Final Post

     Just like every country, Japanese art has transformed through decades of contact among other countries. Many of Japanese style art had originated from China, and during the early periods they were brought over to Japan and adopted. Japan had perfected these styles and branched off some of their own techniques and skills, which added to the unique quality of Japanese art. During the Kamakura period there was an obvious transformation of art styles through the years 1185-1333. Even today, many elements of traditional Japanese culture and history remain a big part of Japan's life and art. Many of the artists during the Kamakura period and the periods before that are unknown, and those artists were never credited. Their artworks were left as only cherished pieces of the past, but that doesn't mean they didn't have an impact. Traditional Japanese art during the Kamakura Period was the stepping stones to the many different styles and portrayals of Japan art today. Through religion and politics, symbolism, and a new global audience, Japan was able to transform their traditional styles and adopt many other styles as well.

     It seems unlikely that religion and politics would play a role in art of historical Japan. However, Japan was one of the countries that used religion and politics as the subject of their arts. Whether is was cultures, paintings on hand scrolls, or architecture, these two groups were paying close attention to Japan art. During the Kamakura period, two clans in Japan were fighting for power at the crucial point of the emperors weakness. The emperors clan consisted of the Taira, who had high hopes of gaining the power when the emperor had passed. But when the Minamoto clan had ruthless kidnapped the emperor, the leader of the Minamoto clan, Yoritomo, would become appointed as general in chief (shogun) of all military in the Kyoto area. Despite this victory, the Taira clan would eventual win many of the battles against the Minamoto clan, resulting in the death of Yoritomo himself. Despite all this happening later on in the Kamakura period, during Yoritomo's military power, many samurai (warriors) were very powerful in Japan. This meant that they influenced almost everything that happened in Japan.

     Meanwhile, religion was also becoming a very strong power in Japan during the Kamakura period. Temples and buildings had art all over the grounds, and even in the architecture. Temples would have sculptures and religious art among the walls and outside on the sacred grounds. During the late Heian Period and the beginning of the Kamakura period, Pure Land Buddhism, also known as Shin Buddhism or Amidism, was spreading across Japan and became widely popular even today. Pure Land Buddhist beliefs adopted basic Buddhist teachings, but focused more on devoting oneself to Amida, one of the Five Wisdom Buddhas. Pure Land Buddhism was popular for it's flexibility, for many of it's doctrines and teachings could be tweaked and altered. This allowed people of different levels of education to understand and follow Pure Land Buddhism. This resulted in different sects of ideology in the religion.

     Raigo paintings became widely popular in Japan when Pure Land Buddhism became a well known religion. They were basically hung in homes, or brought to dying people in hopes that their soul would be sent to the Pure Land. Raigo means 'welcoming approach' as a way to welcome believers of Pure Land Buddhism to the Western Paradise when they died. Japanese people would attach gold chords to these paintings, and the dying person would hold onto these cords in hopes that Amida Buddha would bring their soul to paradise. In the Kamakura period they were made in vast numbers and in homes. These paintings showed faithfulness and devotion to the religion just as much as chanting “Amida Buddha”. These paintings often depicted Amida Buddha on a cloud coming down from the heavens, often assisted by bodhisattvas. In a simplified definition in the Miriam Webster dictionary, bodhisattvas were basically beings that refrained from entering the Western Paradise out of compassion, in order to save those who were suffering. They were often worshipped as deities.

     In this popular painting from the Kamakura Period on the left, the Japanese artist was skilled in the art of kirikane. This technique uses very thin slivers of gold leaf, and use it to decorate the Buddha and his bodhisattvas. The usage of gold leaf emphasizes divine radiance of these deities. It contrasts greatly with the dark silk of the painting, which helps heighten the golden feature. Also, take note of the beautiful landscape in the painting, which was popular in Shinto beliefs because they resembled nature like elements from where the deities would be from.

      In Hisashi's painting “Yamagoe Amitaabha” this is a modern take on the traditional Raigo paintings that were popular in Pure Land Buddhism. Aspects of modern day culture are the tattoos that cover Amida Buddha and modern day paints like acrylic. However, the rest of the painting is a much more traditional set. Although very minuscule, even the hand gesture and the samurais in the background mean something that can be related to Japans history. The hand gesture “mudra” is an iconic theme of Buddhism with very important meanings. In this painting, Amida Buddha displays the Vitarka mudra which translates to 'Teaching gesture'. It represents the constant flow of energy and information through the circle created by the thumb and the fore finger. This gesture is popular among great Buddhas in relation to learning the laws of Buddhism. Even the samurai in the background can mean a lot of things like 7 of the 25 bodhisattvas by the side of Amida, 7 Gods of Fortune in Japan, or the 7 Factors of Enlightenment in Buddhism.

     Later on in the Kamakura Period, Chinese emigrants and Japanese monks returning from China introduced Zen Buddhism. Originating and mastered in China, Zen Buddhism was a lot like the original Buddhist teachings, which focused on meditation as a way to individual enlightenment. However, Zen Buddhism did not rely on spiritual deities or chanting like Pure Land Buddhism. Zen focused on a more realistic outlook on life which would later become a part of the politics side became a part of art in Japan. The warrior class of Japan during the Kamakura period changed their views and beliefs in Japan, wanting to focus more on realism and not deities like Amida Buddha. With Zen Buddhism came a new style of art form and painting technique. This new art style emphasized realism which later on would help representing events, people, and legends through sculptures and paintings. This would reinforce and educate people of the Japanese culture, and pass along traditions and legends.

     Suibokuga was very popular during the trend of Zen Buddhism and originated and was mastered in China. Because Zen Buddhism focuses on individual enlightenment, Zen practices were all about simplicity, clarity, achieving a goal the most natural way. Which is why suibokuga (ink wash paintings) refrains from using different colours, and depth is all about manipulating and mastering the ink with shades of grey and the thickness of each stroke of line. Each ink painting was said to have a specific goal or aim, just like Zen Buddhist beliefs, and use symbolism and calligraphy as hints and hidden messages. Both the samurai class and Zen Buddhists beliefs wanted to focus more on realism and the beauty of nature, which is why Zen art was widely related to the art of a samurai in battle. With the composure before strike of a stroke, it became the calm before the fearless strike of a samurai’s sword.

     At first glance at a traditional Japanese painting, you would only focus on the obvious subject of the painting. Maybe Amida Buddha in the sky with his bodhisattvas, or a Zen master meditating by a river. You would only focus on what is plainly the subject of the painting. However, in Japan there were many ways to symbolize other elements of art such as emotion, change, and diversity. Symbolism in Japanese art dates all the way back to ancient times. Japanese traditional beliefs were very close with the beauty of nature. This can be expressed through Japanese poems, paintings, and even the festivals they celebrate during the year. The changing seasons played a very important role in symbolizing human emotion and truth in Japanese art. Shinto beliefs before the Kamakura period were through to be intertwined with Buddhist beliefs in the Kamakura period. Shinto beliefs such as the kami ( Japanese deities) were believed to be emanations of Buddhists which was there original forms. Kami were deities that descended from the heavens, where there was beautiful mountains, tall trees, flowing waterfalls, etc. The kami were believed to protect life and the forces of nature.

     Japanese artists connected the natural elements of the world to human emotions. A lot of paintings focused on emotions such as pain, loss, and disappointment in connection with the decay and death of nature like trees, flowers, and also the autumn and winter seasons. However, a popular Japanese convention back then was to show the seasons changing in one painting, such as trees blossoming, humid summers, geese flying, and barren trees to express winter. The Japanese would relate cycle to how humans are always changing, which was a popular concept in Buddhism. Clouds represented high status and elegance, while waves and water represented power and dexterity. Even different types of flowers in modern Japanese paintings symbolize different meanings such as love, strength, and long life. Even trees were often associated with faith and peace, which is why they were commonly used in Raigo paintings, along with mountains, which symbolized something unmoving or fixed like the belief of religion. Even the deer at the bottom of the “Kasuga Shrine Mandala” which is very small and prominent and the bottom of the scroll represent messengers to the kami. Over time, paintings in Japan became more about trends and fads, taking away from the deep symbolism and emotion from traditional art.

     During the earlier periods of Japan was very open countries like Korea and China. This was not a problem, during these times since there was very small contact with other countries. It was only during the later periods of Japan did they start to isolate themselves. This was probably due to the growing movement of westernization. Even westernization affected art culture in Japan and this most likely resulted in Japan going through a period of isolationism. When western style paintings like oil paintings began to grow popular in Japan, many political power and Japanese artists saw this as negative. Japanese artists who began to do western paintings ( called 'yoga' in Japan) were seen as traitors to Japan. There was a decline in the traditional Japanese style paintings like suibokuga and even raigo paintings. Japan felt the need to reinforce their own national style of painting. So, in response to the decline, Nihonga became popular during the Meiji period. Nihonga mean “Japanese painting” but is more based on a more modern style of painting with the use of traditional techniques and inks. Nihonga style paintings combine elements from different styles and techniques in Japan, and also from Western style oil painting. An element of Nihonga painting was ukiyoe,which was a style of painting done on woodblock. These usually depicted the changing society of Japan, and also became popular as a market type of art that showed trends, a Westernizing Japan, sumo wrestlers, fashion, etc.

     Eventually, Japan became more open to the other countries, and westernization influenced a lot of parts of Japan. Fashion, media, and even art changed greatly even today. In the art world, art changed in different area. Animation became a use of entertainment, using animated characters that still follow along with Japanese traditions and culture in modern day Japan. Along with the changing society art has transformed. The style of Neo Nihonga was created in 2001 by Tenmyouya Hisashi. As a contemporary sub genre to the Nihonga style paintings Neo Nihonga uses a mix of traditional mineral pigments like in the Meiji period, but also uses more modern types of paint such as acrylic and even technology. It uses traditional Japanese line drawing, decoration, symbolism, and playful elements to incorporate contemporary art with classical Japanese aspects. Neo Nihonga develops from classical Japanese styles like ukiyoe and other forms and uses it for modern importance. This means that a lot of Neo Nihonga art uses traditional styles of art, but with a twist of modern day aspects. In the painting “Para-para Dancing (Great Empire of Japan) vs. Break-dancing (America )” by Tenmyouya Hisashi, it is obvious how he has incorporated modern culture with traditional Japanese style. The yukata is worn by the young women, preforming a popular Japanese pop dance. It also shows how North America has influenced the world, but incorporating popular dance form break dancing from America.

     Even his painting called “RX-78-2 Kabuki-mono 2005 version” is a great example of his Neo Nihonga art, which takes a piece of Japans history and combines it with modern day elements. The subject of the painting looks like it was inspired by the popular 'Transformers' which was made to look a lot like a samurai's armour. Also, Hisashi incorporated a very notorious dragon in his painting. Dragon's often were a part of religion and art in Japan a long time ago. They were considered protectors of shrines and buildings to protect evil spirits. They were considered a legendary creature of the east that was identified with the season of spring, the colours of green or blue, and elements like wood and water. Even the claws on the dragon symbolize something important to Japanese history. Because dragons were originated in China, dragons that were depicted there often had five claws for the Chinese imperial family. The three clawed dragons were reserved for the colonial type such as Japan. Dragons remain a very important aspect in Japanese legends and folklore.

      Japanese art has transformed through history and has developed in the most unique way. The history of Japan was incorporated in Japanese art throughout the periods, helping depicting events, traditions, religion, and legends. These traditional style used in these paintings were became dissipated and then later on brought up. Religion and politics played roles in what was in art, and resulted in many important traditions and cultures that were passed down. Even in modern day Japan, Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism are very popular and recognized in Japan as an important part of history. Symbolism still remains a core element of Japanese style paintings, and have varied throughout the years. The seasons and nature were related to human emotions in historical paintings. Even today, symbolism in contemporary art such as Neo Nihonga paintings are often emphasizing Japanese change in society with Westernization and advanced technology. Japan has opened up their country to the world, expanding it's art to a new found global audience. Hisashi's paintings are an example of how his art speaks not only to Japanese people but to a global audience that includes North America, Europe, and other countries. He incorporated traditional styles of painting, with pun related Japanese stereotypes and elements and gave a modern day twist to his works of art. It is important to see how rapid art has changed through decades, and how historical art has influenced art today. Even today, technology has become so advanced that the art world is always changing.

Bibliography

East-West Corporation. "bunk1.htm."

     http://www.japanlink.co.jp/ka/bunk1.htm.

“Nihonga”. The Samurai Archives.

     http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Nihonga

OCN Page ON. "TENMYOUYA HISASHI Official Website ｜ 天明屋尚."

    http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~tenmyoya/index.html.

O'Brien, Barbara. "What Are the Origins and Practices of Pure Land Buddhism?" About.

    http://buddhism.about.com/od/purelandbuddhism/a/pureland.htm.

Sipe, Lynn. "Mudras in Buddhism." Urban Dharma / Buddhism in America.

    http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma7/mudras.html.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Seasonal Imagery in Japanese Art | Thematic Essay |

    Heilbrunn Timeline      of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." 

    http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/seim/hd_seim.htm.

Tsukamoto, Zenryū. "Buddhism and fine arts in Kyoto, pt 2." Eastern Buddhist 20, no. 1 (March      1, 1987):     62-80. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost 

How Traditional Japanese Art Still Remains an Element of Modern Japanese Culture

Despite art being developed earlier in the periods of Japan, it was the Kamakura period that really started to change things. For many years the Japanese developed the style of suibokuga, the art of ink wash paintings. They used black inks, and developed to dashes of colors. A lot of religion and art styles originated in China and were brought to Japan and made popular. Suibokuga was the original style of painting adopted in Japan, and would eventually be the starting point in all traditional Japanese art. The Kamakura period would begin to change their ways of art, surrounding them around nature and religious symbolism. As different religions came to Japan art changed the subjects of their paintings during the Kamakura Period. Eventually religion and nature would be the prominent subjects of paintings in the Kamakura period. The symbolism of nature and religion began to slowly disappear as different styles of art came to Japan. Nihonga paintings became more colorful, and emphasized Japanese culture. Nihonga art was an intense reaction to the growing popularity that was spreading in Japan in the later periods after Kamakura. As a result, western style painters were seen as traitors in their own country, and Japan began to isolate itself from the rest of the world.

So why and how is it still important in modern Japanese culture?

Just like any other paintings, they tell a story. Traditional paintings all show a part of Japanese history that Japan holds closely. Art was a way of expressing themselves, telling stories of changing society and religion, becoming a part of society as a whole. They were monuments of people's achievements, documentation of important events, they explained legends and beliefs as important Japanese history. Eventually they would soon become a form of media, portraying certain trends and fads just like today's culture.

"Section of Night Attack on Sanjo Palace"

In a way, Japan is still trying to emphasize their culture through their art. In a world that is rapidly growing, and the movement of Westernization creeping into countries we realize that our world today is different from before. North America has influenced different countries greatly, when it comes to art, fashion, technology, food, etc. Japan contemporary art is still trying to save their history and the culture of Japan, but showing how the Japanese people have changed. They have grown to still live with their traditions, just like any other country, but incorporate a growing world.

Traditional samurai armor

For example, this painting which is a section of “Night Attack on Sanjo Palace” depicts a battle scene during two fighting clans Minamoto and the Taira clans. They used swords, bow and arrows, and even a special kind of armor called yoroi. Despite only being a section of the whole scroll painting, there is so much action in this one area. The original scroll depicts the events of the Minamoto clan invading a night attack on the palace and abducting the weak emperor to gain control. The two clans were at war for trying to gain power from the emperor. The scroll was painted during the Kamakura period, but years after the actual attack. The artist gives the viewer a birds eye view, which was common in traditional paintings. They let you see a lot of what was going on and the use of diagonal lines adverts the eyes from the left to the right in which that would be the order of the story line. There is a lot of detail in the armor, facial emotions, and architecture.

"Football" by Tenmyouya Hisashi

We can use this Kamakura era painting as a reference to the modern day painting of Tenmyouya Hisashi's painting “Football”. You immediately notice the reference of Japanese history through the football players armor. It is very alike from the armour in “Night Attack on Sanjo Palace”. This is a direct reference as to how Japan is portraying their traditional culture and history alongside modern elements of today. The painting was used in the FIFA World Cup in 2006 which was held in Germany for all countries to see. Hisashi used lifelike and natural movements of the body in a tense moment of action.

"Star Wars" by Tenmyouya Hisashi

Another example of how Japanese history influenced modern day Japanese art is Hisashi's painting called “Star Wars”. Hopefully, you can understand the reference he is making, a popular movie in America. However, Hisashi uses a ironic depiction of his take on Star Wars, by having traditional dressed samurai warriors and futuristic space fighters in a war among the stars. They even incorporated space ships and have the fighters on clouds. This is another example of how tradition is mixed with modern culture.

Sources:

Night Attack image here

Samurai armor image here

A Different Take on Raigo Paintings

Raigo Paintings developed from Pure Land Buddhism, and were basically paintings that people hang around homes or nearby when a person was dying. In the Kamakura period they were made in vast numbers and in homes. Raigo means 'welcoming approach' as a way to welcome believers of Pure Land Buddhism to the Western Paradise when they died. These paintings showed faithfulness and devotion to the religion just as much as chanting “Amida Buddha”. These paintings often depicted Amida Buddha on a cloud coming down from the heavens, often assisted by bodhisattvas. In a simplified definition in the Miriam Webster dictionary, bodhisattvas were basically beings that refrained from entering the Western Paradise out of compassion, in order to save those who were suffering. They were often worshiped as deities.  Japanese people would attach gold chords to these paintings, and the dying person would hold onto these cords in hopes that Amida Buddha would bring their soul to paradise. 

"Descent of Amida and the Twenty-Five Bodhisattvas"

In this popular painting from the Kamakura Period, the Japanese artist was skilled in the art of kirikane. This technique uses very thin slivers of gold leaf, and use it to decorate the Buddha and his bodhisattvas. The usage of gold leaf emphasizes divine radiance of these deities. It contrasts greatly with the dark silk of the painting, which helps heighten the golden feature. Also, take note of the beautiful landscape in the painting, which was popular in Shinto beliefs because they resembled nature like elements from where the deities would be from. 

In Hisashi's painting “Yamagoe Amitaabha” this is a modern take on the traditional Raigo paintings that were popular in Pure Land Buddhism. Aspects of modern day culture are the tattoos that cover Amida Buddha. However, the rest of the painting is a much more traditional set. “Yamagoe” is defined as (crossing the mountains) which was very popular in depicting Amida in front or behind a set of mountains. Although very minuscule, even the hand gesture and the samurais in the background mean something that can be related to Japans history. The hand gesture “mudra” is an iconic theme of Buddhism with very important meanings. In this painting, Amida Buddha displays the Vitarka mudra which translates to 'Teaching gesture'. It represents the constant flow of energy and information through the circle created by the thumb and the fore finger. This gesture is popular among great Buddhas in relation to learning the laws of Buddhism. The samurai in the background can mean a lot of things, they can simply just be 7 of the 25 bodhisattvas by the side of Amida. However, they can have a much deeper meaning such as the 7 Gods of Fortune in Japan, or the 7 Factors of Enlightenment in Buddhism. 

"Yamagoe Amitaabha" by Tenmyouya Hisashi

If we were relating them to the 7 Gods of Fortune in Japan, the 7 samurai would symbolize the gods Hotei, Jurojin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten,Benzaiten, Daikokuten, and Ebisu. This would obviously exclude the very well known appearances of the gods. Hotei was the god of happiness and good health, while Jurojin was the god of wisdom and long life. Fukurokoju represented the god of wealth and fertility and Bishamonten was the god of warriors. Benzaiten was the goddess of knowledge, beauty and art, and Daikokuten was the god of earth and agriculture. Lastly, Ebisu was the god of the ocean and of honest labor.

If the 7 samurais represented the 7 factors of enlightenment in Buddhism then they would be in order : Mindfulness, Investigation, Energy, Happiness, Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity. Mindfulness is the practice of full body and mind awareness of the present and free from worry or doubt. Investigation refers to the evaluation of the nature of reality but also learn about the nature of life and also Buddha's beliefs. Energy means to put effort and time into the path of enlightenment and requires great courage. Happiness is a way of understanding that material things only bind us to suffering but that our positive actions lead to happiness. Tranquility is gained through the body and conscience, it is the resting and the contentment of ones hard work. Concentration is the sixth factor of enlightenment and requires one to concentrate all mental work onto a subject so that it can be absorbed. Equanimity is the balance of extremes like desires and dislikes. This means that one should not be biased, and not being revered by your likes and dislikes.

"Nine Kamakura Samurai"
by Tenmyouya Hisashi

Another modern take on a traditional Raigo painting is on Tenmyouya's, “Nine Kamakura Samurai” painting. Displayed is a Amida Buddha statue among tall trees. It is much more like a monument, a place where people can visit and pay their respects. Nine people stand in front dressed in plain track clothes with traditional samurai headgear. However, there is a deeper meaning of the nine samurai, as they were prevalent in Japan during the Kamakura period. Looking at the common Buddhist mudra of the monument's hands, they are in the Dhyana mudra position. This is a gesture of meditation, concentration, and spiritual perfection and awakening. The Buddha is in a enlightened state of mind, or also known as nirvana. The nine samurai in Hisashi's painting symbolize the nine mudras used in welcoming those into the Pure Land. They are also known as the “Mudra of the Nine Levels of Rebirth”. Different mudras symbolize different spiritual actions in Buddhism.

Sources:

7 Gods here

7 Enlightenment factors here

Mudras here

Amida Raigo painting here

 

Symbolism in Historical and Japanese Contemporary Art

Symbolism in Japanese art dates all the way back to ancient times. Japanese traditional beliefs were very close with the beauty of nature. This can be expressed through Japanese poems, paintings, and even the festivals they celebrate during the year. The changing seasons played a very important role in symbolizing human emotion and truth in Japanese art. This appreciation of the landscape and nature was believed to be stemmed from Shinto beliefs in Japan. During the Kamakura period, Shinto and Buddhism beliefs were often intertwined. This was because in the later Heian period, Shinto beliefs such as the kami ( Japanese deities) were believed to be emanations of Buddhists which was there original forms. Kami were deities that descended from the heavens, where there was beautiful mountains, tall trees, flowing waterfalls, etc. The kami were believed to protect life and the forces of nature. There were often many paintings depicting landscapes as divine, but also involving kami and Buddhas in the sky. Shinto and Buddhism were later separated since Shinto focused more on the deities and the origins of Japanese people, while Buddhism concentrated on life after death.

"Kasuga Shrine Mandala" Painting

Japanese artists connected the natural elements of the world to human emotions. A lot of paintings focused on emotions such as pain, loss, and disappointment in connection with the decay and death of nature like trees, flowers, and also the autumn and winter seasons. However, a popular Japanese convention back then was to show the seasons changing in one painting, such as trees blossoming, humid summers, geese flying, and barren trees to express winter. The Japanese would relate cycle to how humans are always changing, which was a popular concept in Buddhism. Clouds often represent high status and elegance. In Buddhism they represent the heavens and in Shinto beliefs they represent the spirits of the dead. Water, ebbing and flowing, symbolize power and flexibility. Different types of flowers can even signify strength, dignity, bravery, long life, love, affection, etc. Tree's are often associated with faith, peace, and eternal life.

In the hanging scroll “Kasuga Shrine Mandala” from the Kamakura period, the birds eye view of the shrine in Nara shows vast land that features hills, meadows, cherry and plum trees. Not only is this a nature painting, but the deer at the bottom of the scroll are considered as sacred messengers of the kami deities. Buddhist beliefs explain how one should gain harmony with nature and the world.

Symbolism is also portrayed in Japanese contemporary artist Tenmyouya Hisashi's paintings. He takes Japanese culture and traditions and and combines it with contemporary world culture. He uses popular media and entertainment aspects like technology, violence and action in his paintings. He claimed that his paintings express “America's role as a powerful figure in the world's imagination. The symbols in his paintings show how much knowledge he has of traditional Japanese culture, and also global culture. His painting called “RX-78-2 Kabuki-mono 2005 version” is a great example of his Neo Nihonga art, which takes a piece of Japans history and combines it with modern day elements. The subject of the painting looks like it was inspired by the popular 'Transformers' which was made to look a lot like a samurai's armor. Also, Hisashi incorporated a very notorious dragon in his painting. Dragon's often were a part of religion and art in Japan a long time ago. They were considered protectors of shrines and buildings to protect evil spirits. They were considered a legendary creature of the east that was identified with the season of spring, the colors of green or blue, and elements like wood and water. Even the claws on the dragon symbolize something important to Japanese history. Because dragons were originated in China, dragons that were depicted there often had five claws for the Chinese imperial family. The three clawed dragons were reserved for the colonial type such as Japan. Dragons remain a very important aspect in Japanese legends and folklore.

"RX-78-2 Kabuki-mono 2005 version"
by Tenmyouya Hisashi

Even in modern day, anime(Japanese-style animation) is extremely popular all over the world, even North America. You can see how ancient Japanese culture has influenced Japan today, with animated stories of samurais and martial artists that are popular in Japan.

Sources:

symbols and themes from here and here

Neo Nihonga theme here

Kasuga Shrine image here

A Comaprison of Suibokuga and Nihonga Paintings

Suibokuga

Origin and Practice

Ink Wash Painting of Zen Master
 Daruma Meditating

Suibokuga or “ink wash painting” originated in China but contact with Japanese had brought it over to Japan during early periods of Japan such as the Asuka, Nara, and Heian periods. However, it became widely popular and practiced among Japanese artists during the Kamakura and Muromachi period when it was brought over by Zen Buddhists from China. Eventually, it would become very popular in Zen Buddhist art and earlier art forms using ink in Japan. Because Zen Buddhism focuses on individual enlightenment, Zen practices were all about simplicity, clarity, achieving a goal the most natural way. Which is why suibokuga refrains from using different colors, and depth is all about manipulating and mastering the ink with shades of grey. Each ink painting was said to have a specific goal or aim, just like Zen Buddhist beliefs, and use symbolism and calligraphy as hints and hidden messages.

Materials and Preparation

Ink wash paintings are typically done on washi paper (made from rice, hemp,or bamboo) or silk. Suibokuga uses ink such as India ink, which was common in China, or sumi ink, which was from the soot of tree branches in Nara, Japan. Zen masters were disciplined in concentration, precision. Hours of meditation were needed in order to prepare Zen monks for ink wash painting. This meant preparing the 'suzuri' or ink-stone which was much like a meditative process. One must concentrate and free itself from the outside world before even thinking about grinding the ink material with a few drops of spring water. The artist will then grind the ink in an artistic rhythm and only masters will know when the ink is done. Loading the brush is followed, which is made of different types of animal hair which are payed close attention to, and the handle made out of bamboo stalks. Finally, the brush stroke on the washi paper is defined either in light or bold strokes.

Symbolic to Samurai Warriors

Ink wash painting became really popular during the Kamakura Period when Zen Buddhism took over. This was because during that time samurai warriors favored Zen arts aspect of realism. Much like a samurai swordsman, the practice and mastering of ink wash painting took much discipline and control. In fact, ink wash painting became a way to instill values and ways of the samurai. They would often relate the composure of a samurai before battle to the calm and control before one would release a powerful and bold brush stroke, like the power of a striking sword. Just like a samurai going into battle, there was no room for mistakes or errors in ink wash painting, there was only room for perfection. Which was why great concentration and clarity was needed when painting in ink. 

Nihonga

Origin and Background

"Springtime of Life" by Uemura Shoen
Nihonga Painting

Nihonga mean “Japanese painting” but is more based on a more modern style of painting with the use of traditional techniques and inks. When Japan started leaning towards western style oil paintings, there began a decline in the use of traditional Japanese paintings. So, in response to the decline, Nihonga became popular during the Meiji period. Nihonga style paintings combine elements from different styles and techniques in Japan, and also from Western style oil painting. Due to the growing popularity of 'yoga' (western style paintings) Japan felt the need to reinforce their own national style of painting. However, even the art world can have rivalries and the battle between Nihonga and yoga art in Japan became highly political between Tokyo and Kyoto. A lot of people during the Meiji period practiced one or the other, and even both. And element of Nihonga painting was ukiyoe, which was a style of painting done on woodblock. These usually depicted the changing society of Japan, and also became popular as a market type of art that showed trends, a Westernizing Japan, sumo wrestlers, fashion, etc. In fact, Japan became so against Westernization that yoga painters were sometimes accused of being traitors to Japan. Also, calligraphy was in a way separated as a form of visual arts when Nihonga became popular, and soon inscriptions showed little presence in paintings and scrolls.

Materials and Practice

Traditional inks from natural minerals

Nihonga refers to Japanese paintings where natural mineral pigments (iwa-enogu) are used as ink colors as well as sumi ink. A small amount of animal glue solution (nikawa) is used as an adhesive with the paint to stick to surfaces. Nihonga was an even farther step in portraying realism and naturalism. Nihonga paintings use elements like perspective, shading, and shadowing to give paintings a more realistic look. However, they do not use Western type materials like oils, pencil, acrylic, and charcoal. They refer back to traditional methods of ink like sumi ink and sometimes even gold or silver foil. Colors were created from natural materials that can be crushed into a fine powder. Carbon was used for black, red was from coral, blue was from azurite, and white was from oyster shells.

Neo Nihonga

"“Para-para Dancing (Great Empire of Japan) vs.
 Break-dancing (America)”

                   by Tenmyouya Hisashi

Neo Nihonga can be explained simply as “ New Japanese Style Painting” . The term and genre was created by Tenmyouya Hisashi in 2001. Think of it as a contemporary sub genre to the Nihonga style paintings. Unlike Nihonga, Neo Nihonga does not use traditional mineral pigments like in the Meiji period, but uses more modern types of paint such as acrylic and even technology. It uses traditional Japanese line drawing, decoration, symbolism, and playful elements to incorporate contemporary art with classical Japanese aspects. Neo Nihonga develops from classical Japanese styles like ukiyoe and other forms and uses it for modern importance. This means that a lot of Neo Nihonga art uses traditional styles of art, but with a twist of modern day aspects. In Tenmyouya's painting above, he takes a modern form of Japanese dance with women in traditional dress robes called yukata or kimono and pair it with a globally popular style of dancing like break dancing from America.

Sources: 

Suibokuga info here , here, and here
Daruma painting here

Nihonga info here
Neo Nihonga here

Springtime of Life image here
Materials image here
All Tenmyouya Hisashi paintings here

 

An Introduction to the Kamakura Period and its Role in Transforming Japanese Art

Portrait of Yoritomo of the Minamoto clan

The Kamakura period dates back to 1185 and lasted till 1333. During this time, two opposing clans with great armies of samurai (warriors) fought each other in order take control over Japan's government who was ruled by a weakened emperor. Yoritomo, who was the leader of the Minamoto clan eventually defeated the Taira clan and was appointed as shogun (general in chief) by the emperor. This newly appointed position made Yoritomo in charge of all military in the Kyoto area and gave him great political power as well.      

During the late Heian Period and the beginning of the Kamakura period, Pure Land Buddhism, also known as Shin Buddhism or Amidism, was spreading across Japan and became widely popular even today. Pure Land Buddhist beliefs adopted basic Buddhist teachings, but focused more on devoting oneself to Amida, one of the Five Wisdom Buddhas. Think of Pure Land Buddhism as a very flexible religion, where priests would develop different sects of ideology for Pure Land Buddhism. That way all the different sects of this religion would appeal to different people of different levels of education. Devotion to Amida meant that the trust and loyalty by chanting the mantra “Namu Amida Butsu” would help gain entrance to the Pure Land (a heaven or paradise) at death. Pure Land Buddhist art became popular through sculptures and raigo paintings as a way of devotion and admiration of Amida.

Hanging scroll portrait of Zen master Lanxi Daolong

Zen Buddhism started to gain popularity later on in the Kamakura period, which was brought over from China. Zen Buddhism was mastered in China and was introduced when Chinese emigrants came to Japan,but also Japanese monks returning from China to learn more about Buddhism. When they came back they had learned different types of teachings and did not hesitate in practicing them. Zen was a lot like the original Buddhist teachings, which focused on meditation as a way to individual enlightenment. However, Zen Buddhism did not rely on spiritual deities or chanting. During the Kamakura period, much of Japan's society was dominated by samurai warriors, who had a more realistic outlook on life rather than past Japanese eras. So when China introduced Zen a new style of Buddhist art was introduced. This new art style emphasized realism which later on would help representing events, people, and legends through sculptures and paintings. This would reinforce and educate people of the Japanese culture, and pass along traditions and legends. The end of the Kamakura era would ultimately plant the seeds of Japan's future politically and culturally. Japanese art would later be a combination of old traditional art styles and adopted foreign art styles.

Sources:

Pure Land info here
Yoritomo Image here
Lanxi Portrait here