Bits of History

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

BITS OF HISTORY A RIDICULOUSLY SHORT HISTORY OF BUDDHISM INDIA 563-483 BCE Gautama Buddha 5th c. BCE on Early “Hinayana” schools begin to develop 100 BCE on Mahayana branch begins to develop 8th-10th c. Buddhism dies out in India CHINA 200 Buddhism introduced to China 600-850 Buddhism dominant in China 845 Persecution of Buddhism in China 1000 Development of Neo-Confucianism begins, which will dominate JAPAN 550 Buddhism introduced to Japan A RIDICULOUSLY SHORT HISTORY OF JAPANESE RELIGION I. PRE-HISTORICAL JAPAN (to 550 c.e.) Shamanism: seers (those who can understand the spirit world, the cause of illness, the future, etc.); mediums (those who can communicate with the spirit world); witch doctors (those who can manipulate the world by virtue of their spiritual powers) Nature animism: belief in KAMI, spiritual forces and powers in nature Myths: different tribes have different myths of origin of world, etc. II. EARLY JAPAN (approx. 550-800) ASUKA PERIOD: ca. 500-710. NARA PERIOD: 710-784 Introduction of continental Buddhism, first in the form of magical or shamanistic Buddhism (esp. concerning healing), then philosophic Buddhism (with little original development). Buddhism kept from the masses. "Shinto" is defined as a single native religion distinct from Buddhism. The two are largely assimilated. III. HEIAN RELIGION (approx. 800-1200) Development of Tendai and Shingon as Japanese forms of Chinese Buddhism. Ritual magic. This-worldly philosophy. Introduction of Pure Land Buddhism (theistic Buddhism concerned with the salvation of sinners). The spread of Buddhism to the masses, especially in the form of a syncretic blend of Buddhism and native Shamanism. Belief in "goryo," spirits of those who died frustrated or angry. They remain on the earth until they are satisfied. The assimilation of Buddhism and Shinto continues. IV. MEDIEVAL JAPANESE RELIGION {approx 1200-1600} KAMAKURA: 1185-1333. MUROMACHI: 1338-1573. MOMOYAMA: 1574-1600 Zen (stressing meditation and enlightenment) and Pure Land (stressing salvation through faith in the saving Buddha Amida) dominate. Native belief in goryo spirits continues. Philosophic basis for Buddhism and Shinto assimilation developed. Buddhism expressed in art forms such as poetry, painting, gardens, and Nō drama. Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1443) V. TOKUGAWA (EDO) PERIOD: EARLY MODERN JAPANESE RELIGION (approx. 1600-1868) Confucianism dominates early part of the period. Buddhism continues but declines in importance. Shinto revival, and increased concern about the past, from 1700-1868. VI. MODERN JAPANESE RELIGION (1868-1945) State Shinto and the rise of Shinto nationalism. Other religions strictly controlled or repressed. VII. CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE RELIGION (1945 TO PRESENT) State Shinto disestablished by the American government. Freedom of religion. The rise of "New Religions" which adapt traditional popular religion (including shamanism) to modern urban life. .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

View of the Study
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date: March 2, 2005 I, MICHAEL DAVID FOWLER, hereby submit this work as part of the requirements for the degree of: Doctor of Musical Arts in: Piano It is entitled: Toshi Ichiyanagi’s Piano Media: Finding Parallelisms to Patterns in Japanese Culture. This work and its defense approved by: Chair: James Culley Kenneth Griffiths Frank Wienstock _______________________________ 2 Toshi Ichiyanagi’s Piano Media: Finding Parallelisms to Patterns in Japanese Culture A thesis submitted to the Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment for the degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS IN PIANO in the Keyboard Division, of the College Conservatory of Music 2005 by Michael D. Fowler Dip.Mus., University of Newcastle, 1994 B.Mus. (Hons), University of Newcastle, 1996 M.M. University of Cincinnati, 1999 Committee Chair: James Culley 3 ABSTRACT This thesis is concerned with the musical analysis of Toshi Ichiyanagi’s 1972 solo piano composition Piano Media, and an examination of musical processes and considerations that mirror and parallel patterns of traditional Japanese culture. Through brief studies of language construction, Zen, Pachinko and traditional aesthetics, analogies and references can be used to highlight congruent musical structures and predilections in Ichiyanagi’s work. The final goal is to define the work not only within musical terms of analysis, but also within a cultural context. 4 Copyright © 2004 by Michael Fowler All Rights Reserved 5 CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION . 9 Overview of the Study PART 1. SELECTED ELEMENTS OF JAPANESE CULTURE II. THE CULTIVATION OF THE JAPANESE SENSIBILITY THROUGH THE ARTS .
[Show full text]
The Otaku Phenomenon : Pop Culture, Fandom, and Religiosity in Contemporary Japan
University of Louisville ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository Electronic Theses and Dissertations 12-2017 The otaku phenomenon : pop culture, fandom, and religiosity in contemporary Japan. Kendra Nicole Sheehan University of Louisville Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd Part of the Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Japanese Studies Commons, and the Other Religion Commons Recommended Citation Sheehan, Kendra Nicole, "The otaku phenomenon : pop culture, fandom, and religiosity in contemporary Japan." (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2850. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2850 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository. This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has retained all other copyrights. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE OTAKU PHENOMENON: POP CULTURE, FANDOM, AND RELIGIOSITY IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN By Kendra Nicole Sheehan B.A., University of Louisville, 2010 M.A., University of Louisville, 2012 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Louisville in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities Department of Humanities University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky December 2017 Copyright 2017 by Kendra Nicole Sheehan All rights reserved THE OTAKU PHENOMENON: POP CULTURE, FANDOM, AND RELIGIOSITY IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN By Kendra Nicole Sheehan B.A., University of Louisville, 2010 M.A., University of Louisville, 2012 A Dissertation Approved on November 17, 2017 by the following Dissertation Committee: __________________________________ Dr.
[Show full text]
Applied Arts of Japan Wi
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Art and Art History Fall 2014, Study Abroad in Kobe, Japan ART 380: Early Art of Japan – Buddhist Art and Visual Culture Instructor: Prof. John Szostak Credit hours: 3 Contact hours: 45 Course Description: This course explores the art of Japan’s early periods (prehistory through the 16th century) with special emphasis on Japanese Buddhist art and visual culture. The course structure combines reading- and lecture-based learning with a significant outside-the-classroom component in the form of multiple field trips. The class is tailored to take advantage of the many temples in the greater Kansai region that were central to the development of Japanese Buddhism and its art, as well as the presence of several museums that will allow students to experience first-hand the art objects under study. Student who successfully apply themselves in the course will emerge at its conclusion with a knowledge of the values and beliefs associated with the various schools of Japanese Buddhism, and how these are represented through such media as painting, sculpture, ritual implements, architecture, and garden design. The course begins with the Kofun period (ca. 250-552), especially its burial practices and funerary culture centered around the decorated mound tombs for which the period is named, including Goshiki Kofun, located in Kobe. The second section of the course covers the establishment of Buddhism in Japan during the Asuka period (552-710) and its expansion in the Nara period (710-784), and will be supplemented by a field trip to the Nara National Museum and several important surviving Nara-period temples (projected: Todaij, Yakushiji, Kofukuji, and Horyuji).
[Show full text]
Kamakura Period, Early 14Th Century Japanese Cypress (Hinoki) with Pigment, Gold Powder, and Cut Gold Leaf (Kirikane) H
A TEACHER RESOURCE 1 2 Project Director Nancy C. Blume Editor Leise Hook Copyright 2016 Asia Society This publication may not be reproduced in full without written permission of Asia Society. Short sections—less than one page in total length— may be quoted or cited if Asia Society is given credit. For further information, write to Nancy Blume, Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., New York, NY 10021 Cover image Nyoirin Kannon Kamakura period, early 14th century Japanese cypress (hinoki) with pigment, gold powder, and cut gold leaf (kirikane) H. 19½ x W. 15 x D. 12 in. (49.5 x 38.1 x 30.5 cm) Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.205 Photography by Synthescape, courtesy of Asia Society 3 4 Kamakura Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan Art is of intrinsic importance to the educational process. The arts teach young people how to learn by inspiring in them the desire to learn. The arts use a symbolic language to convey the cultural values and ideologies of the time and place of their making. By including Asian arts in their curriculums, teachers can embark on culturally diverse studies and students will gain a broader and deeper understanding of the world in which they live. Often, this means that students will be encouraged to study the arts of their own cultural heritage and thereby gain self-esteem. Given that the study of Asia is required in many state curriculums, it is clear that our schools and teachers need support and resources to meet the demands and expectations that they already face.
[Show full text]
The Neglected Heian Woman: from the Outlook of Kagerō Nikki
International Journal of Development in Social Sciences and Humanities http://www.ijdssh.com (IJDSSH) 2020, Vol. No. 10, Jul-Dec e-ISSN: 2455-5142; p-ISSN: 2455-7730 The Neglected Heian Woman: From the outlook of Kagerō Nikki LAVANYA VERMA CENTRE FOR JAPANESE STUDIES SCHOOL OF LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND CULTURE STUDIES JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY NEW DELHI-110067 ABSTRACT The Heian Society is mainly noted for being the Golden Age in the Japanese history for its native cultural achievements in the Imperial court, Kana literature and well-designed city plan. The literature in Heian period written by the women revealed their secluded lives while throwing light at the manipulated society which was in favor of men. The primary objective of this paper is to examine the sidelined woman of the society and the author’s psychological perspective through textual analysis of the Poetic literature work- Kagerō Nikki. It throws light at social practices which were often followed in the middle-class society with the help of arguments which are further proved. The introduction focuses on the background of the period and the initiative of diary usage from Asuka Period onwards. It also focuses on the usage of Kana and introduction to diaries written by women while emphasizing on the significance of women diary literature. Secondly, the literary work is studied from the socio-economic and political viewpoint to examine the hypothetical position of the author- Michitsuna no Haha. Apart from her diary, very little information is available in other work regarding her existence. This work gives a detailed description of Michitsuna no Haha’s married life and her position as a secondary wife in the society.
[Show full text]
Clan Influence in Asuka Japan: Asukadera and the Soga Clan
CLAN INFLUENCE IN ASUKA JAPAN: ASUKADERA AND THE SOGA CLAN by Ian Michael Watts Submitted to the Faculty of The Archaeological Studies Program Department of Sociology and Archaeology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science University of Wisconsin - La Crosse 2012 Copyright © 2012 by Ian Watts All rights reserved ii CLAN INFLUENCE IN ASUKA JAPAN: ASUKADERA AND THE SOGA CLAN Ian Watts, B.S. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, 2012 The Asuka Period of Japan is characterized by the introduction of Buddhism from Korea and a consolidation of power by the central government. The interplay between the Imperial Clan and the Soga Clan was integral in shaping everyday life in Asuka as the introduction of Buddhism brought the creation of permanent architecture in the shape of temples. These temples, primarily constructed by the Imperial Line and the Soga Clan, required the employment of local populations as a labor force for the construction of the various buildings within each temple complex. An examination of the assemblage of round eave-end roof tiles at the first Buddhist temple in Japan, Asukadera, examines the implications of this labor procurement. Furthermore, spatial analysis between Asukadera, Tōyuradera, and Okuyamakumedera provides data for future research. iii Acknowledgements Much of this study could not have been completed without the help of the following individuals and institution. Large portions of Japanese text were translated by native Japanese and Taiwanese speakers in conjunction with my direction. I was extremely fortunate to have been given a portion of the Asukadera Excavation Report directly by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
[Show full text]
Foreign Relations Between South Korea and Japan During the Asuka Period
FOREIGN RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN DURING THE ASUKA PERIOD Sightseeing Map A→Umayasaka B→Kasuga Shrine C→Kogenji D→Asukadera E→Asuka Historical Museum ACHIKI （阿直岐）<A> In the 15th year of the Emperor Ojin’s reign (404 A.D.), in autumn, in August, the King of Baekje dispatched Achiki and offered up two good horses as a tribute to Japan, along with him. Then, they were reared in the stable (umaya) atop the hill (saka) of Karu. And, Achiki was entrusted to raise them. Therefore, the place where the horses were raised was called Umayasaka. Achiki also read the Confucian classics well. Then, Prince Uji-no-Waki-Iratsuko took him as his teacher. Now, the Emperor inquired to Achiki, saying, "Is there any scholar superior to you?" He replied, "There is a man called Wani. He is excellent." Then, the Emperor dispatched Aratawake and Kamunagiwake (a male oracle), who were ancestors of the Kamitsuke-no-Kimi clan, to Baekje, to summon Wani. This Achiki is the progenitor of the Achiki-no-Fubito clan. In the 16th year, in spring, in February, Wani had come. Then, Prince Uji-no-Waki-Iratsuko took him as his teacher, learned various classics under him and there was nothing he didn't become thoroughly acquainted with. This so-called Wani was the progenitor of the Fumi-no-Obito clan. UMAYASAKA （厩坂）<A> A geographical location in the “Chronicles of Japan”. It is conceived to be Kashihara Castle in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture. According to Emperor Oijin, in the 15th year of August, King of Baekje dispatched Achiki and offered up 2 good horses to raise at Karusakanoue, which is believed to be around Ogarucho today.
[Show full text]
A002930 – History of Japan
A002930 – History of Japan 熊本評論 [Kumamoto hyōron], 20.09.1907. Illustration of the Japanese proverb, “One gen- eral succeeds and countless bones rot “, derived from the line「一将功成、万骨枯 of a poem by the Chin poet Cao Song (830–901). © Christian Uhl, UGent 1 General Information When? On Thursdays, 16:00 to 19:00. First class: 26. 09. 2019. Where? Campus boekentoren 05.03.110.063 = Auditorium 3 “Suzanne Lilar”, ground floor Blandinberg 2 (main building of the Faculty Lettren en wijsbegeerte. Map: http://admin.flwi.ugent.be/maps/?id=05.03.100.005& ) Books you need Conrad Totman. A History of Japan. The Blackwell History of the World. Malden MA, Oxford UK, Berlin: Blackwell Publishing, 2000 (or newest edition). W.J. Boot. Keizers en Shōgun. Een Geschiedenis van Japan tot 1868. Amster- dam: Salomé – Amsterdam Univ. Press, 2001 (not needed for exch. students) There is a stock pile of the books (newest edition) for a reduced student price waiting for you at Standard Boekenhandel in the shop on the Kouter: http://www2.standaardboekhandel.be/nl/winkels/gent-kouter. Additional readings, lecture scripts, etc., on MINERVA UFORA is our electronic learning platform. Please make sure that you are in- scribed on UFORA for this course so that you have access to documents and get notifications. Additional readings, lecture scripts and announcements will be distributed and stored there for down-loading. Exam In order to pass this course you have to successfully participate in the final exam (date will be announced). The final exam will consist of 20 questions. Some of them are multiple choice questions, others require a short written answer (in English or Dutch, as you prefer).
[Show full text]
Japanese Prehistory Religious Rituals); This Style Is Referred to As
3/16/19 Jomon Period (~8000 - 300 BCE) n Named for its cord-marked pottery (used for ceremonies and Japanese Prehistory religious rituals); this style is referred to as Japanese II Classes n Subsistance: Hunter- n Ethnicity: Caucasian Prepared by W.Collazo for Gatherer Society racial stock Deerfield Beach High School (collected edible n Housing: Large Japanese Program items & hunted for earthen huts for food food. storage Jomon Period (~8000 - 300 BCE) Yayoi Period (300 BCE - 300 CE) n Named for the area where this era’s artifacts were first found. n Known for its spun, utilitarian pottery which lacked decoration. n Ethnicity: Mongoloid n SuBsistance: racial stock; Asian Agricultural Society mainland migration n Introduction of wet- n Housing: Smaller raised rice agriculture shelters that accommodated flooding Yayoi Period (300 BCE - 300 CE) Kofun Period (300 - 710 CE) n Named for this period’s unique, keyhole- shaped burial mounds for society’s leaders. n Known for haniwa – clay figurines that were created as guardians of these leaders in the afterlife. n Religion: Shinto beliefs and practices; Buddhism n Theory: Horses were introduced around 550. introduced early in this time, possibly n Asuka Period: Late Kofun Period – A.B. from Korea (After Buddhism Intro) 1 3/16/19 Kofun Period (300 - 710 CE) Examples of Haniwa Shinto & the State The Kojiki & Nihongi n The ruling clan (uji) of a particular region claimed descent from powerful deities (kami), which served as the “tutelary” (protective) deity of the clan/region. n When the first unified Japanese state was estaBlished, the new “imperial” clan (Yamato) commissioned two “official” histories that wove together the myths of the various clans that they had conquered.
[Show full text]
Sound Worlds of Japanese Gardens an Interdisciplinary Approach to Spatial Thinking
From: Michael D. Fowler Sound Worlds of Japanese Gardens An Interdisciplinary Approach to Spatial Thinking August 2014, 218 p., 29,99 €, ISBN 978-3-8376-2568-4 Michael D. Fowler presents an interdisciplinary approach to investigating the sound world of traditional Japanese gardens by drawing from the diverse fields of semiotics, acoustic ecology, philosophy, mathematical modelling, architecture, music, landscape theory and acoustic analysis. Using projects – ranging from data-visualisations, immersive sound installations, algorithmically generated meta-gardens and proto- architectural form finding missions – as creative paradigms, the book offers a new framework for artistic inquiry in which the sole objective is the generation of new knowledge through the act of spatial thinking. Michael D. Fowler is an alumni of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Fellow- ship program. For further information: www.transcript-verlag.de/978-3-8376-2568-4 © 2014 transcript Verlag, Bielefeld 2014-07-09 12-54-19 --- Projekt: transcript.anzeigen / Dokument: FAX ID 03c7371320137462|(S. 1 ) VOR2568.p 371320137470 Contents Foreword | 8 Acknowledgements | 11 JAPANESE GARDEN AESTHETICS | 13 The Garden as a Spatial Paradigm | 13 Early Chinese Models | 15 Influences of Zen | 20 Later Developments | 25 JOHN CAGE’S RYOANJI | 32 Cage’s Aesthetics | 32 Cage and the Garden at Ryōan-ji | 34 Further Thoughts | 43 FORMAL METHODOLOGIES FOR ANALYZING THE JAPANESE GARDEN | 47 Two Gardens as Test Cases | 47 Acoustic Ecology | 49 The Soundscape of Koishikawa Korakuen | 55
[Show full text]
The Early Japanese and Their Religio-Cultural Life 71 72 Philosophy and Progress
70 Philosophy and Progress Philosophy and Progress: Vols. LV-LVI, January-June, July-December, 2014 Japanese people. Nonetheless, though the religious and intellectual ISSN 1607-2278 (Print), DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pp.v55i1-2.26391 life of the court was dominated by Buddhist and Confucian thought during the seventh and eighth centuries, Shinto remained the religion of the people and also became almost a part of the political machinery. Introduction Historically speaking, Japan is a comparative latecomer in the THE EARLY JAPANESE AND THEIR development of civilization, since cultural movements from RELIGIO-CULTURAL LIFE: A HISTORICAL Central Asia and China reached her late. Japanese written OVERVIEW history prior to Christian era is based on racial characteristics, legends and little archeological discoveries. Therefore, not much is known about the early life, culture and religion of the * Mohammad Jahangir Alam Japanese. Before the introduction of Buddhism and Confucianism, the religion of the Japanese was an unorganized, undifferentiated, and unnamed complex of agricultural cult, Abstract nature worship, ancestor worship and shamanism ( Japanese Religion, in general, refers to the multiplicity of religions in Ichiro:ND:13). Indeed, the religion of those early Japanese was Japan. Different religious traditions coexist in Japan for centuries polytheistic nature worship. They believed that all natural after centuries without breaking interreligious harmony among them. phenomena were of animistic character and that each person or The present work especially focuses the Traditional Japanese thing was in itself a manifestation of the divine entity. This Religions as major elements of culture that are basically a mixture of belief system, as a part of the folk religions (syncretistic folk religions, early Shinto, Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.
[Show full text]
Architecture
Web Japan http://web-japan.org/ ARCHITECTURE A harmonious coexistence of tradition and innovation The Development of Japanese Architecture Historically, architecture in Japan was influenced by Chinese architecture, although the differences between the two are many. Whereas the exposed wood in Chinese buildings is painted, in Japanese buildings it traditionally has not been. Also, Chinese architecture was based on a lifestyle that included the use of chairs, while in Japan people customarily sat on the floor (a custom that began to change in the Meiji period [1868–1912]). Architecture in Japan has also been influenced by the climate. Summers in most of Japan are long, hot, and humid, a fact that is clearly reflected in the way homes are built. The traditional house is raised somewhat so that the air can move around and beneath it. Wood was the material of choice because it is cool in summer, warm in winter, and more flexible when subjected to earthquakes. In the Asuka period (593–710), Buddhism was introduced into Japan from China, and Buddhist temples were built in the continental East pagoda of Yakushiji temple (Nara Pref.) manner. From this time on, Buddhist This pagoda was completed in AD 730. architecture had a profound influence on architecture in Japan. The Horyuji temple, palace buildings of this period were built in originally built in 607 and rebuilt shortly after a the Tang style of China. 670 fire, includes the oldest wooden In the Heian period (794–1185), Chinese structures in the world. It is among the elements were fully assimilated and a truly Buddhist monuments in the Horyuji area that national style developed.
[Show full text]