1. Japanese Art before 1333 November 3, 2014
Ch. 12
Japanese Art before 1333 November 3, 2014

2. Has been identified as a female shaman Primarily found in Kofun period
A link between world of living and the dead.
Haniwa, Kyoto
Kofun period, 6th century CE
Earthenware, Height 27”

3. Haniwa figures

6. Heian Period
Esoteric buddhism: Dainichi buddha replaces the historical buddha

7. Womb world mandala, Heian period, late 9th century
Womb world mandala, Heian period, late 9th century. Hanging scroll with colors on silk
Culture: Japanese
Religion: Buddhist
Function: to teach hierarchical relationships of each god within esoteric Buddhism
- Represents the ultimate reality beyond the visible world

10. Mandala (means “circle” in sanskrit)
Most widely known example of Buddhist art
First appeared in ancient India in bc
created to influence natural phenomena such as monsoon rains
The enclosing mandala had to be an accurate and correct diagram of the universe
Cosmic axis at the center
Realms of existence radiate out from the center
The 3-d mandalas were represented in architecture (as a building form – see Borobadur)
Provided a fixed, empowered, sacred space that a person or monk could walk into the space and move, around the axis

11. Created using joined-block method of construction
- Developed by JOCHO
Amida Buddha
Heian period
c ce
Gold leaf and laquer on wood,
9 feet and 8 inches

12. Detail of Amida Buddha, Heian period
Japanese
Joined-block wood form

13. Study Tips for Ch. 12
I’ve deliberately condensed ch. 12 to include only a few main artworks so that we can keep moving forward to chpts. 13 and 14
Compare Japanese bodhisattvas with Chinese and Southeast Asian examples
Compare different mandalas in chpts
Review rock-cut architecture from ch. 10!