Asian ArtJapanese Screens and ScrollsMany artists, such as Impressionist painters Cassatt and Monet, were heavily influenced by Asian Art. Vincent Van Gogh once said…

“If we study Japanese Art, we see a man who is undoubtedly wise, philosophic and intelligent, who spends his time doing what? In studying the distance between the earth and moon? No. In studying Bismarck’s policy? No. He studies a single blade of grass."

Seated Buddha, Tang dynasty

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Bamboo and Rocks, Yuan dynasty

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Self-portrait Van Gogh Credits

geography

Japan- a nation of islands that were able to avoid invasion and

develop a homogeneous culture.

The terrain of Japan affected the kinds of landscapes that were produced.

Nearby countries, such as China, affected Japan.

Map of Japan Credits

*Subject Matter- illustrating the teachings of their beliefs

*Mood or feeling

How did religion affect Japanese Art?

Religion

Would you like to hear of example of a tale that would have been told to to help pass on Buddha’s teachings? Click here.

Religion

What religions can you think of that might have been prevalent in Asia?

Taoism Sikhism

Buddhism

Shinto

Confucianism

Hinduism

Jainism

BuddhismThis sculpture depicts Buddha- “Enlightened One” which means perfect human.

Seated Buddha, Tang Dynasty Credits

Would you like to hear a story about a young man trying to attain Enlightenment? Click

Buddhism- founded in India by Sidhartha Gautuma.

Zen Buddhism- from China- the art of meditation.

BodhisattvaBoe- dee-saht-vuh

A Bodhisattva is someone who has stopped one step short of becoming a Buddha to help other attain enlightenment. Guanyin (gwan yin) is the Chinese name of this bodhisattva.

Head of Guanyin, Bodhisattva of Mercy Credits

What is a Bodhisattva?

Would you like to hear another tale by the Zen masters? It’s called Baby Snake in a Cup. Click here.

Composition

The Battles of Hogen and Heiji, Edo period Credits

Let’s take a closer look at the composition in the battle scene in this screen painting:

How would you describe the space in this painting?

Composition

Detail of The Battles of Hogen and Heiji Credits

Detail of The Battles of Hogen and Heiji Credits

Detail of The Battles of Hogen and Heiji Credits

MediaWhat media (materials) did the artists use to create this screen painting?

Ink- permanent. There’s no correcting or repainting it.

Ink wash creates an atmospheric perspective in the background.

Bamboo and Rocks, Yuan dynasty Credits

What is Monochrome?

Chinese style Monochrome ink paintings were a popular style in Japanese screen Paintings.

Monochrome- or monochromatic is a color scheme that uses tints and shades of one color.

The Old Plum, Edo period Credits

Hand scrolls or Emakimono (E mock e mo no) were introduced from China in the 8th Century. Within a century, Japanese painters were producing the most exquisite hand scrolls on the continent. Hanging scrolls were used in the Japanese tea ceremony (as we’ll discuss later). Scrolls were usually silk or paper.

Hanging Scrolls And Hand Scrolls

Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Shrine (Kitano Tenjin Engi), Kamakura period Credits

This scroll contained illustrated legends of Zen for a religious shrine. Would you like to hear a tale from Buddha’s teaching about 4 men who learn an important lesson while practicing Zen? Click here.

Folding Screens

Landscapes in the Style of An Kyon, Choson dynasty Credits

Other than decoration- what purpose did folding screens serve?

Woodblock PrintsWoodblock print- very popular in Asia during this time.

This famous landscape print by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was one of 36 views of Mount Fuji.

Describe what you see in this picture- look closely.

Who do you think Hokusai believed was in control- man or nature?

The Great Wave at Kanagawa Hokusai Credits

The Way of Tea*The tea ceremony was to be enjoyed in a small room with selected “tea” scroll paintings.

Ewer for use in tea ceremony, Momoyama period Credits

*Worship of the imperfect

*Teaism- purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order.

*Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage.

Selected BibliographyAddiss, S. and Seo, A. Y. (1996).

How to look at Japanese art. Harry N.Abrams, Inc, Publishers: New York.

Lee, S. E. (1997). Screensand Scrolls: Japanese art from thecollection of the Ackland ArtMuseum. The University of NorthCarolina at Chapel Hill: Chapel Hill,NC.

Baker, J. S. (1984). Japanese Art.Thames and Hudson Ltd: London.

Man-Tu Lee (1999). TheJapanese Tea Ceremony. ElementBooks Limited: Shaftesbury, Dorset.

Johnson, N. (1993) SelectedReadings for Anthropology 1999, pt. 1:gardens, shrines, and temples of Japan.Copytron: Chapel Hill, NC.

TeaHyakka Magazine: TheEncyclopedia of Japanese TeaCeremony. Available at:http://www.teahyakka.com/

Martin, R. (1995). One hand clapping: Zen stories for all ages. Rizzoli International Publications, Inc: New York.

Image CreditsSeated Buddha, Tang dynasty (618?07), ca. 650 China. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at:

http://www.metmuseum.org/Bamboo and Rocks, Yuan dynasty (1279?368), 1318. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at:

http://www.metmuseum.org/Van Gogh Self Portrait (1990’s) Courtesy of Jim Grattan

JIM'S FINE ART COLLECTION. Available at: http://www.spectrumvoice.com/art/index.htmlLandscapes in the Style of An Kyon, Choson dynasty (1392?910), 5th century. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Shrine (Kitano Tenjin Engi), Kamakura period (1185?333), 13th century. The

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/The Old Plum, Edo period (1615?868), ca. 1645 Attributed to Kano Sansetsu (Japanese, 1658?716) Japan

purchase, Louisa Eldridge McBurney Gift, 1953 (53.7.1-2) The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

The Battles of Hogen and Heiji, Edo period (1615?868), 17th century Japan Rogers Fund, 1957 (57.156.4-5). The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

Eight-Planked Bridge (Yatsuhashi), Edo period (1615?868), 18th century Ogata Korin (Japanese, 1658?716) Japan Purchase, Louisa Eldridge McBurney Gift, 1953 (53.7.1-2) . The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

The Great Wave at Kanagawa (from a Series of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji), Edo period (1615?868), ca. 1831?3 Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760?849) Japan Polychrome Ink and color on paper; 10 1/8 x 14 15/16 in. (25.7 x 37.9 cm) (Oban H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929 (JP1847). The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

Ewer for use in tea ceremony, Momoyama period (1568?615), early 17th century Japan Stoneware with overglaze enamels (Shino-Oribe ware); H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm) Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1988 (1988.156ab) . The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

Seated Buddha, Tang dynasty (618?07), ca. 650 China. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

Dry lacquer with traces of gilt and polychrome pigments; 38 x 27 in. (96.5 x 68.6 cm) Rogers Fund, 1919 (19.186). The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/

Head of Guanyin, Bodhisattva of Mercy. Gilded and painted cast iron, 13 th century Ackland Fund Northern Chinese Jin Dynasty (115-1234).