Chapter 17: Japan Before 1333
Preview: Japanese culture boasts a history several millennia old, and is characterized by
independent developments and active cultural exchange with other East Asian cultures, primarily
China and Korea. The history of art of Japan is traditionally divided between the pre-Buddhist and
Buddhist eras. The Jomon (ca. 10,500-300 BCE) is Japan’s earliest cultural period, named for the
cordlike decoration of its pottery. In the Yahoi period (300 BCE-300 CE), cultural exchange is
evident in the dotaku, which were modeled after Han Chinese bells. Kofun period (300-552) burial
mounds were supplied with decorative clay cylindrical figures called haniwa. Japan’s Buddhist
history begins in the Asuka period (552-645). The architecture of the Nara period (645-784)
shows strong influence of Tang Chinese structures. The arrival of Esoteric Buddhism in the Heian
period (794-1185) influenced its artistic production, increasing demand for painted mandaras;
the period is also known for its narrative scroll paintings. In the Kamakura period (1185-1332),
shoguns replaced emperors as ruling figures, and were active patrons of diverse types of
artworks, including hanging scrolls and wood portraits. Civil war brought an end to the Kamakura
period in 1332. The later history of Japanese art is treated in Chapter 34.
Key Figures: Tori Busshi, Kosho, Fujiwara No Sadanobu, Unkei
Key Cultural & Religious Terms: Buddha triad, Amida, kami, sutras, Lotus Sutra, Shinto, shingon,
mandara, hiragana, begging bowl, shogun, shogunate, nembutsu
Key Art Terms: jomon, sherds, dokatu, tumuli, fun, haniwa, pouncing, iron-wire lines
Key Architectural Terms: kondo, kodo, pagoda, mortise-and-tenon system, ridgepole,
Daibutsuden
Lecture Notes:
Introductory Notes:
JAPAN BEFORE BUDDHISM
Jomon:

Dates:
Vessel, from Miyanomae, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Middle Jomon period, ca. 2500-1500
BCE
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Yayoi:
Dates:

Dotaku with incised figural motifs, from Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, late Yayoi period, ca.
100-300 CE
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Kofun:



Dates:
Tomb of Emperor Nintoku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, Kofun period, late fourth to early
fifth century
o Description:
o Function & significance:
Haniwa warrior, from Gunma Prefecture, Japan, Kofun period, fifth to mid-sixth century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Main hall of the Ise Jingu, Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan, Kofun period or later; rebuilt 1993
o Description & architectural features:
o Function & significance:
BUDDHIST JAPAN
Asuka and Nara:





Dates:
Tori Busshi, Shaka triad, kondo, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Asuka period, 623
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Yakushi triad, kondo, Yakushiji Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, late seventh or early
eighth century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Horyuji temple complex, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, ca. 680
o Description:
o Structures included:
Pagoda, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, ca. 680
o Description & architectural features:
o Function & significance:
Kondo, Horyuji, Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, ca. 680


o Description & architectural features:
o Function & significance:
Amida triad, photograph before fire damage of the mural formerly in the kondo, Horyuji,
Nara Prefecture, Japan, Nara period, ca. 710
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Daibutsuden, odaiji, Nara, Japan, Nara period, 743; rebuilt ca. 1700
o Description & architectural features:
o Function & significance:
Heian:





Taizokai (Womb World) mandara, Kyoogokokuji (Toji), Kyoto, Japan, Heian period, second
half of ninth century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Description & subject:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Phoenix Hall, Byodoin, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, Heian period, 1053
o Description & architectural features:
o Function & significance:
Fujiwara No Sadanobu, Ishiyama-gire, early 12th century
o Description & significance:
Genji Visits Murasaki, from the Minori chapter, Tale of Genji, Heian period, first half of 12th
century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Description & subject:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
The Flying Storehouse, from Legends of Mount Shigi, Heian period, late 12th century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Description & subject:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Kamakura:

Dates:
Dates:
Portrait statue of the priest Shunjobo Chogen, Todaiji, Nara, Japan, Kamakura period, ca.
1206
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:




o Description & subject:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Kosho, Portrait statue of the priest Kuya preaching, Kamakura period, early 13th century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Description & subject:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Unkei, Agyo, Todaiji, 1203
o Description & significance:
Night Attack on the Sanjo Palace, from Events of the Heiji Period, Kamakura period, 13th
century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Description & subject:
o Function & significance:
Amida Descending over the Mountains, Zenrinji, Kyoto, Japan, Kamakura period, 13th
century
o Medium/materials:
o Size/scale:
o Description & subject:
o Stylistic features:
o Function & significance:
Concluding notes:
Exercises for Study:
1. What is Shinto? How does it differ from Buddhism? How are Shinto beliefs and practices
manifested in artworks of pre-Buddhist Japan?
2. Which East Asian cultures had the strongest influence on Japanese art? Give examples of art and
architecture that reveal this influence.
3. Compare and contrast the following pairs of artworks, using the points of comparison as a
guide.
A. Genji Visits Murasaki, from Tale of Genji (Fig. 17-14); The Flying Storehouse, from Legends of
Mount Shigi (Fig. 17-15):
 Stylistic features:
 Subjects:
B. Main hall of the Ise Jingu (Fig. 17-6); Phoenix Hall, Byodoin (Fig. 17-13)
 Periods:
 Religious traditions:
 Chinese influence:
C. Tori Busshi, Shaka triad (Fig. 17-7); Taizokai mandara, Kyoogokokuji (Toji) (Fig. 17-12)
 Periods:
 Mediums:
 Buddhist iconography:
 Stylistic features: