Japanese Art & Culture

Rosenzweig

Zen Art Handout

Note: You do NOT have to know all these terms and names (just a few; see your list of
required works and terms). This is simply for class reference!

1. Periods

Kamakura, 1185-1336
Ashikaga, 1336-1568/73
Momoyama, 1568/74-1615
Edo, 1615-1868

2. Political terms

Shogun. Bakufu. Daimyo. Onin War, 1477. Portuguese, 1542: traders and missionaries;
firearms and Christianity; Kyushu. Francis Xavier, 1549-50. Namban. Oda Nobunaga.

3. Shoguns/art:

Yoshimitsu: “Golden Pavilion”; Gozan system

Yoshimochi: Josetsu, “Catching Catfish…”
Yoshimasa: Sesshu; “Silver Pavilion”; Ami family, So-ami.

4. Zen generally:

Zen: Dhyana, Son, Chan (Ch’an)

Two major Japanese schools: Rinzai Zen; Eisai. Haiku. Obaku, Hakuin. D. T. Suzuki.

5. Terms and characteristics:

Yugen, Shibui, wabi, sabi, koan, zazen. Seven characteristics from video.
6. Paintings:

Suiboku. Enso. Chinso. Genki (zengenki). Daruma (Bodhidarma), lohans.

Southern Song: Liang Kai, Muqi.
Two paintings to note: Josetsu, “Catching a Catfish with a Gourd”. #86, p. 127.
Sesshu, “Splashed Ink (Haboku) Landscape. #94, p. 137.

7. Other forms of art:

Gardens: tea, dry, pond, flat/moss. Ryoanji, #97, p. 139; Kinkakuji, #85, p. 125; Katsura,
#112, p. 153
Tea: o-cha. Cha-no-yu. Raku ware, “Fujisan”, #119, p. 161, Six Old Kilns, “Iga ware
pot”, #116, p. 157.

8. Some websites:

http://www.asahi-jc.com/catalogue.htm (sales catalogue; “samurai” goods)

http://academic.bowdoin.edu/zen/intro_template.shtml?saiho (gardens)

http://www.mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/chee/teagarden.html (gardens)

http://www.greatbuildings.com/places/japan.html (major works of architecture)