Unit 5.2: The End of the Silk Road: Buddhist art of Japan and Korea

Asuka-Heian period Three Kingdoms to Unified Silla

Horyu-ji. Nara Prefecture, Japan. Asuka period, 7^th century.

Inner gate

CROSS-SECTION OF FIVE-STORY PAGODA, HORYU-JI.
Gary Cross © Dorling Kindersley. [Fig. 12-24]

Evolution of the Pagoda/Stupa

Sanchi (India), 1^st c. BCE

Horyuji (Japan), 7^th  c. CE

Kondo, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, ca. 680.

DETAIL OF DRAGON POSTS. 17th century, kondo, Horyu-ji.
Nara prefecture.
© G.Sioen/DeAgostini/Universal Images Group/Alamy. [Fig. 12-27]

Tamamushi Shrine. Laquer painting on wood; 7’8” (230 cm). 7^th century

Tamamushi Shrine (c. 650). Detail of Side Door Panels showing two Bodhisattvas. Lacquer on Wood.

Sacrificing for hungry tigers,

lacquer painting on the Tamamushi shrine,

Horyuji, Nara, Japan, early 7th cent.

The Monkey jataka, relief panel in sandstone, 

Great Stupa of Sanchi,

India, late 1st cent. BCE.

Shaka Triad. Tori Busshi. (623CE) Bronze, 69 ¼”(175.9 cm), Horyu-ji, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Asuka period.

Tori Busshi, Shaka triad, kondo, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Asuka period, 623. Bronze, central figure 5’ 9 1/2” high.

Yakushi, in the Kondo, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture.  Early 7^th century. Gilt Bronze. H. 25” (63cm).

Amida triad, wall painting formerly in the kondo, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, ca. 710. Ink and colors, 10’ 3’ X 8’ 6”. Horyuji Treasure House, Nara.

Asukadera Buddha, Tori Busshi, Asukadera, Asuka, 606. Gilt Bronze, h. 9ft. (276cm).

Stylistic traits of Asuka sculptural style:

1. Almond eyes    2. Archaic smile

Hôryûji Shaka                  Asukadera Great Buddha

1

2

Yumedono

Yumedono Kannon. Gilded wood.     6’5 ½” (197 cm). Yumedono (Hall of Dreams), Horyu-ji, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Asuka period, early 7^th century

Yumedono Kannon below

above Yumedono Kannon below Shaka triad bodhisattva

Kudara Kannon. Painted wood. 6’10” (210 cm).

Kudara Kannon:

1.  Right hand held out to worshipper

2.  Left hand grasps water vase

Miroku Bosatsu. Wood. 62” (157.5 cm). Chugu-ji of Horyu-ji, Nara, Japan. Asuka period, mid 7^th century.

Amida Triad, from Tachibana shrine. Bronze, 13 1/8” (33.3 cm). Horyu-ji, Nara, Japan. Nara period, early 8^th century

Yakushiji, Nara Prefecture, late 7^th century

Yakushi triad, kondo, Yakushiji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, late seventh or early eighth century. Bronze, central figure 8’ 4” high, including base and mandorla. 

YAKUSHI BUDDHA (MEDICINE BUDDHA). Nara period, late 7th–early 8th century.
Bronze. Height 8'4" (254 cm).
Kondo, Yakushi-ji, Nara. Photo Askaen Co., Ltd, Nara. [Fig. 13-4]

Yakushi Triad Buddha   Nara period above                  

Hôryûji Shaka Triad asuka period below

East Pagoda, Yakushiji.

West Pagoda, Yakushiji

Hondo

MAP OF NARA.
Reproduction after Penelope Mason History of Japanese Art, 2nd ed.
New York: Prentice Hall, 2005, 45. [Fig. 13-2]

Daibutsuden, Todaiji, Japan, Nara period, eighth century, rebuilt, ca. 1700. 

BUDDHIST MONKS CLEANING THE BUDDHA ROSHANA.
Todai-ji, Nara. © Sankei/Getty Images. [Fig. 13-7]

[Fig. 13-7]

Construction of Todaiji and the Great Buddha

Fukukenjaku Kannon (flanked by Gakko and Nikko), in the Hokkedo, Todaiji. Mid-eigth century. Dry laquer with gold leaf. h. 11’10” (362cm) 

Shōsōin, Tōdaiji, 756.

FIVE-STRINGED LUTE (BIWA). Chinese, Tang dynasty, 8th century.
Red sandalwood and chestnut inlaid with mother-of-pearl, amber, and tortoiseshell. Length 42-1/2" (108.1 cm), width 12" (30.9 cm), depth 3-1/2" (9 cm).
Shosoin, Todai-ji, Nara. Photo Imperial Household Agency. [Fig. 13-3]

• Tôshôdaiji , Golden Hall, completed 759ce, Nara Prefecture, Japan.

Priest Ganjin, Dry laquer, Kaisan-do of Toshodaiji, Nara, mid-8^th century. h. 32” (80.6cm)

Thousand-Armed Kannon, in the kondo, Toshodaiji. Late 8^th century.  Dry lacquer over wood. h. 17’7” (535cm)

Maitreya, Three Kingdoms period
“Paekche Smile”, gilt bronze, h. 30” (76.2cm),  National Museum of Seoul.

Seokguram Grotto, Unified Silla

SOKKURAM TEMPLE (751-754 CE)
Unified Silla, Kyongju, Korea

Figures from Sokkuram

Guardian Figure, Outer Chamber

Seated Buddha, Inner Sanctum

Manjusri Bodhisattva, Inner Sanctum

Buddha, stone, Sokkuram, Korea, Unified Silla period, 774 c.C.E. 345 cm

Evolution of the Worship space (Chaitya)

Ajanta, India

Kizil, Kuqa

Sokkuram, Korea

Bulguksa, North Gyeongsang Province, Unified Silla Period.

The Blue Cloud and White Cloud Bridges, the Lotus Flower and Seven Treasures Bridges in background. 

Vairocana Buddha statue at Bulguksa Temple. 9th Century, gilt bronze.

Dabotap (L) and Seokgatap (R), Stone Pagodas at Bulguksa, 751, Silla Kingdom