ArH 209 -- History of Japanese Art -- Study Sheet 2: Buddhism

The History of Japanese Art

Study Sheet 2.
Buddhist ideals and imperial patronage:
the temples of Hôryuji, Kôfukuji, Tôdaiji, and the Shôsôin treasures
Mason Ch. 2: pp. 38-59; 62-74, 78-80.

** Please note that, in the Web version of this document, the macron (straight line over a vowel) has been replaced with the circumflex (^), and selected Sanskrit diacritical marks have been omitted due to the limitations of HTML.**

General terms to know and use:
Painting--recession, perspective, depth, middle ground, background, foreground, line, contour, modeling, shadow, pattern, tone, shading, wash, ink, pigments, format, brushwork, surface, texture
Sculpture--form, modeling, contour, dimensionality, shape, musculature, carving depth, undercut, technique, disposition, pedestal, halo, mass, weight. surface, texture
Misc.--iconography, narrative, content, theme, style, genre, medium or material, patronage, patron, production, workshop, artisan

Periods: Asuka Period (552-645); Hakuhô Period (645-710);
Nara Period (710-794). (sometimes called the Tempyô Period).

The ancient Heijô capital is in modern-day Nara.

Buddha Bodhisattva --especially Kannon

Shaka (Sanskrit: Sakyamuni) the
Historical Buddha
Yakushi, or the Healing Buddha Death of Shaka Buddha
(Mahaparinirvana)
Amida Budda (of Western Paradise)

Future Buddha (Miroku) Mahayana Buddhism

Four Guardian Kings (Shitennô), Deva

mudra, or hand gestures Soga clan

(karma ) lotus blossom

mandorla or halo Tori, a sculptor (busshi)

Prince Shotoku (Taishi) (Wakakusa-dera) Hôryû-ji

Golden Hall, or Main Hall
(Kondô) Middle gate (Chûmon)
bracket, roof tile, beam Lecture Hall
Hip roof; hip and gable roof

pagoda stupa South gate lost-wax casting

Longmen caves, China
early 6th century Hall of Dreams
(Yumedono) Tamamushi Shrine,w/ Tales of Buddha's life (jataka tales)

Kôfukuji Temple Eight Classes of Beings
(Divine Protectors) Ten Disciples of Shaka

dry-lacquer sculpture armature (tribhanga) pose

Tôdai-ji Temple
Ordination Hall (Kaidan-in) Lotus Hall (Hokkedô;
also called Sangatsudô) Fukukenjaku Kannon,
Lotus Hall (Hokkedô)

Shûkongôjin
clay, lacquer, gold leaf
sutra (Buddhist scripture) Rôben (priest)
handscroll painting
Universal Buddha or Cosmic Buddha (Vairocana)

Great Buddha Hall,
Great Buddha(Daibutsuden, Daibutsu) Emperor Shômu
Shôsô-in collection

Illustrations:
51, colorplate 5. Tamamushi Shrine. Ca. 650. Hungry Tigress Jataka panel. Lacquer on wood, metalwork filagree borders. Hôryû-ji. 215 cm.
48, 50. Shaka triad. Dated 623. By Tori. Main Hall (Kondô), Hôryû-ji. Bodhisattva.
58. View of altar, Main Hall (Kondô), Hôryû-ji. Note canopy.
63. Guardian of the North (Tamonten), one of the Four Guardian Kings. Ca. 650. Main Hall (Kondô), Hôryû-ji. Wood with pigments and gold leaf. 135 cm.
54., 62. Main Hall (Kondô), pagoda, etc. in compound of Hôryû-ji temple, SW of Nara. Begun 607 (as Wakakusa-dera), burned 670, rebuilt 670-710 as Hôryû-ji.
56. Main Hall (Kondô), Hôryû-ji. Second half 7th c. Wood, plaster, tiles, stone.
52. Cloud bracket, Main Hall (Kondô), Hôryû-ji.
59. Five-storied pagoda, Hôryû-ji. Second half 7th c. Wood, plaster, tiles, stone.
70. Tableau of the Death of Shaka Buddha. 711. North side of the Five-storied pagoda, Hôryû-ji. Clay over an armature of wood and metal. Each figure approx. 40-55 cm.
72. Amida triad. Wall painting in the Main Hall (Kondô), Hôryû-ji. Ca. 710. Pigments and gold leaf on plaster. 310X260 cm. Lost in fire of 1949.
Colorplate 4. Hall of Dreams Kannon (Yumedono Kannon). Early 7th c. Hôryû-ji. Gilt wood. H. 197 cm.
80. Disciple of Buddha (Kasenen). West Hall (Saikondô), Kôfuku-ji. Ca. 734. Dry lacquer over a wooden armature, pigments. H. 150 cm.
86. Fukukenjaku Kannon, Lotus Hall (Hokkedô). 740s, Tôdai-ji. Dry lacquer over a wooden armature, gold leaf. Lotus dias, gilt wood. Mandorla, gilt bronze. H. 362 cm.
Colorplate 7. Shûkongôjin. Lotus Hall (Hokkedô),Tôdai-ji. 733. Clay, pigments. H. 174cm.
94. Shaka on a lotus petal of the original base of the Great Buddha statue (original statue lost in fire). Mid-8th c. Engraving on bronze. Great Buddha Hall, Tôdai-ji
96. Lady Under a Tree, detail, screen panel. Mid-8th c. Shôsô-in collection, Tôdai-ji. Pigments and ink on paper. Originally decorated with pheasant feathers. H. 125 cm.
Colorplate 9. Near Eastern Entertainers Riding an Elephant. Plectrum guard of a lute. 8th c. Chinese? Painted leather. Shôsô-in collection, Tôdai-ji. 42 X 18 cm.
Colorplate 10. Deva (named Kichijôten). Second half 8th c. Color on hemp cloth. H.53cm.
Colorplate 11. Sutra of Cause and Effect, Past and Present, detail, Temptation of the Buddha (by Mara). Handscroll (emaki). Ink and color on paper. H. 26 cm.
105. Yakushi Buddha. Main Hall, Tôshôdai-ji. Late 8th c. Dry lacquer over a wooden figure, gold leaf. H. 336 cm.