Japanese+Art

げいじゅつ **__ Japanese Art ( __****__日本の芸術 __****__ ) __** わたしのページわよこそう. Welcome to our page. We humbly would like to invite you on a journey into diverse world that is Japanese art. Please sit back, put your hand on your mouse, and get ready to expand the understanding of Japanese art. Let's begin. **__Finished Power Point: __**   **__ Japanese Painting: __**

Japanese painting, or Kaiga ( 絵画 [かいが ]), is one of the oldest and the most developed of the Japanese art, which has a wide variety of unique styles and genres. The origins of Japanese painting dates back to Ancient Japan and the Asuka period (until 710). During these times, paintings and drawings were not complicated, simple stick figures and geometric designs were mostly what were found on pottery and Dotaku bronze bells. Similar paintings were also found on tumuli during this period, much like cavemen paintings. Not much styles nor genres were developed during this time period, but it marked the start of Japanese mural and painting.

The Muromachi period (three periods after the Asuka period) was possibly one of the most influential period for painting and visual arts overall in the history of Japan. Suibokuga, which was an austere monochrome style of ink painting, replaced the polychrome scroll painting of the periods before. This type of painting was characterized with quick, light brush strokes and a minimal amount of detail. “Catching a Catfish with a gourd” by the priest-painter Josetsu, marked a turning point in this period as it referred to a more Chinese sense of deep space within the picture plane. After this painting, more painters started to follow this specific style and later, it evolved from its Chinese roots and developed into a more Japanese style. In the late-Muromachi period, ink painting has become more widely available to the art world in general, and were not limited to Zen monasteries. As a result, more people were able to adopt, develop, and use different styles of painting, which would all contribute to the cultivation of Japanese painting. In the Postwar period (1945-present), the Japan Art Academy was formed in 1947, which was sponsored by the Japanese government. The Japan Art Academy was the first institute to be sponsored by the government as the arts during the Edo period (1603-1868) and the prewar period (1868-1945) were supported only by urban people and merchants. After World War 2, painter, calligraphers, and printmakers flourished in heavily-populated cities, such as Tokyo, and were being used to the urban life. As a result, these painters started painting about cities, which were characterized by flickering lights, neon colors, street lamps, etc. Japanese painting was now centered around cities and towns, much unlike the past periods, which were about forests and mountains. However, many of the styles used in the past, mostly during the Edo and the Prewar periods, were still popular and were still widely practiced. **__ Japanese woodblock Print: __**

Japanese woodblock printing ( 木版画 [ もくはんが ] ) is a technique of art best known for its use in the ukiyo-e ( 浮世絵 [ うきよえ ] ) genre as well as its wide use in printing books. Woodblock printing was first used in China and was used in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1867). This type of art is very similar to woodcutting in Western and European Printmaking. By the eleventh century, Buddhist temples in Japan used woodblock printing to print their own books. However, woodblock printing was only limited to Buddhists and Buddhist temples because it was too costly for mass production and Japan, at that time, did not have such a dependable and solid literate environment for these prints and books to be marketed effectively. However, during the rule of shogunate Ieyasu Tokugawa (seventeenth century), printing was widely popular and used among numerous arts in Japan, and was not only used to produce books, but cheap art prints as well. Woodblock printing was consistently used and practiced in Japan even after the decline of ukiyo-e, and the introduction of more efficient technologies and innovations have allowed Japan to mass produce prints and develop the art culture. There are a numerous amount of different styles for woodblock printing, but some of the most used and the most popular are: __**Sumizuri-e**__ ( 墨摺り絵 [  すみずりえ ] )  or "ink printed pictures" use monochrome printing with only back ink and no colors to add a "classic" effect. __**Aizuri-e**__ ( 藍摺り絵 [ あいずりえ ] ) or "blue printed pictures" and Murasaki-e ( 紫絵 [ むらさきえ ] ) "purple printed pictures" as well as other styles use a single color that would either replace, or be included with, black ink.             **__ Japanese Masks: __**             Japanese masks are an important part of an ancient, sophistica ted theatrical tradition that was kept for centuries. Initially, Japanese masks were created for myths, cults, and religion, but they have flourished into a beautiful art form. Currently, the most recent form and style of Japanese masks in theatrical performance are the            Nogaku ( <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">能楽 [ のがく ] ) masks, which were developed from past styles such as: gigaku ( ぎがく ) and bugaku ( ぶがく ). These masks are very light and are worn for long performances. The Nogaku masks represent a wide variety of characters, such as: gods, men, women, madmen, and devils. Each of these characters have numerous side-categories, which allows different performances to have a wide variety of characters and unusual plots. <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">

**__ Japanese tattoos: __**

Japan has a form of tattooing called: Irezumi ( <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12pt;">入れ墨 [ <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12pt;">いれずみ ] ), which roughly translates into putting ink inside the skin, usually as a decoration, to leave a permanent mark. Irezumi does not translate into "tattooing or drawing," but it is commonly referred to as "inserting ink." Although there are numerous ways Irezumi can be written, it is commonly written in Kanji. Tattooing was generally used only for spiritual and decorative purposes until the Yayoi period (300 BC - 300 AD) when it served as status symbols. However, starting in the Kofun period (300-600 AD), Irezumi was used as more of a punishment for criminals, rather than for spiritual and status purposes. The Irezumi, which had generally positive views by the public, started to become more of a disgrace and a shameful symbol until the Edo period (1600-1868 AD). Although these tattoos were still used as punishments and as a mark of shame throughout Japan, it slowly began to develop into a cultural art form. The catalyst for the success and popularity of tattooing in Japan was the development of woodblock printing and the release of a Chinese novel called Suikoden, which featured woodblock prints of heroic men who had tattoos of dragons, flowers, tigers, and religious images to symbolize their bravery. This novel became a huge success and the demand for tattoos increased more than ever. During the early stages of the Meiji period, the government banned tattooing in order to make a good impression of Japan to the West, and the Irezumi once again achieved a notorious status which referred to criminality. Tattooing was once again legalized in 1945, and many years from then, the Irezumi has been largely associated with Japan's dangerous mafia, the Yakuza. As a result, many businesses in Japan, such as hot springs and baths, banned people with tattoos. Traditional Irezumi are still being practiced by specialists, however, just like tattooing in the West, it consumes a lot of time and money, not to mention that it is also extremely painful. Foreigners who would like tattoos usually receive a small tattoo that is not as expensive, and can also be done in one sitting.

**__ Kakejiku: __**  <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> A Kakemono (  掛物 [ かけもの ] ) or more commonly referred to as:  Kakejiku (  掛軸 [ かけじく ] )   is a Japanese scroll that features a painting or calligraphy, which is mounted on soft silk with a flexible backing, so that it can be rolled up and transported easily. A Kakejiku is intended to be hung inside a room as a decoration. Sometimes, a Kakejiku may have writing that could refer to such things as: family name, family history, family honor, for good luck, poetry, or for just simple decoration. The width is shorter than the height, and is therefore referred to as a "vertical" art. The Kakejiku was first introduced in Japan during the Heian period and it mainly displayed Buddhist images for religious purposes or to display calligraphy or poetry. However, the Kakejiku started to serve different purposes starting in the 20th century, when characters from anime and manga as well as famous Kung fu stars became popular in North America. The Kakejiku are still used for traditional, religious, and for decorative purposes around the world today, and it is becoming astonishingly popular globally.

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<span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">  <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">   <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">   <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> **__ Japanese Seals: __**

<span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">  <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">   <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">   <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji"> <span class="t_nihongo_kanji">  Japanese seals are called: Inkan ( <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12pt;">印鑑 [ <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12pt;">いんかん ] ) or Hanko ( <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12pt;">判子 [ <span style="font-family: 굴림; font-size: 12pt;">はんこ ] ). The term Inkan is used more for seals that are used in important documents while the Hanko is used in less significant documents. At first, only the emperor and his trustworthy servants could hold and use the Hanko as it represented the emperor and his power. However, nobles, then samurais, then the general public had access and permission to use Hankos in their daily lives. For example, many businessmen have their own Hanko, in which they will use it on important documents, such as contracts. These seals can be seen as signatures, which are more commonly used in parts of the world other than Asia. Most government offices and large companies have their own Inkan, which are exclusive and specific to their own offices and companies. Any Hanko that are used in business documents require a proof of authenticity, which can be acquired in local municipal offices, or City Halls. However, Hanko fraud is increasing at an alarming rate, and it is causing so many problems that the present system of seals will not be able to survive, as there are numerous amounts of "tainted" documents being stamped with either stolen or tampered Hanko.

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