What is the artistic culture of Japan? How did it develop? We will answer these and other questions in the article. Japanese culture was formed as a result of a historical movement that began when the Japanese moved from the mainland to the archipelago and the civilization of the Jomon period was born.
The current enlightenment of this people has been greatly influenced by Europe, Asia (especially Korea and China) and North America. One of the signs of Japanese culture is its long development in the era of complete isolation of the state (policy of sakoku) from all other countries during the reign of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which lasted until the mid-19th century - the beginning of the Meiji era.
Influence
How did Japanese artistic culture develop? Civilization was significantly influenced by the isolated regional location of the country, climatic and geographical features, as well as natural phenomena (typhoons and frequent earthquakes). This was expressed in the extraordinary attitude of the population towards nature as a living being. A feature of the Japanese national character is the ability to admire the flowing beauty of the Universe, which is expressed in many types of art in a small country.
The artistic culture of Japan was created under the influence of Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism. These same directions influenced its further development.
Hieroglyphs
The image of Japanese artistic culture is embodied in a unique verse called haiku (hoku). This country also has a highly developed art of calligraphy, which, according to legend, arose from heavenly divine images. It was they who breathed life into writing, so the population is sensitive to every sign in spelling.
There are rumors that Japanese culture was given by hieroglyphs, since from them the images surrounding the inscription emerged. A little later, a strong combination of elements of painting and poetry in one work began to be observed.
If you study a Japanese scroll, you will find that the work contains two types of symbols. These are signs of writing - seals, poems, colophenes, as well as paintings. At the same time, Kabuki theater gained great popularity. A different type of theater - No - is preferred mainly by military personnel. The samurai of Japan, their severity and cruelty, had a strong influence on Noh.
The principle of mono no aware: how to understand the transience of life
— Mono no aware (the turn of the 10th–12th centuries) means “the sad charm of things.” This concept implies that each object, phenomenon has its own special, unique charm, aesthetic value, which, as a rule, is hidden, does not lie on the surface, and innate sensitivity and the possession of elegant taste help to discover it.
Mono no aware is covered with a haze of fragility, the ephemerality of all things, which is what Zen Buddhism teaches: female beauty, human life, and the life of a flower are finite. The aesthetic principle implies that you need to have time to catch all this and reflect it around yourself, entering a state of “enlightened mind.”
Within the framework of mono no aware, for example, the first novel in Japanese literature, “Hikaru Genji-monogatari”, or “The Tale of the Brilliant Prince Genji” (XI century AD), was written, its author was a court lady and a Buddhist under the pseudonym Murasaki Shikibu . The novel shows the short-lived affection of a handsome prince for a variety of women. He suffers from causing them suffering, but realizes that this is karma, and feelings and emotions cannot be eternal: the prince falls in love with one today, and with another tomorrow. Each chapter is dedicated to one love story and each of them contains the principle of mono no aware.
Painting
The artistic culture of medieval Japan has been studied by many specialists. Kaiga painting, which in Japanese means drawing or painting, played a huge role in its development. This art is regarded as the oldest type of painting in the state, which is determined by a huge number of solutions and forms.
In it, nature occupies a special place, which defines the sacred principle. The division of painting into sumi-e and yamato-e has existed since the tenth century. The first style developed closer to the fourteenth century. It is a kind of monochrome watercolor. Yamato-e are horizontally folded scrolls that were usually used in the design of works of literature.
A little later, in the 17th century, printing on tablets - ukiyo-e - appeared in the country. Masters depicted landscapes, geishas, and famous Kabuki actors. This type of painting had a strong influence on the art of Europe in the 18th century. The emerging trend was called “Japanism”. In the Middle Ages, Japanese culture went beyond the country's borders - it began to be used in the design of stylish and fashionable interiors around the world.
The Yugen principle: how to understand the essence of understatement
- Yugen (XIII-XIV centuries) - an aesthetic category that literally means mystery, depth, hidden beauty. This is a special tonality, emotional content that is beyond verbal expression. Yugen is based on an intuitive perception of the essence of an object - be it nature or a work of art. Yugen implies the beauty of understatement; it cannot be grasped and felt by a person devoid of elegant taste or peace of mind.
For Japanese art, yugen is very important, since it is believed that it is impossible to express one’s emotions in words - one can only use canonical techniques to lead the reader or viewer to the emotions that he can experience together with the creator.
Calligraphy
Oh, how beautiful the artistic culture of Japan is! The achievement of harmony with nature can be seen in every segment of it. What is modern Japanese calligraphy? It is called shodo (“the path of notification”). Calligraphy, like writing, is a compulsory discipline in Japanese schools. Scientists have found that this art came there at the same time as Chinese writing.
By the way, in ancient times a person’s culture was judged by his level of calligraphy. Today there are a large number of writing styles, and they are developed by Buddhist monks.
The Satori Principle: How to Achieve an Enlightened Mind and See the True Beauty of Things
— The principle of satori (XVII century) also came from Zen Buddhism. Satori itself means a sudden awakening that occurs as a result of concentration, self-deepening, and meditative practice. In Zen Buddhism, satori is called immersion in the state of “Buddha mind”, which involves detachment from everyday problems, surrounding routine and extraneous thoughts. In the state of satori we can discern the true nature of things. It turns out that this principle is close to intuition or the highest moment of knowledge in artistic practice.
This aesthetic principle was introduced into haiku (tercet) poetry in the 17th century by the world famous Japanese poet Matsuo Basho. He believed that to achieve satori one must merge with nature and feel the “loneliness of things.” “Loneliness” is by no means that human loneliness when there is no one around; this is the enlightened loneliness of nature, living and creating an atmosphere around itself, which can be captured and reflected in the state of an enlightened mind in a poem.
Sculpture
How did Japanese culture emerge? We will study the development and types of this area of human activity in as much detail as possible. Sculpture is the oldest type of art in Japan. In ancient times, the people of this country made figurines of idols and dishes from ceramics. Then people began to install haniwa sculptures made from baked clay on the graves.
The development of sculptural craft in modern Japanese culture is associated with the spread of Buddhism in the state. One of the most ancient representatives of Japanese monuments is considered to be the statue of Buddha Amitabha, made of wood, located in the Zenko-ji Temple.
The sculptures were very often made from beams, but they looked very rich: the craftsmen covered them with varnish, gold and bright colors.
Origami
Do you like Japanese artistic culture? Understanding harmony with nature will bring unforgettable impressions. Amazing origami (“folded paper”) products have become a characteristic feature of Japanese culture. This skill owes its origin to China, where, in fact, parchment was invented.
At first, “folded paper” was used in religious rituals. This art could only be studied by the upper class. But after World War II, origami left the homes of nobles and found its admirers all over the Earth.
Ikebana
Every person should know what the artistic culture of the Eastern countries is. Japan has put a lot of work into its development. Another component of the culture of this amazing country is ikebana (“fresh flowers”, “new life of flowers”). The Japanese are fans of aesthetics and simplicity. These two qualities are put into the works. The sophistication of the images is achieved through the beneficial use of the natural beauty of vegetation. Ikebana, like origami, also served as part of a religious ceremony.
Kintsugi
The Japanese sense of aesthetics sometimes differs from traditional European ideas. While the ancient Romans and Greeks preferred perfection in works of art, the Japanese found beauty in imperfection, believing that even the broken and broken can become a masterpiece in the right hands.
One day, a Japanese lord invited a philosopher to dinner. He really wanted to impress the guest with his tea cup. The Lord placed her right in front of the philosopher, but he did not seem to notice her. In despair, the lord broke the cup immediately after the guest left. His friends collected all the fragments and glued them together with gold varnish. The varnish highlighted the cracks and it looked amazing. When the philosopher returned and saw the recreated cup, he exclaimed: “Now it is delightful!”
This is how the art of Kintsugi—the “golden patch”—was born. It helps you understand that objects with flaws can be even more beautiful than those without them. Perhaps this applies to people too.
Miniatures
Probably, many have already realized that the artistic culture of Ancient China and Japan is closely intertwined. What is bonsai? This is a unique Japanese ability to cultivate an almost exact miniature copy of a real tree.
In Japan, it is also common to make netsuke - small sculptures that are a kind of keychain. Often such figures were attached in this capacity to Japanese clothes, which did not have pockets. They not only decorated it, but also served as a unique counterweight. Key rings were made in the shape of a key, pouch, or wicker basket.
Kimono
Not many people in Japan wear kimonos—they cost a fortune. But when you delve into the process of its creation, you realize that the high price is justified. To create silk, it is necessary to process thousands of silkworm cocoons and make yarn. Then it must be soaked in a certain way, stretched and dried. To stretch the silk, it needs to be wound around sticks standing several meters apart. A person stretching silk walks up and down with the fabric several kilometers every day.
The silk is then dyed. The final pattern of the fabric will depend on how it is dyed. Silk is traditionally dyed with natural products such as iron-rich mud. To make one kimono you need 12 m of fabric.
If the dyed fabric does not look rich enough, various patterns are hand embroidered on it. It is not surprising that kimonos are highly valued by their owners and are passed down from generation to generation.
History of painting
The artistic culture of Ancient Japan interests many people. Painting in this country originated during the Japanese Paleolithic period and developed as follows:
- Yamato period. During the time of Asuka and Kofun (IV-VII centuries), simultaneously with the introduction of hieroglyphs, the creation of a state regime based on the Chinese model and the popularization of Buddhism, many works of art were brought to Japan from the Celestial Empire. After this, Chinese-style paintings began to be reproduced in the Land of the Rising Sun.
- Nara time. In the VI and VII centuries. Buddhism continued to develop in Japan. In this regard, religious painting began to flourish, used to decorate numerous temples built by the aristocracy. In general, the Nara era contributed more to the development of sculpture and art than to painting. Early paintings in this cycle include paintings on the interior walls of Horyu-ji Temple in Nara Prefecture, depicting the life of Shakyamuni Buddha.
- Heian era. In Japanese painting, starting from the 10th century, the Yamato-e trend has been distinguished, as we wrote about above. Such paintings are horizontal scrolls that were used to illustrate books.
- Muromachi era. In the 14th century, the supi-e style (monochrome watercolor) appeared, and in the first half of the 17th century. artists began to print engravings on tablets - ukiyo-e.
- The painting of the Azuchi-Momoyama period stands in sharp contrast to the painting of the Muromachi period. It is characterized by a polychrome style with extensive use of silver and gold foil. During this period, the Kano educational institution enjoyed great prestige and fame. Its founder was Kano Eitoku, who painted ceilings and sliding doors to separate rooms. Such drawings decorated the castles and palaces of the military nobility.
- Maiji era. From the second half of the 19th century, art divided into competing traditional and European styles. During the Maiji era, Japan underwent great social and political changes through the process of modernization and Europeanization orchestrated by the authorities. Promising young artists were sent abroad to study, and foreign painters came to Japan to create school art programs. However, after an initial surge of curiosity about Western artistic styles, the pendulum swung back and Japanese traditional style was revived. In 1880, Western art practices were banned from official exhibitions and were heavily criticized.
Netsuke
Where do you put your essentials when putting on a kimono? The Japanese do not carry them in their pockets, but in fabric bags, which are attached to the kimono with pendant charms. Wealthy Japanese wore decorated keychains called Netsuke. They were made of ivory, wood or metal in the form of animals, humans or mythological creatures. At the request of the owner, Netsuke could be philosophical, playful or frivolous. Netsuke were small in size and easily hidden in the belt, thereby giving their owners the opportunity to demonstrate a sense of humor - be it a cheeky mouse or people copulating on a turtle.
Poetry
The artistic culture of Ancient Japan is still being studied. Its peculiarity is its versatility, some syntheticity, since it was formed under the influence of different religions. It is known that Japanese classical poetry emerged from everyday life, acted within it, and this down-to-earthness was to some extent preserved in the traditional forms of modern poetry - the three-line haiku and the five-line tanka, which are distinguished by a pronounced mass character. By the way, it is precisely this quality that distinguishes them from the “free verse” that tends towards elitism, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century in Japan under the influence of European poetry.
Have you noticed that the stages of development of Japanese artistic culture are multifaceted? Poetry played a special role in the society of this country. One of the most famous genres is haiku, which can only be understood by becoming familiar with its history.
First appearing in the Heian era, it was similar to the renga style, which was a kind of outlet for poets who wanted to take a break from the thoughtful waha poems. Haikai developed into its own genre in the 16th century as renga became too serious and haiku relied on spoken language and was still humorous.
Of course, the artistic culture of Japan is briefly described in many works, but we will try to talk about it in more detail. It is known that in the Middle Ages one of the most famous Japanese literary genres was tanka (“laconic song”). In most cases, this is a pentaverse, consisting of a pair of stanzas with a fixed number of syllables: 5-7-5 syllables in three lines of the first stanza, and 7-7 in two lines of the second. As for the content, the tank uses the following scheme: the first stanza represents a specific natural image, and the second reflects the human feeling that echoes this image:
- In the distant, remote mountains, the long-tailed pheasant is dozing - This long, long night, can I really sleep alone? (Kakinomoto no Hitowaro, early 8th century, translation by Sanovich.)
The principle of wabi-sabi: what is discreet beauty and unpretentious simplicity
— Wabi-sabi (XVII century) is the most famous [in Russia] principle of Japanese aesthetics (perhaps due to the chain of Japanese cafes of the same name). In fact, wabi and sabi imply modest simplicity, an atmosphere of sadness and solitude of nature. Sabi is an enlightened loneliness, an impersonal attitude towards the world, restrained beauty, a harmonious unity of sad and light with an overall coloring of soft sadness, which creates a feeling of peace and detachment. Wabi is “unpretentious simplicity.”
It is sabi, for example, that appears in the tanka five-line or haiku tercet. In this case, the verse reflects a moment captured in a state of detached enlightened mind and expanded into infinity.
Old pond.
A frog jumped into the water.
A splash in silence.
(Matsuo Basho)
This is an atmospheric verse. It shows a moment, a moment. But we would never notice this moment if we were busy with everyday activities. Matsuo Basho captured the moment here and captured it forever.
Ogata Korin. Red and white plum blossom. 1714–1715
Japanese drama
Many people claim that the artistic culture of China and Japan is fascinating. Do you like performing arts? The traditional dramaturgy of the Land of the Rising Sun is divided into joruri (puppet theater), Noh dramaturgy (kyogen and yokyouku), Kabuki theater and Shingeki. The customs of this art include five basic theatrical genres: kyogen, no, bugaku, kabuki and bunraku. All five of these traditions are still present today. Despite their enormous differences, they are connected by common aesthetic principles that underlie Japanese art. By the way, Japanese drama originated on the stage of Noh.
Kabuki theater appeared in the 17th century and reached its zenith towards the end of the 18th. The form of performances that developed during this period is preserved on the modern stage of Kabuki. The productions of this theatre, unlike the Noh stages, which are aimed at a narrow circle of fans of ancient art, are designed for mass audiences. The roots of Kabuki skills originate from the performances of comedians - performers of small farces, skits that consisted of dancing and singing. The theatrical skill of Kabuki absorbed elements of Joruri and Noh.
The appearance of Kabuki theater is associated with the name of a worker at the Buddhist sanctuary O-Kuni in Kyoto (1603). O-Kuni performed on the stage with religious dances, which included the movements of the Nembutsu-odori folk dances. Her performances were interspersed with comic plays. At this stage, productions were called yujo-kabuki (Kabuki of courtesans), O-Kuni-kabuki or onna-kabuki (ladies' Kabuki).
Good and wise. Why did artists leave Japan for America in the 1960s?
Gutai was the exception to the rule in post-war Japan. Avant-garde groups remained marginal, the art world was strictly hierarchical. The main path to recognition was participation in competitions held by recognized associations of classical artists. Therefore, many preferred to go to the West and integrate into the English-language art system.
It was especially difficult for women. Even in the progressive Gutai, the share of their presence did not reach even a fifth. What can we say about traditional institutions, access to which required special education. By the sixties, girls had already acquired the right to it, but training in art (unless it was a decorative one, which was part of the skill set of ryosai kenbo
- a good wife and wise mother) was a socially disapproved activity.
Yoko Ono. Cut Piece
The story of the emigration of five powerful Japanese artists from Tokyo to the States became the topic of Midori Yoshimoto’s study “Into Performance: Japanese Women Artists in New York.” Yayoi Kusama, Takako Saito, Mieko Shiomi and Shigeko Kubota decided to move to New York at the start of their careers and worked there, including on modernizing the traditions of Japanese art. Only Yoko Ono grew up in the United States - but she, too, deliberately refused to return to Japan, having become disillusioned with the artistic hierarchy of Tokyo during a short stay in 1962-1964.
Ono became the most famous of these five - not only as the wife of John Lennon, but also as the author of proto-feminist performances dedicated to the objectification of the female body. There are obvious parallels between Ono's Cut Piece, in which viewers could cut off pieces of the artist's clothing, and Marina Abramovic's Ri.
Engravings
In the last century, Europeans, and then Russians, encountered the phenomenon of Japanese art through engraving. Meanwhile, in the Land of the Rising Sun, drawing on wood was not at first considered a skill at all, although it had all the properties of mass culture - cheapness, accessibility, circulation. Ukiyo-e experts knew how to achieve the highest clarity and simplicity both in the embodiment of plots and in their choice.
Ukiyo-e was a special art school, so it was able to produce a number of outstanding artists. Thus, the initial phase of the development of plot engraving is associated with the name of Hishikawa Moronobu (1618-1694). In the middle of the 18th century, the first expert in multicolor engraving, Suzuki Harunobu, worked. The main motives of his work were lyrical scenes, in which attention was paid not to action, but to the transfer of moods and feelings: love, tenderness, sadness. Like the exquisite ancient art of the Heian era, the virtuosos of ukiyo-e revived the extraordinary cult of the refined beauty of women in a renewed urban environment.
The only difference was that instead of the proud Heian aristocrats, the engravings depicted graceful geishas from the entertainment districts of Edo. The artist Utamaro (1753-1806) is perhaps a unique example in the history of painting of a professional who completely devoted his creation to depicting ladies in various poses and outfits, in various life circumstances. One of his best works is the engraving “Geisha Osama”, which is kept in Moscow, in the A. S. Pushkin Museum of Painting. The artist incredibly subtly conveyed the unity of gesture and mood, facial expression.
Manga and anime
Many artists are trying to study Japanese painting. What is anime (Japanese animation)? It differs from other animation genres in its greater focus on the adult viewer. Here there is a duplicative division into styles for a unique target audience. The measure of fragmentation is the gender, age or psychological portrait of the movie viewer. Very often, anime is a film adaptation of a Japanese manga comic, which has also gained great fame.
The basic part of the manga is intended for an adult viewer. As of 2002, about 20% of the total Japanese book market was occupied by manga comics.
Japan is close to us geographically, but despite this, for a long time it remained incomprehensible and inaccessible to the whole world. Today we know a lot about this country. Long voluntary isolation has led to the fact that its culture is completely different from the cultures of other states.
