For this test, you need to study with the following two things:
1. Calligraphy video transcript
2. My post on the blog about the early history of Japan.
Also, this day is due of the first comparison paper (*see syllabus).
Here are the notes from today's class. Sorry if it looks messy.
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縄文時代1,000BC-300BC Jomon Period
The Oldest Period
-縄文土器Cord-marked (=”Jomon”) pottery vessels
-竪穴式住居Pit houses
-狩猟採集生活Hunting and gathering → 稲作の始まりWet-rice cultivation begins
-土偶”Dogu” Clay Jomon figurines (only female figures)
Cord-marked (=”Jomon”) pottery vessels
Pit houses
Clay Jomon figurines (Dogu)
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弥生時代300BC-AD300 Yayoi Period
The Beginning of Rice Cultivation
-弥生土器 Yayoi pottery (* “Yayoi” is name of the place where the pottery was discovered.)
-竪穴式住居Pit houses
-稲作の広がりWet-rice cultivation spread all over Japan (except Hokkaido and Okinawa)
→ wealth and poverty, formation of clans, fight against each other
-Yamatai koku: Queen Himiko (in Kyushu region or Kinki region):中国との交流開始 International relations/trade with China starts
-銅器、鉄器の始まりfirst use of bronze and iron-edged tools (for agriculture and battle)
-「倭国」country name:“Wa”
Yayoi Pottery
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古墳時代300-710 Kofun Period
The Period of Tumulus, The Beginning of State
-大規模な古墳 Kofun (=ancient tomb)
＊墳丘墓Mounded Tombs
＊前方後円墳Front-squared and rear round tomb mound
＊埴輪haniwa (sculptures to protect and/or house the spirit of the deceased)
-ヤマト王権Formation of the State: the first state in Japan, “Yamato” emerged.
Front-squared and rear round tomb mound
Haniwa
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飛鳥時代593-710 Asuka Period
The Period of Prince Shotoku, The Beginning of “Nihon”
-“Asuka” is the name of the capital city (Today’s Nara)
-推古天皇Empress Suiko
-聖徳太子Prince Shotoku 摂政regent to Suiko
← *Christ-like legendary figure
*十七条憲法seventeen-article constitution
*冠位十二階twelve court ranks
http://ha7.seikyou.ne.jp/home/wa-mi/naizou/icon/okanmuri.htm
*Prince Shotoku constructed Horyu-ji temple: the oldest wooden building in the world
*Interaction with China: Kenzuishi (Embassies to China)
仏教伝来introducing Buddhism to Japan from China
漢字伝来introducing Chinese characters kanji
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After Empress Suiko and Prince Shotoku died, Soga Clan got control of politics.
→大化の改新604 Taika Reform (or Great Reform): the oldest coup
Prince Nakano Oe (later Emperor Tenji) killed Soga leader:
centralization of power to the emperor
-Name of the country: 倭Wa →日本 Nihon “Origin of Sun”
Prince Shotoku (on 1000 yen bill)
Horyuji temple
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奈良時代710-794 Nara Period
The Period of Buddhism
-平城京Heijokyo capital at today’s Nara
-仏教の隆盛flourishing of Buddhism: the establishment of Buddhism as the state religion
＊東大寺大仏 Daibutsu (Great Buddha statue at Todaiji temple) established by Emperor Shomu and a monk Gyoki
-文学Japan’s 3 oldest literatures
*日本書紀Nihon Shoki (“Chronicles of Japan”)
*古事記Kojiki (“Record of Ancient Matters”)
*万葉集Manyo Shu (“Anthology of 1,000 leafs” *poetic anthology)
<--use of 漢字kanji and 万葉仮名manyo gana:
Development of Japan’s native writing system
Daibutsu (big Buddha statue) in Todaiji temple
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平安時代794-1185 Heian Period
The Beginning of Kyoto as Capital City
-平安京Heiankyo in today’s Kyoto
-武家政治 (Samurai emerged as the guard against bandits →) first Samurai domination of Japan by 平家Heike Clan・平清盛Taira no Kiyomori
-ひらがな、カタカナdevelopment of hiragana, katakana
-女流作家flourishing female writers
*紫式部Murasaki Shikibu「源氏物語」 “Tales of Genji” (*Story)
*清少納言Seisho Nagon「枕草子」 “Pillow Book” (*essay)
-菅原道真Sugawara no Mitizane: Scholar: God of studying and school entrance exam
-空海（弘法大師）Kukai (Kobo Daishi): Monk: The most famous Calligrapher (one of the “Three Brushes”)
＜calligraphy: “Shodo (way of writing)” or “Shuji (learning characters)”＞
*Three Brushes: Kukai (Kobo Daishi), Emperor Saga, Tachibana no Hayanari
*Three major writing styles: Kaisho (Block style, standard script), Gyosho (semi-cursive style, running script), Sosho (cursive style, grass sccript)
Taira no Kiyomori
Murasaki Shikibu
Seisho Nagon
Kukai (Kobo Daishi)
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鎌倉時代1185-1333 Kamakura Period
The Period of the Rise of Samurai’s Power
-“Kamakura” is name of capital city (Kanto region)
-鎌倉幕府Kamakura Shogunate: Samurai government
*“Shogunate” means the government by Shogun (=military general)
*源氏Genji Clan: defeat Heike Clan
*源頼朝Minamoto no Yoritomo: Shogun, leader of Genji clan
*源義経 Minamoto no Yoshitsune:
Yoritomo’s brother in law, played a big role in the battles against
Heike Clan
→Genghis Khan?
*武蔵坊弁慶Musashibo Benkei: monk, Yoshitsune’s follower
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-北条家 Hojo family succeeded the power after Yoritomo’s death.
＊北条政子Hojo Masako (Minamoto no Yoritomo’s wife)
-元寇Mongolian Invasions on Kyushu by Khubilai Khan * “kamikaze”
Minamoto no Yoritomo
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Musashibo benkei
Yoshitsune and Benkei
Hojo Masako
Genghis Khan and Khubilai Khan
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室町時代1333-1568 Muromachi Period
The Period of Disorder
-“Muromachi” is name of capital city (Kyoto in Kinki region)
-南北朝時代Northern and Southern Courts period 1336-1392
*南朝 South Imperial Court in Nara：後醍醐天皇Emperor Godaigo
*北朝 North Imperial Court in Kyoto：Ashikaga Takauji<--
Samurai（室町幕府Muromachi Shogunate）
→ 北朝Samurai = Muromachi Shogunate win
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-応仁の乱 Onin War: over the successor of Shogun (son vs brother) 11 years
→ son won: the son is physically weak → Shogun’s power declined → 戦国時代warring states period
-禅宗の隆盛Zen Buddhism prospers.
-キリスト教伝来1549 Francisco de Xavier, from Spain, arrived at Kyushu region to preach Christianity.
Emperor Godaigo
Ashikaga Takauji
Francisco de Xavier
4 comments:
Where is the transcript of the calligraphy video?
Oh my god. I thought I sent the calligraphy video transcript sometime in February, but did you ever get that?
I just emailed to everybody again with the calligraphy transcript.
just in case you still didn't get it.Good luck.
Shodo (Calligraphy) Transcript
The traditional Japanese art of calligraphy, or shodo: Chinese characters written on white paper with a brush, using Indian ink. The shape of the characters, the shade and intensity of the ink, and the balance of black and white all combine to express a simple form of beauty. Calligraphy, or sho, is more than just a way of writing. It encompasses mental concentration and relaxation, a way to calm the spirit and produce an exquisite work of art.
The calligraphy on this hanging scroll consists of just one Chinese character, or kanji. It vividly portrays the calligraphers mind and brings a breath of fresh air into the room. The Japanese style brush touches the paper and begins the strokes which go to make up one kanji. The whiteness of paper and the blackness of the ink somehow compete with each other and harmonizes simultaneously. Sometimes the ink barely scratches the surface of the Japanese handmade paper, or washi (or hanshi). Sometimes the edges seem to smudge and spread. These variations are full of expression, and even if you cannot read the characters written, you can readily appreciate the beauty of their form.
The sacred books of Buddhism, one of Japans main religions, were written in calligraphy. Japanese Buddhist training today includes the discipline of copying characters from sacred books that came from China. Known as shakyo, or “the actual process,” it combines the learning the teachings of Buddhism with the search for the spirit of Shodo.
Shodo has been an important part of Japanese educations for several centuries. The implements required for calligraphy include a suzuri ink stone; a block of Japanese style indian ink called sumi; several brushes, or fude; a suiteki water droplet; an underlay of paper; and a bunchin paperweight. First some water is poured onto the ink stone. Then the ink stick is lightly rubbed back and forth on the ink stone. A sheet of washi homemade paper is laid onto of the underlay and held down by the paperweight. Once this preparation is complete, the spirit of shodo comes into play. The mind should be calm and the backbone straight. Then the brush is dipped in the ink. As soon as you feel you are ready, you concentrate your mind and begin writing at once. Thick brushes are generally held by the thumb and the first two fingers. When using a fine brush, the forefinger presses down. Fine brushes are normally used for signatures of inscriptions.
In the past, everyone wrote with a brush in Japan. Of course the custom is less widespread these days, but it is still kept alive for many special occasions. One example is the signing of the guest book at a wedding reception. Many people also still like to use a brush to write there New Years cards. Another example is a dressing of ceremonial paper placed atop a formal gift. In fact the act of writing with a brush can imply the meaning that you are applying your whole mind to the action.
Shodo originated in China, were the ideograms have been associated with the art of Calligraphy for more than 3000 years. The characters varied around the Chinese empire. Around 200B.C., in the Chin dynasty, a standardized set of characters for carving official seals was created called tensho, or archaic script. These characters were simplified around the beginning of the 6th century A.D., and developed into the characters called kaisho, or block style script. Japanese priest studying China at the time found this style of calligraphy very beautiful, and brought it back with them to Japan, were Chinese characters were already being used. This is a letter written by Kuukai, one of those priest. With its very distinctive characters it is designated as a nation treasure. Shodo gradually spread in Japan amongst intellectuals, including priests and members of court society.
The original Japanese syllabury system was invented later in the 9th century, from the 18th century children from ordinary families began to study kanji characters and shodo, and they soon spread throughout the nation.
The brushes used for shodo come in a huge variety of lengths, thicknesses, and styles. They are called mouhitsu, because they hair of various types of animals is used. First it must be dries thoroughly, then it is sprinkled with ask obtained from burned chaff, and rubbed well. This removes the fat from them hair. The length of the bristles is adjusted, and they are arranged so that the head of the brush will be springy. The head of the brush is then pushed into the glued end of the stem, and the bristles are stiffened with glue.
Ink sticks are also available in a great variety of types, differing in terms of shape, size, and materials used in the manufacture. Lets see how they are manufactures. Traditionally, ink sticks are produced in tiny factories. Soot is created by burning oil. It is collected by lids of unglazed pottery, which are fixed above the flame. Grape seed oil is perfect to produce high quality soot. Between one and two kilos of are required to produce 100 ink sticks. Glue is added to the soot to harden it. Before it hardens completely it is kneaded like clay by the foot, and then by hand. A piece is weighed out, and briefly rolled again by hand to expel any air still remaining. Then it is quickly molded into an ink stick before it dries out.
Another major type of ink stick is made from the soot formed by burning the roots of pine trees, which contains resin. Lets see how the two types compare when the ink is applied to paper. First the oil-soot type. It produces a very rich, black color. The pine-soot type produces a more transparent black, with a bluish tint. So the two types of ink sticks produce ink with very different features and expressions.
Shodo is a very expressive medium full of variety. The way in which one character is expressed can vary a great deal depending upon several factors. The first is speed. Here is the same character written fast and slowly, with the same ink and the same thickness of line. The same character, but the difference in appearance changes the visual effect upon the viewer. Another factor is depth. In other words the strength applied to the brush as it is written across the paper. Here we can the difference between the character written very lightly with the brush hardly touching the paper, and the same character written in deep, strong strokes. Another factor is the way the brush is moved on the paper to produce a different kind of stroke. A rather blunt, obtuse style of stroke, or an acute more pointed style. A certain rhythm is important when writing characters. A stroke can be divided into three parts; the start of writing, the brush running, and removing the brush. The art of calligraphy is based on the combined rhythm of these three elements. Known as tong-su-tong, it drives from the basic rhythm for the traditional Chinese block-style script.
How to write in this style, and the meaning of kanji characters, can be better understood if you compare a character to a building. The vertical strokes of the characters are like the main pillars of a building. They are thick enough to support the whole weight of the character and withstand the force of gravity. The horizontal strokes disperse the force of gravity while being supported by the vertical strokes. In other words they resemble the beams of a building in helping to form the basic shape. Buildings are designed to withstand the force of gravity from the upper part. Characters of the block-style script are the same. Although the written 2-dimensionally, they actually have upper and lower levels, and the force gravity running through them. When this force is applied to the characters, it gives them the proper shape and a great feeling of beauty. The left and right sides will differ slightly even though the vertical strokes are basically the same. The thin left side and the thicker right side tends to give a sense of depth to the character.
For the Japanese, sho is the starting point both for learning kanji characters and cultivating mental faculties. It is a required subject for children between the ages of 5 and 16 and many also attend one of the many private schools that exclusively teach shodo as an extracurricular activity. Many adults to enjoy studying shodo to perfect their calligraphic skills and thereby help to preserve this important element of traditional Japanese culture.
Professional calligraphers resemble other artist in many ways. For example, they have a variety of brushes to choose from. The preparation of the ink is a vital part of a calligraphers work. Particular types of ink stick are selected for different types of work. The process of rubbing the stick also has great significance. It is a time when most calligraphers gather their thoughts together. This is Sakaki Bakuzan, a professional calligrapher. This calligraphy includes both the original Japanese hiragana syllabury, distinguished by its elegant and graceful lines, and kanji characters. Calligraphers begin to write very swiftly and smoothly once they begin. However the may spend a long time sorting out their ideas before they put the brush to paper. Finally he adds his signature to the work, and applies his personal seal. Calligraphers are constantly thinking up new modes of calligraphic expression and discovering this subtle art.
Japan has many museums specializing in calligraphy. It is often said that it is your eyes that look upon a work, but your heart that appreciates them. Its true that any great work appeals to the emotions, and shodo is seen as a way to train the mind. Not just in terms of writing beautiful characters yourself, but through learning to appreciate fully the emotional appeal of fine calligraphy.
Thank you Layla.
I appreciate it a lot!
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