Neolithic Japan

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Jomon
Jo = rope
Mon = Pattern
Vessel with pointed base
Early Jomon Period

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Deep Vase with Relief decorations
Middle Jomon Period
(2500-1500 BCE)

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Earthenware
Firgurine with slit eyes (Dogu)
Late Jomon Period

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Yayoi Jar with red Slip decoration

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Clay Pitcher showing horizontal decoration with openwork foottrim
Middle Yayoi period

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Vase. Late Yayoi Period

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Dotaku Ritual Bronze Bell.
Late Yayoi Period

Dotaku: The exact function of dotaku is uncertain. Dotaku were not made as musical instruments (despite their bell-like appearance). Instead, they were reserved for ritual purpose and religious function, and may have served for aristocratic authority.

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Dotaku ritual bronze bell.
Late Yayoi period

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Detail view from another Dotaku

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Bronze mirrors were a luxury burial good beginning in the Yayoi Period.

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Kofun Period

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The name comes from the discovery of more than 10,000 mound-tombs from this period.
The size and furnishings in the tombs suggest that they were burial sites of ancient chiefs of the imperial clan.
Most of the Kofun sites were locatd in the Osaka-Nare region on Japan's main islan Honshu.
In about 300 CE the Yamato clan became the imperial house of Japan. They centralized the power and established the social and political system that had influenced Japan for centuries.

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Kofun: Funerary tumuli at first round, then key-hole shaped. Means "old tomb" in Japanese.

This photo is an aerial view of the tomb of Emperoro Nintoku.

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Magatama: Cashew-nut shaped jades and agates, or korean fertility jewels. Were popular ritual art objects during the Yayoi period, but found in abundance in Kofun tombs.

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Amaterasu

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The Sun Goddess.
According to Japanese religious beliefs, magatama, sword, and the bronze mirror were all gifts of the sun goddess Amaterasu to the imperial Yamato clan.

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Haniway: Originally clay cylinders placed tightly together around the grave mound to strengthen the sides of the mound and prevent erosion. As time went on, the haniwa makers began to model the tops of the cylinders into the shapes of human figures or animals.

Late kofun period.

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Shinto

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Literally means "the way of the gods," is the indigenous religion of Japan, present as early as the Jomon period.
Shinto is conerned with man's relationships with the many beneficent nature spirits or gods called Kami.

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Kami

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Nature spirits or Gods.
Kami are believed to reside in natural phenomena such as mountains, rocks, trees, waterfalls, rivers, and raim
Kami are also considered the divine ancestors of Japan's various clan groups. For example, Amaterasu, the sun goddess and the greatest of all kami in Shinto Mythology, is believed o be the divine ancestor of the imperial clan.

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Approach to Shinto Shrine of Ise

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Shrine of Ise.
View of Naiku (Inner) shrine
Dedicated to Amaterasu

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Katsuohi

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Finished logs which cross the ridgepole

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Chigi

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Long flat boards which cross at either end of the roof

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Asuka Period

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552-646 CE
First Historical period in Japan
Mahayana Buddhism was introduced to Japan by Korean emissaries

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Portrait of Prince Shotoku with two attendants (possibly his sons)
Hanging scroll,
Nara Period 8th century

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Prince Shotoku

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Was an ardent Buddhist scholar and statesman. Established Buddhism as the state religion over the native shinto, Encouraged study of Chinese Confucian principles and centralization of Imperial Power.

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Horyuji, Nara
607 CE
Asuka Period

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Tiered tower with multiple eaves common throughout Asia. The modern pagoda is an evolution of the ancient Indian stupa, combined with a central pillar with the multiple stories of a Chinese watchtower, capped by a tall spire. Like Indian stupas, they store Buddhist relics or treasures symbolic of such relics.

Five Storied Pagoda
711 CE

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Mourning Disciples
Death of Buddha clay tableau

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Kondo or "Golden Hall"
Kondos are the main halls of Japanese Buddhist temples often containing statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

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Tori Busshi
Shaka Triad
Asuka Period

Busshi means sculptor of Buddhist Images

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Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna
Northern Wei Dynasty

Recall: Elongated Style

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View of Yumedono )Hall of Dreams_ shrine
Horyuji complex
Nara

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Yumedono Kannon
Asuka Period (mid 7th century)

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Kudara Kannon
Asuka Period
7th century
Nara

Kudara was the Japanese name for Korea's Paekche kingdom located in southwest Korea

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Miroku
Asuka Period
Mid-7th century

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Tamamushi Shrine
Asuka period
650

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Nara

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645-794 CE
The Nara period roughly coincides with the Tang period in China, and in many respects, Japan became a cultural satellite of the Tang court. Ruling aristocracy adopted many aspects of Chinese culture.
Imperial capital at Nara beginning in 710.
Shift from tribal to centralized aristocracy. Rulership was inherited.
Under imperial patronage, Buddhism flourishes.
Emperor Shumu, declares each province much have it's own temple.

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Kondo at Todaiji
Nara
752
Todaiji was the imperial temple and head temple of the provincial ones.

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Todaiji scene showing the Great Buddha in the Shigisan Engi
12th century

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Lokapala
Celestial kings associated with the four directions in space. Guardians of Buddhist law. Typically alter guardians

Lokapoala from Todaiji, Mid 8th century

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Shosoin, Todaiji 756
Shosoin served as a storehouse of imperial treasures.

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Kyokechi Dyed Carpet

The Shosoin contained 6,000 objects that give us a rare glimpse into the life at court during the Nara period.

Many rare luxury objects from China or Silk Road

Weapons, carpets, games, musical instruments, lacquer, paintings.

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Manner of Wu Daozi
Bodhisattva flying on a cloud
mid 8th century
Shosoin, Nara, Japan

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Lady under a Tree
Early 8th century

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Ladies wearing Flowers in their Hair
Tang Dynasty
Attributed to Zhou Fang

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Amida triad
c. 710
Kondo, Joryuji, Nara

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Yakushi: Buddha of healing and medicine, also referred to as the "medicine Buddha". Another form of the Buddha that was popular in Tibet and Japan

Yakushi triad, 726, bronze

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Priest Ganjin Seated in Meditation
Late 8th Century

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Dry Lacquer Technique

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Clay core

3-10 layers of lacquered soaked hemp or linen

A moldable paste of lacquer, incense, sawdust, clay powders was applied to form and allowed to try.

Finished with color or gold leaf

Clay core removed through the back, so final object is hollow inside.