Chapter_8__Section_2_Presentation

Chapter 8 – Japan

Section 2 – Art and Culture in Heian

Main Ideas

• Japanese nobles created significant art in their Heian court.

• Buddhism underwent transformation in Japan during the Heian period.

Overview of Heian Period

• Establishment of Heian (Kyoto)

  • In 794, the Japanese emperor and empress relocated to Heian, now known as Kyoto.

  • Many nobles followed them, forming an imperial court that advised the ruler.

• Life at the Imperial Court

  • The imperial court members maintained a lifestyle separated from poorer citizens.

  • Nobles indulged in literature, art, and music.

  • This era (794-1185) is marked as a golden age of the arts in Japan.

Fashion in Heian Court

• Elaborate and intricate fashion was favored among the nobles.

• Women's Clothing:

  • Wore long gowns comprising twelve layers of colorful silk.

  • Fashion included ornamental fans embellished with floral and avian designs.

Literature

• Writing flourished, especially among noblewomen.

• Diaries and Journals:

  • Noble women commonly kept diaries and documented their life in court.

• Writing Styles:

  • Men typically wrote in Chinese, whereas noble women often utilized Japanese.

• Lady Murasaki Shikibu:

  • Renowned for writing The Tale of Genji around 1000, often regarded as the world's first full-length novel.

• Poetic Traditions:

  • Poetry flourished with a focus on a specific five-line structure.

Visual Art

• Popular forms of the visual arts during this era included painting, calligraphy, and architectural design.

• Many artworks depicted scenes from literature as well as nature and daily court life.

• Artists frequently illustrated on doors and furniture, enriching visual storytelling in domestic spaces.

Architecture

• Nobles admired and emulated Chinese architectural styles, particularly referencing the capital Chang’an.

• Design Features:

  • Heian architecture showcased wooden frames that gracefully curved upwards at their ends, integrating aesthetic and structural beauty.

Changes in Buddhism

• Preferences for religious practice bifurcated among nobles and commoners.

• Noble Practices:

  • Nobles in Heian leaned towards elaborate rituals in their spiritual practices.

• Common Practices:

  • Common people gravitated towards simpler forms, like Pure Land Buddhism and Zen.

    • Pure Land Buddhism:

      • Practitioners chanted the Buddha’s name for enlightenment.

    • Zen Buddhism:

      • Imported from China in the 1100s, focused on self-discipline and meditation.