Arts of Japan
Course: Arts of Japan
Spring 2001
Lecturer: Diana Y. Chou
Office: Fellows 310C
Hours: Wednesday 1:00-3:00 p.m. or by appointment
Tel:
E-mail: chou@denison.edu
Texts: Penelope Mason The History of Japanese Art, Prentice Hall, 1993
(Optional) Paul Varley, Japanese Culture (fourth edition), University of Hawaii Press, 2000.
Description:
The primary goal of this course is to explain the art and culture of Japan. Japanese woodblock
prints have been gained its influence on the development of Modern art in the West since the 18th
century. In addition, Japanese aesthetic taste deeply impacted on American art and life as well.
In order to understand the influence of Japanese art in the West, its formation and development
in her own region cannot be overlooked. Due to this aspect, this course will serve as a fundamental
learning of Japanese art and civilization and we will look at objects from the Neolithis times, shrines,
temples, gardens, narrative paintings, and woodblock pints to Modern era (Meiji period) of the 19th
century. As the semester progresses, some additional readings may be assigned. All readings in this
course are in English.
Grading Policies
rading Policies
- Class attendance is highly recommended.
- Do not miss the examinations unless due to a serious illness or a conflict with academic activities. In those cases, you need to inform the instructor in advance.
- The final grade will be calculated in the following way:
- Exams-60%
- Paper-25%
- Class Participation- 15%
Provisional Class Schedule
Week 1
1/16: An introduction to Japanese Art: Neolithic era to the 20th century
Historical Chronology:(by dynasties)
Jomon period (c. 5000-300 BCE): terra-cotta pottery
Yayoi (300 BCE - 300 CE)
Kofun (300 - 710 CE) haniwa figures; Shinto shrines
Asuka (520 - 645 CE) Buddhist sculptures and temples
Nara (710 - 794 CE) Shosoin's treasures
Heian (794 - 1185 CE) paintings
Kamakura (1185 - 1336 CE)
Muromachi (1392 - 1573 CE) Zen gardens and tea ceremonies
Momoyama (1573 - 1615 CE) castles
Tokugawa/Edo period (1615 - 1868 CE) Ukiyo-e prints
Modern Era (1868 - ) Nihonga and woodblock prints
Meiji (1868-1912)
Taisho (1912 - 1926)
Showa (1926 - 1989)
Heisei (1989 - )
1/18
Jomon Pottery
Readings: Mason 14 - 20; Varley 2 - 4
Week 2
1/23
Yayoi pottery culture
Readings: Mason 20 - 23; Varley 4 - 7
1/25
Kofan tomb culture
Readings: Mason 23 - 25
Haniwa figures
Readings: Mason, 25 - 28; Varley, 14 - 16
Week 3
1/30
Introduction to Shinto practice
Readings: Mason 33 - 38; Varley 8 - 13, 17 - 18
Film: early Shinto Shrine
2/1
Introduction to Buddhism and Buddhist art
Readings: Mason 38 - 59; Varley, 19-30
Week 4
2/6
Buddhist art in Asuka period
Readings: Mason 41 - 59
2/8
Nara Period
Treasure in Todaiji and Shosoin
Readings: Mason 23 - 25
Week 5
2/13
Pure Land Buddhist art in Heian period
Readings: Mason 118 - 124; VArley 70 - 76
2/15
The court art and culture in Heian period
Readings: Mason 97 - 108; Varley 56 -58
Week 6
2/20
The court are and culture in Heian
The Tale of Genji
Readings: Mason 137 - 141
Film: The illustrated Tale of Genji
2/22
Narrative Scroll painting
Readings: Mason 137 - 144; VArley 77 - 89
Week 7
2/27
Zen Buddhist painting
Readings: Mason 174 - 203; Varley 102 - 105, 129 - 134
3/1
Gardens and Tea ceremonies
Readings: Mason 203 - 210, 238 - 42; Varley 134 - 139, 160 -162
Week 8
3/6
Review (*Do not Miss*)
3/8
Mid-term examination
Week 9
Spring recess 3/9-16
Week 10
3/20
Gardens and tea ceremonies
Film: Japanese Tea Ceremony
3/22
Castles: Momoyama era
*Discuss papers, (bring your topic and a brief description)
Week 11
3/27
Decorative Arts of Momoyama/Edo eras
Readings Mason 225-238, 272 - 278
3/29
questionnaire for gallery visit (TBA)
*questionnaire due by April 5, 4:00 PM
Week 12
4/3
The Meeting on the West and Japan
Readings: Mason 243 - 246, 278 - 283, 303 - 304
Ukiyoe The Floating world
Readings: Mason, 304-313; Varley, 197-204, 206-229
4/5
Ukiyoe The Floating World and its outside
Readings: Mason 313-318; Varley 196-199
Week 13
4/10
Bunjinga Literati Painting
Readings: Mason, 285 - 298
4/12
Bunjinga
Week 14
4/17
Woman Artists
Readings: Fisher (Reserved)
4/19
Nihonga
Readings: Mason, 363 - 367, 371 - 375
Week 15
4/24
Modern Japanese Art (Meiji era)
Readings: Mason, 357 - 363, 376 - 381; Varley, 235 -
4/26
Conclusion and Review
Suggested Paper Topics
A: Focus on one object (any period) that interests you the most and transform it profoundly in your discussion. To do you need to address: why (the motivation, the reason of your choice); how it was made (medium); how it was used (who was/were the audience?); the artist/artists ( if applicable); its function and so on. You may include secondary sources to support your argument; if so, please enclose your bibliography pf complete footnotes in your paper. You may consult with the instructor for secondary sources for individual projects. Joan Stanley-Baker's Japanese Art (NY: Thames & Hudson, 2000) can be used as a pictorial guide for selecting your object
B: Choose two artworks (painting, print, sculpture, etc.) in the collection of any Museum in the US to compare or contrast their similarities and differences. Choose the comparative objects in the same category (painting vs. painting, sculpture vs. sculpture) In addition to the visual analysis of the object you may also discuss the artistic, cultural, political or intellectual issues related to their production ( see A.) Reference: Extraordinary Persons ( 3 volumes ) by John Rosenfield & Fumiko Cranson (Harvard University Art Museum, 1999)
C: If you choose modern prints or paintings that influence French painting or American art or vise versa as your paper topic you may look up: Paris in Japan: the Japanese Encounter with European Painting (The Japan Foundation/Washington University, St. Louis, 1987) Totao Miyagawa, Modern Japanese Painting (Kodansha International Ltd. 1967), Helen Merritt, Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: the early Years (University of Hawaii Press, 1990)
D: If you choose "woman: as your subject, you may consult The Women of the Pleasure Order: Japanese Paintings and Prints of the Floating World (NY Hudson Hills Press 1995) Flowering in the Shadow: Women in the History of Chinese and Japanese Painting, edited by Marsh Weidner (University of Hawaii Press, 1990)
Please type and double space. Due May 8 by 5:00 PM. Points will be deducted for the late paper.