Japan and the Bridge of Dreams:
The Kami Welcome The Buddha
Japan and Its Relationship to Asian Mainland
Japan and the Bridge of Dreams:
The Kami Welcome The Buddha
I. Nippon (Ch. Jih-pen) = Source of the Sun
A. Uji Period — ca. 300–552
B. Age of Reforms — 552–710
C. Nara Period — 710–794
D. Heian Period — 794–1185
E. Kamakura Period — 1185–1333
F. Muromachi (Ashikaga) Shoguns — 1336–1573
A. Uji Period — ca. 300–552
1. rice (from China)
2. paper (from China)
3. ink (from Korea)
4. ideographs and calligraphy (from China)
5. religion — Shinto
6. political views (differ from Chinese)
B. Age of Reforms — 552–710
1. Buddhism Introduced — 552 (or 538)
2. Shōtoku Taishi (regent: 593–622)
3. Taika (Great Reform)
Shinto
Amaterasu – Sun Goddess
Susanoo – Ocean God
Kami – deities
Kami
18th-century Shinto revivalist Motoori Norinaga (1730–1801):
“The word kami refers, in the most general sense, to all divine beings of heaven and earth that appear in the classics. More particularly, the kami are the spirits that abide in and are worshipped at the shrines. In principle human beings, birds, animals, trees, plants, mountains, oceans—all may be kami. According to ancient usage, whatever seemed strikingly impressive, possessed the quality of excellence, or inspired a feeling of awe was called kami.”
1. Buddhism Introduced — 552 (or 538
a. Mahayana
b. becomes state religion — 685
2. Shōtoku Taishi (regent: 593–622)
a. “the Ruler in the Land Where the Sun Rises”
b. Seventeen Article Constitution — 604
c. adopted Chinese calendar — 604
d. twelve ranks for court officials (kabune system)
— 603 (revised 684, 701)
Shōtoku Taishi(572–622; regent: 593–622)
Prince Shotoku flanked by younger brother (left Prince Eguri) and first son (right: Prince Yamashiro), drawn by an unknown artist (8th century)
3. Taika (Great Reform)
a. all land put under public ownership/based on Tang system — 646
b. nation-wide system of post roads
c. uniform system of taxation
C. Nara Period — 710–794
1. geomancy used to select site of capital
2. Horyuji — seat of Buddhist power
Nara – Kyoto Area
D. Heian Period — 794–1185
1. capital moved to Heian-Kyo (Kyoto) [influenced by plan of Chang-an]
2. formalized court etiquette
3. poetry writing (31 syllables; limited topics)
4. calligraphy
D. Heian Period — 794–1185
5. memoirs, diaries, and the world's first novel
a. Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji (Monogatari)
b. Murasaki Shikibu, Diary and Poetic Memoirs
c. Izumi Shikibu, Diary
d. Sei Shōnagan, Pillow Book
e. Sarashina, As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams
6. Fujiwara Epoch — 866–1068 (regents)
Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama-dera (1767)
Woodblock by Suzuki Harunobo (1724−1770)
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Murasaki Shikibu, depicted by Tosa Mitsuoki (1617−1691), from
his illustrations of The Tale of Genji (late 17th century)
In this 13th-century painting, from the Murasaki Shikibu Diary Emakimono, drunk, disarranged, and disordered
Heian courtiers are shown joking and flirting with court ladies.
Sei Shōnagon shown gazing at the snow (1872), painting by Utagawa
Yoshitora
Toda-ji Great Southern Gate with sika deer
Toda-ji Main Gate (13th century)
Todai-ji Great Southern Gate from Isuien Garden
Layout of Old and New Kyoto
Miniature model of Nagaokakyo Chodoin (Old Kyoto)
The Heian Capital (Kyoto)
Model of Heian-kyo
Zao Gongen, Heian period, 11th–?12th century, Japan, Gilt
bronze
E. Kamakura Period — 1185–1333
Alleged portrait of Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147−1199; Shogun
1192−1199)
F. Muromachi (Ashikaga) Shoguns — 1336–1573
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