Modern day Japan is still a style trendsetter.

 Kofun (250-538 AD)

GreatTombs Period.  Little is known of the culture of early nomadic hunters as few artefacts remain, although it is known that settlers have existed since Paleolithic times (pre-10000BC).  By the time of the Kofun  (burial mound) Period they had progressed from hunter to settled agrarians. Within their feudal society members of significance, the nobility, were buried in large funeral mounds.  For example, the keyhole Tomb of Nintoka (about 399) covers 79 acres with three moats around the outside.  Pottery cylinders were placed around tombs to accompany the dead in the after-life.  Known as haniwa (circles in clay), they are 20-40 inches high with some topped by figures of people, animals and horses.  Haniwa provide us proof that early artists were keen observers.

Towards the end of this period, small regional communities were unified under a clan (family) from the Yamoto plain and Japan, as a nation, was created.  The Yamoto Kingdom established the Asuka Valley (just south of Nara) as the Japanese seat of government by 552AD. 

Textiles were most certainly in use during this time.  Haniwa figures attest to long fitted tops, closing right over left, worn with either voluminous pants or skirts.  I've included an engraving of Emperor Nintoku which hints at the elaborate weaves and construction that was available at a later time - no doubt reflective of Korean and Chinese fashions of the day.  

Emperor Nintoku 313-319 (from wiki)
Chikanobu woodcut (1838-1912)