Buddhism in the Art and Aesthetics of Premodern Japan

Kazuko Kameda-Madar

Hawaii Pacific University

• Nara Period– Asuka period (552 – 645)

– Nara period (645 – 784)

• Heian Period (794 - 1185)– Early Heian

– Fujiwara

• Kamakura Period (1192 – 1332)

• Muromachi period (1333 – 1573)– Ashikaga Shogunate

– Onin Civil War (1467 – 1477)

• Momoyama period (1573 – 1605)

• Tokugawa (Edo) period (1573 – 1868)

KondôGojunotô

Lecture Hall

MiddleGate

Asuka Period 552-645Horyuji Temple, Nara

Horyu-ji, Great South Gate

Horyu-ji Great South Gate, Guardian Figures

Horyu-ji, KondoShaka TriadBy Tori BusshiDated 623Bronze

Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna, HebeiProvince, Northern Wei Dynasty, 518, Gilded bronze, Musee Guimet, Paris

Tori Busshi, Horyuji Shaka triad, Asuka period, 623, Bronze

Hōryuji, Yumedono

Kannon, Horyuji, Yumedono"Yumedono Kannon“ Gilt woodAsuka period, Early 7th century

Kudara Kannon, Horyuji KondoCirca 650 Wood with paint and gold

Horyuji Amida triad, wall painting

Transition from Bodhisattva Padmapani, detail of a wall painting in Ajanta Cave, later 5th century to Horyuji Amida triad, wall painting

Yakushi triad, YakushijiTemple, Nara, 8th century, Bronze

Vairocana Buddha, Longmen caves, Luoyang, Tang Dynasty, 676, Limestone

Voluptuous style in Yakushi-ji Buddha triad sculpture in Nara is based on Tang Dynasty style

Late Nara Period (Tempyo Period) 710-794

Todaiji temple, original 8th century, refurbished in late 19th century

Daibutsu ("Great Buddha")Todaiji temple

Original image: • casting process began 746, completed 752

Current image:

• Body dates to 1192

• Hands date to 16th century

• Head dates to 19th century

Fukukenjaku Kannon

mid 8th cent. Todaiji 3rd Month Hall Dry lacquer with gilding

23

Shukongojin 733, painted clay3rd Month Hall at Todaiji

24

Four directional guardians of Kaidanin, TodaijiMid-8th century. Unfired clay, pigment.

GanjinCirca 763Dry lacquer with pigment

Heian 平安 period (794-1185)

710: Nara period capital Heijōkyō (now Nara) built

784: New capital built in Nagaoka

Abandoned after 10 years

794: Move capital to Heiankyō (Capital of Peace and Tranquillity,

Termination of government sponsored workshops

Restriction of temples in capital

Rise of New Forms of Buddhism (Shingon & Tendai)

894: Trade with continent ended-Japan becomes closed

Fujiwara family becomes most important and serves as regent (sessho) when emperor was child or civil dictator (kanpaku)when emperor was adult

Fujiwara dominated political system by marrying their daughters intoimperial family, especially the emperors

Basis of wealth was income from country estates (shoen) which were often tax exempt and controlled by absentee owners in Kyoto

Kondo Muroji: Early Heian

Early Heian sculpture = Jogan style

Shaka or Yakushi, Muroji, Early Heian

• One block

• Hompa shiki or wave style carving

Yakushi at Muroji:

Early Heian single block technique

Yakushi at Jingoji

early Heian 67”

single block

Shingon Buddhism

• Esoteric = Mikkyo has secret teachings as opposed to Exoteric Buddhism which is revealed, not hidden teachings

• True Word = Shingon

• Mantra = Chant for invoking power of a deity

• Mudra = Symbolic hand gestures

• Gorinnoto = 5 element pagoda (stupa)

• Mandala = schematic representation of deities or symbols of Buddhist ideals

• Three Bodies: Body of transformation, body of emanation, body of essence

• Dainichi Buddha = Great Sun Buddha

• Three Mysteries: body, speech & thought

Kyo'ogokokuji (Toji) Main Gate and Pagoda

Esoteric Buddhist Painting of the Heian Period

Mandala of the Two Worlds: Taizōkai Mandala(Womb-World Mandala) Tōji temple Later 9th c, Heian period, Ink, color, gold on silk

Mandala of the Two Worlds: Kongōkai Mandala(Diamond-World Mandala)Toji temple Later 9th c, Heian periodInk, color, gold on silk

Phoenix Hall (Ho'odo), Byodoin temple. Built 1053.

Late Heian Buddhist ArtRise of Amidaism

Byodoin, Valley of the Temples Memorial Park (near Kaneohe)

Phoenix Hall at Night

Amida Buddhaby JōchōDated to 1053Gilded wood

Phoenix Hall (Hōōdō 鳳凰堂), Byōdōin temple. Built 1053.

Celestial musicians and dancers, 1053, Heian period, Wood and pigment

Yakushi Nyorai, Toji Amida Nyorai, Taimadera

Shaka (Shakyamuni), 12th century, Heian period Ink, color, kirikane on silk.Hanging scroll

Details with kirikane, urahaku

Heike nokyo1164 Heian periodHandscrollInk, color, gold and silver on paper

Thousand armed Bodhisattva, Kamakura period, Kofuku-ji

Kamakura Realism as a revival movement of Asuka/Nara Realism

Ashura, 7th century Asuka (Nara) period, Kofuku-ji

Classical model of Realism

Unkei, Priest Muchaku, Kamakura period, Kofuku-ji

Priest Muchaku represents Kamakura Realism

Kokei, Monk Kuya, Kamakura period, Rokuharamitsu dera

Thirty-Three Bays Hall, Kyoto 1249 rebuilt in 1266

Unkei and Kaikei, Thousand armed Bodhisattva, 13th century Kamakura period

Tentoki Ryūtoki

• Demon lamp bearers, by Koben. 1215.

Wood, paint, bronze, crystal

Twelve Devas hanging scrolls, 9th century, Saidai-ji, Nara Bishamon-ten, Fū-ten, Enma-ten, Taishaku-ten

Twelve Devas hanging scrolls, Formerly owned by To-ji, 1127, Kyoto National The Museum, Bishamon-ten, Fū-ten, Sui-ten, Taishaku-ten

Twelve Devas Folding Screens, Takuma Shōga, 1191, Tō-ji, KyotoBishamon-ten, Fū-ten, Enma-ten, Taishaku-ten

A set of Four Guardians, 14th century, Kaikodo CollectionBishamon-ten, Fū-ten, Enma-ten, Taishaku-ten

Hōnen (1133-1212) founder of Pure Land or Jodo sect pting. Attrib. to Takanobu

Shinran (1173-1263)founder of True Pure Land or Jodo Shinshu sect

Haya Raigōearly 13th Chionin

Yamagoshi AmidaAmida Crossing Over the Mts.

Six Realms (Rokudo-e)Decay of the Body

Nichiren (1222-1282)founder of Nichiren sect(Reveres Lotus Sutra Namu Myoho Renge Kyo)

Kinkakuji, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

Muromachi Period, Ashikaga Shogunate (Samurai Regime)

Ginkakuji, The 8th Ashikaga Shogun Yoshimasa

Dry cascade and pools, Ryoanji, Muromachi period, 1450, 1499, after 1797

Zen (Chan) Buddhism established in China by Bodhidharma (Daruma

In Japan:

Rinzai Sect: Eisai ( (1141-1215)

Sōtō Sect: Dōgen (1200-1253)

Sesshu Daruma HuiK’o

zen = meditationzazen = to sit in meditation

koan = illogical puzzle that provokes insight chinzō = portrait of Zen master

satori = enlightenment

Zen Buddhism began in Kamakura but flourished in Muromachi 1333-1573

Sesshu Toyo, Muromachi period

Haboku Splashed inkLandscape

The most important painter, who produced haboku (splashed-ink) painting in the Muromachi period

Portrait of Wu Zhun, 1238

Shuho Myocho 1334 founder of Daitokuji

Daruma

JosetsuCatching cat-fish with a gourd (Hyōnen-zu)

Mokuan Reien (d. 1345)Four Sleepers

Muqi, White Robed Guanyin, Monkeys, and Crane, Daitoku-ji, Kyoto, Japan

Hakuin Ekaku, January 19, 1686 - January 18, 1768), Daruma

Development in Edo period

Mokujiki Shonin (1718-1810)