Japan – History and Culture

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Humanities 1B Lindahl Japan – History and Culture General remarks: History of Japan Early history: Ainu, and the immigration from China about 3rd c. BCE Yamato clan (300 CE ) Shinto religion [Shin (jin) = god, to (tao) = the way] Creation myth: In, Yo, Izanagi - Sky god, Izanami - Earth mother Their children: Ama-terasu, Tsuki-yumi, Susa-no-o, Kagu-tsuchi The divine lineage of Emperor Jimmu Tenno Kami, Oharai, Sumo, The Shrine, Honden, Shintai, Torii Asuka period (552-645 CE), Shotoku Taishi (572-622 CE) Sinicization, Buddhist - Shinto - Confucian compatibility, Horyu-ji Monastery Early Buddhism: Sources in India and China Formal introduction to Japan (from Korea) in 552 CE Review central values and concerns - Four Noble Truths, Eight-fold Path, mujōkan Miroku, wood, 62" Chugu-ji nunnery, Horyu-ji, Nara, 7th c. Nara Period (710-794 CE) Heian Period (early) (794-857 CE), Heian-Kyo / Kyoto Heian Period (late) or Fujiwara Period (857-1158 CE) Sakanouye Tamura Maro: Sei-i tai-Shogun Michinaga (995-1027 CE) - The World of Genji (next time. For now, skip to…..) Kamakura Period (1185-1392 CE) Zen Buddhism Eisai (1141-1214), Dogen (1200-1253), Zazen, Koan, Satori, Samu, Art The Gempei War (1180-1185) - Minamoto/Genji vs. Taira/Keike The Tale of the Heike (1371) Portrait of Minamoto Yoritomo, color on silk, 12th c. Fujiwara Takanobu, Kyoto April 1185 – the battle of Dan-no-ura The Samurai ethic, Samurai = “one who serves” Sakura (“mujōkan” and “mono no aware”), Hare Kiri, Samurai swords Tale of the Heiji War scroll or The Burning of the Sanjo Palace (details), color on paper, 13th c. Bushido – “the way of the warrior” Samurai suit of armor, Muromachi period Red-Laced Armor (with mounts in Bamboo and Tiger designs), Kasuga-Taiha, Nara, 13th c. The Mongol invasions, under Kubla Kahn, of 1274 and 1281 The Shinto "divine wind" Muromachi period (1338-1573) The Martial Arts: Budo – the way of war (Kendo, Kyodo, Judo, Aikido) Budo wisdom – Sutemi The history of the black belt and the other martial arts The Golden Pavilion of Rokuon-ji (Kinkaku), Kyoto, 1390 CE Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645) Woodblock print of Miyomoto Musashi by Utagawa Kuniyoshi Self-Portrait, Miyomoto Musashi, 1640, Miyomoto Musashi – Shrike on a Withered Branch (1640ish) Chaniwa – tea garden, Chado – the way of tea Wa = harmony, Kei – respect, Sei – purity, jaku – tranquility Tea Bowl (called "U-no-hana-gaki"), Shinoware, 3 2/3" 16th c., Tea bowl "mine-no-momiji" Kado – the way of flower arranging (Ikebana) Above: Miroku Buddha Right: Izanagi and Izanami create Japan Below: The Gempei War .
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