IRL 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Shibui, Himeji Castle, Hill Castle
4 Jun 2016
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Document Summary
Medieval japan: isolated, warfare, samurai feudal system with daimyo rulers, the way was. Leads to port, center of city, not isolated like eu castles. Strategic, top of hill castle for daimyo. Based on buddhist pagoda- religious turned into defensive architecture. Symbolic of right to rule, stone foundation with wood structure and paper walls, not. Folding screen + fusuma = sliding panel/painted wall of rice paper. V typical: ink painting, few colors, four seasons on four walls, connected to symbolic virtues. Winter: pine, strength and eternity, crane longevity and loyalty etc etc all symbols. Zen buddhism: meditation = enlightenment, cultivate characteristics opposite of militaristic samurai. Temple with specific gardening, no plants, all rocks. Aesthetics of nothing = zen, reducing to most fundamental elemetns. Geometric parallel lines, contrast with rough organic stones. Don"t walk on it, look and meditate. Chanoyu tea ceremony important- focus attention to simple and natural. Mt fuji tea bowl: not illustratie, most zen art is abstract, invite contemplation.
