ART HIS 42C Lecture Notes - Lecture 32: Jianzhen, Kofun Period, Handscroll
16 Nov 2019
School
Department
Course
Professor
Professor Winther Tamaki
Art history department
Art History 42 C
Japanese Art History
Course Code 21020
Discussion code 21021
4 units
No Pre-Reqs
11:00 - 11:50 MWF
Location: HG1800
Notes
● Ganjin - 8th c., dry lacquer
○ Image of ganjin, a chinese monk that was invited by emperor shomu to institute
new forms of buddhism into the country
○ Was declined to go by the chinese emperor
○ Face of ganjin in portrait, face of a blind man
○ He went blind on his 5th attempt to japan
○ Age 66 when he finally got to japan
○ Very influential figure in early forms of buddhism
● Illustrated sutra of cause and effect, 8th c., handscroll
○ Very long strip of paper
○ Image and text
○ Tells the story of historical buddha, written and illustrated within the strip of
paper
○ Also known as ingakyo
● Sword scabbards, earth - placating objects, daibutsu den, nara, 8th c.
○ Buried in the daibutsu den
○ Pattern presented on one of the swords, similar to dish, chased silver tang, 8th c.
Quiz Questions:
Identification: name, time period
Compare: How each is made? What material? Differences? What features show which time
period in Japanese History? Which came first?
Paintings: Seated Girl and Dogu
Seated Girl - Kofun period
Dogu - Jomon period
Emaki
● Meaning: picture scroll
● Rare hand scroll - old but in good condition
● Golden age of hand scroll comes after this period
● Occurs in the Heian (794 -1185) and Kamakura (1185-1333) period
● Properties:
○ Kinetic
○ Narrative
