Unit 7 Japanese Art of the Heian Period

794-1185 CE

Heiankyô (Kyoto)

      Kansai region              

Map of Heian-kyo, dated 1696.  Notice the city growing out from its center.  Notice also that the city is surrounded by mountains and rivers which affords mystical protection.

Muro-ji. Nara Prefecture, Japan. Early Heian period, early 9^th century. (Modified in 13th c.)

Kondo

Five Storied Pagoda

Miroku Hall

Niomon, main gate of Muro-ji, Nara Prefecture

Shaka or Miroku Buddha. Wood, h. 15 3/8” (39cm). Todai-ji, Nara, Japan. Early Heian period, 9^th century.

Yakshi. Wood, h. 66 5/8” (169.2cm). Jingo-ji, Kyoto, Japan. Early Heian period, early 9^th century.

Seated Shaka. Wood, h. 41” (104.1cm). Muro-ji, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Early Heian period.

Nyoirin Kannon. Colored wood, h. 43” (109.2cm). Kanshin-ji, Osaka, Japan. Early Heian period, early 9^th century.

Esoteric mandara (Sanskrit, mandala)

       Taizôkai (womb) red             Kongôkai (diamond)white

    both colors on silk

WOMB WORLD MANDALA (TAIZOKAI) OF THE RYOKAI MANDALA
Heian period, late 9th century.
Hanging scroll, color on silk. 6' × 5'1-1/2" (1.83 × 1.54 m).
To-ji, Kyoto. Photo Benrido Inc., Kyoto. [Fig. 13-14A]

2nd DETAIL OF THE WOMB WORLD MANDALA (TAIZOKAI) OF THE RYOKAI MANDALA.
Heian period, late 9th century.
Hanging scroll, color on silk. 6' × 5'1-1/2" (1.83 × 1.54 m).
To-ji, Kyoto. Photo Benrido Inc., Kyoto. [Fig. 13-14B]

Kongo-kai Mandala (Diamond World Mandala), Heian Period, late 9th century.  Hanging scroll, color on silk, 6’ x 5’1 ½”. To-ji, Kyoto

2nd DETAIL OF THE DIAMOND WORLD MANDALA (KONGOKAI) OF THE RYOKAI MANDALA.
Heian period, late 9th century.
Hanging scroll, color on silk. 6' × 5'1-1/2" (1.83 × 1.54 m).
To-ji, Kyoto. Photo Benrido Inc., Kyoto. [Fig. 13-15B]

Red Fudo Myo-o. Color on silk, h. 61 ½” (156.2cm). Myo-o in, Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Early Heian period.

Dai-itoku Myo-o. Ink, color, and gold leaf on silk, h. 6’3” (190cm). Japan. Mid-Heian period. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

The Parinirvana of the Buddha. Dated to 1086. Color on silk, h. 8’ 10” (269cm). Kongobu-ji, Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Late Heian period.

Shaka Emerging from the Golden Coffin. Hanging scroll, color on silk, h. 63” (160cm). Choho-ji, Kyoto, Japan. Late Heian period, late 11^th century.

Lotus Sutra, Heian period (794–1185), 12^th century
Gold on indigo-dyed paper; 11 3/4 x 339 3/4 in. (29.8 x 863 cm)

Kichijoten. Painted wood, h. 35 ½” (90.2cm). Joruri-ji, Kyoto, Japan. Late Heian period, Late 12^th Century.

Kichijoten, Yakushiji, Nara, Japan. Color on silk. Nara Period, 8^th century.

Kichijouten (Mahasri), 1078 AD, Heian Era
Wood with pigments, 116 cm, Treasure of Houryuuji Temple
Left hand holds Wish-Granting Jewel (Jp. = Houjyu 宝珠)

Ho-o-do (Phoenix Hall) of Byodo-in. c. 1053

PLAN AND ELEVATION OF THE PHOENIX HALL.
After Tomoya Masuda, Living Architecture: Japanese. [Fig. 13-20]

Entry bridge to main hall.

Image of Phoenix Hall on back of 10 yen coin.

Amida. By Jocho (d. 1057). Dated to 1053. Gilded wood, h. 9’4” (284cm). Ho-o-do (Phoenix Hall) of Byodo-in, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Late Heian period.

2nd Diagram of yosegi-zukuri (multiple woodblock technique).

3rd Diagrams showing the blocks of wood used by Jocho to create the Amida Buddha statue in the Phoenix Hall, Byodo-in (see Fig. 13-21). Reproduction after Penelope Mason History of Japanese Art, 2nd ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2005, p.134.

SHINTO GODDESS. Heian period, 9th century.
Wood, painted. Height 34-1/2" (87.6 cm).
Matsuo Taisha Shrine, Kyoto. [Fig. 13-28]

First Illustration to the “Azumaya” chapter of The Tale of Genji. Handscroll, ink and color on paper, h. 8 ½” (21.6cm). Japan. Late Heian period, 12^th century. Tokugawa Art Museum, Nagoya

• Based on Tale of Genji(the oldest novel in the world) -

• Women in the palace getting ready are depicted.

• Bird's eye view, but still looking like the view.

• Oblique - perspective, like tilted and off to the side.

• Onai - no expression on the face, just tilted heads. (Heian culture is very much about fashion and aesthetic),

Illustration from the Tale of Genji Scrolls, Bell Cricket Chapter. Japan. 12th c.

• Emperor(on the top left) Ganji they are speaking each other .emperor is saying that genji is his father.

• Head tilted down to create this heavy feeling of for this difficult conversation.

Illustration from Genji Scrolls, Bell Cricket Chapter. Japan.   12th c.

• leave to join convent

Illustration from Genji Scrolls, Law Chapter. 

• Genji - old here

• Adopts young women and then ends up marrying her.

• Book translation Edwards forgot T-T

Night Revels Scroll, Gu Hongzhong. Song Dyn. China. 10th c. compare with below

Tale of Genji Scroll, Bell Cricket Chapter. Japan.    12th compare with above

Night Revels Scroll, Gu Hongzhong. Song Dyn. China. 10th c. compare with below

Tale of Genji Scroll, Eastern Cottage Chapter. Japan.  12th c.  compare with above

Chojo Jimbutsu, Attrib. Toba Sojo (1053-1140). Ink on paper, h. 12 ½”, l. 37’ (112.8cm). Kozan-ji, Kyoto, Japan. Late 12^th century.

• Famous hand scroll - first depiction of manga

• First three is created by toba sojo but the fourth one is inconsistent in the style so it's attributed to him.

• Worshippers on the right-rabbit and a fox

• On the left frog Buddha and a monkey monk

• People behind who are getting scammed

• On the top pic is depicted some mondaine activities and this happens through the scroll.

• sequential art naxe mere

• visual trope - wisp of smoke that the frog is talking,bottom two

• frog on the right telling a joke and other slaugthingbottom two

continuation

Pilgrimage

head preite is the monkey on the bottom the things in front of him demonstrate the corruption

top one dancers singers and performers trying to scam money out of people.

Gaki Zoshi. Ink and color on paper, h. 10 ¾”, l. 17’8” (538cm). Japan. Late Heian period, late 12^th century. Tokyo National Museum.

Demonstrates the hell and the demons.

Demons rips out the stomach so you cant drink or eat

These things hang around the graveyard and drink poop water and flesh

Their stomachs blow up because of the gasses and are skeleton looking - that's what happens when you starve.

Yamai no soshi (Diseases and Deformities). Handscroll, ink and color on paper, h. 10” (25.1cm). Japan. Late 12^th century. Fukuoka Municipal Art Museum.

• depicts criticism towards the obese women and people are laughing at her and helping her walk

• Depicts excessivenes.

2nd picture

• Orive mxridan agmodis

• chevron pattern on the wall sea cucumber walls - built with clay and plaster the chevron is made out of plaster and is used to protect themselves because the whole house is wood and easily burnable.

Jigoku Zoshi (Scroll of Hells). Handscroll, ink and color on paper, h. 10 3/4” (27.3cm). Japan. Kamakura period, c. 1200. 

two tipes of tourtehr/punishment - get hit by flying rocks or boil in blood

The Flying Storehouse. Section of the handscroll Shigisan Engi Emaki, ink and slight color on paper, h. 12 ½” (31.8cm), l. 116’8” (356cm). Chogosonshi-ji, Nara, Japan. Late 12^th century.

• Ombs bowl on the top left.

• Stingy land owner the one in the middle he didn't want to give out anything to the temple and the monks so he locked everything in the store house(the top left)

• The water took the whole stock house and people are running twords it like oh noo

Ban Dainagon Ekotoba. Handscroll, ink and color on paper, h. 12 ¼”. Japan. Late 12^th century. Tokyo National Museum.

People of the palace are running away the flame or towards it to see what's going on.

Minister Ban dainagon set the fire but blamed it on someone else.

on the bottom he gets discover and is chased down the street.

the son that got fired wa shaving a fight with Bans son so he started beating the kid but someone else stopped him and said that he knows what he did and if he wont stop he will snitch. and someone important walked past and heard it which led to an investigation.

Ban Dainagon Scroll

Shigisan engi Scroll