Features Japan and its historical development is clearly visible today.This original country has been able to carry through the centuries virtually unchanged distinctive culture, in many ways an excellent even originated in the territory of the nearest neighbors.The main features of the traditions specific to Japan, appeared in the early Middle Ages.Even then, the art of developing the people was marked by the desire to get closer to nature, understanding of its beauty and harmony.
Terms
Medieval Japan, located on the island, protected from intrusion by nature.The impact of the external world to the country mainly expressed in the interaction with the inhabitants of Koreans and Chinese.And with the first Japanese often fought, while the second replenished.
internal development was inextricably linked with the natural environment.On the relatively small islands almost nowhere to go from terrible typhoons and earthquakes.Therefore, on the one hand, the Japanese tried to not burden yourself with unnecessary things, that at any moment you can easily collect all the essentials and be saved from the raging elements.
On the other hand, precisely because of such a culture of medieval Japan acquired its own characteristics.Islanders aware of the power of the elements and their inability anything to oppose it, they felt the power and harmony of nature at the same time.And strive not to violate it.The art of medieval Japan developed against the backdrop of Shinto, which was at the heart of the worship of the spirits of the elements, and then Buddhism, welcoming contemplative apprehension of internal and external world.
first state on the territory of the island of Honshu in III-V centuries.formed a tribal federation Yamato.By the IV century based on it formed the first Japanese state headed by Tenno (Emperor).Medieval Japan of that period revealed to scientists in the study of the contents of burial graves.In the device of their sense of connection with the nature of the country's architecture: the island resembles a mound overgrown with trees, surrounded by a moat.The burial place different household items, and peace of the deceased ruler guarded hollow ceramic figurines Honeyview is located on the surface of the mound.These small figurines show how observant are Japanese masters: they depict people and animals, noticing the slightest particular, and were able to transmit the mood and character traits.
first religion of Japan, Shinto, deified all nature spirits inhabiting every tree or water.Temples were built in mountainous and wooded area made of wood ("live" material).The architecture was very simple, and most fit into the surrounding landscape.Temples had no decorations, built like a smoothly flowed into the landscape.Culture of medieval Japan sought to combine nature and man-made structures.And the temple is clearly demonstrated.
Formation
feudal Japan in the Middle Ages had borrowed a lot in China and Korea: especially law and land management, writing and statehood.After the neighbors entered the country and Buddhism, played an important role in its development.It has helped to overcome the internal fragmentation of the country, unite the tribes, which are divided Japan.Asuka period (552-645 gg.) And Nara (645-794 gg.) Characterized by the emergence of feudalism and the development of indigenous culture on the basis of borrowed items.
art of that time was closely linked to the construction of buildings that had a sacred meaning.A great example of a Buddhist temple -Horyudzi this period, the monastery was built around Nara, the first capital of Japan.It affects everything: magnificent interior decoration, the five-storied pagoda mass, massive roof of the main structure, supported by intricate brackets.The architecture of the complex significantly as the impact of traditional Chinese construction and original features that characterized Japan in the Middle Ages.There is no scope characteristic shrines were constructed in the vast Middle Kingdom.Japanese temples were smaller, even tiny.
most impressive Buddhist temples began to be erected in the VIII century, when formed a centralized medieval state.Japan needed a capital city, and she became Nara, based on the Chinese model.Temples are erected to match the scale of the city.
Sculpture
Art developed as well as the architecture - from the imitation of Chinese masters towards purchase more and more originality.Initially, detached from the earthly statues of deities began to be filled with expression and emotion, characteristic of rather ordinary people than the inhabitants of heaven.
original result of this period of sculpture - Buddha statue height of 16 meters, is located in the monastery Todaydzi.It is a result of the merger of many techniques used in the Nara period Cast finest engraving, stamping, forging.The huge and bright, it is worthy of the title of the miracle of light.
At the same time appear and sculpted portraits of people, mostly ministers of the house.Buildings were decorated with murals depicting paradise worlds.
new round of changes in the culture of Japan, which began in the IX century, linked to the political processes of the time.The capital was moved to Heian, known today under the name of Kyoto.By mid-century, there was a policy of isolation, cut off from medieval Japan's neighbors, stopped receiving ambassadors.Culture has become increasingly moving away from the Chinese.
Heian period (IX-XII century) - the heyday of the famous Japanese poetry.Tank (pyatistishiya) is constantly accompanied by the Japanese.It is no coincidence that the period referred to as the golden age of Japanese poetry.It is perhaps the most fully express the attitude of the Japanese to the world, his understanding of the deep connection between man and nature, the ability to notice the beauty of even the minor.Psychology and special philosophy permeates the whole art of poetry of the Heian period: architecture, painting, prose.
temples and secular buildings
Features Japan at that time were largely linked to the appearance of the Buddhist sects to unite in themselves the Buddha's teachings and traditions of Shintoism.Monasteries and temples were again located outside the city walls - in the forests and mountains.They did not have a clear plan, as if by chance there were the trees or hills.Ornament served very nature, the building looks were as simple as possible.The landscape seemed a continuation of architecture.Monasteries are not opposed to nature, and harmonize with it.
By the same token created and secular buildings.Shinden, ceremonial hall of the estate, is a single space with the need to separate screens.Every building is necessarily accompanied by a garden, often very small, and sometimes, as in the emperor's palace, equipped with ponds, bridges and pavilions.These gardens could not boast of the whole medieval Asia.Japan, China reworking borrowed styles and elements, created its own architecture, is inseparably connected with nature.
painting and sculpture has changed: there are new images, plastic has become more sophisticated and multi-color.However, most notably national characteristics manifested in painting.In the XI-XII centuries it has developed a new style - Yamato-e.For him, use water paint.In the first place Yamato-e was used to illustrate the various texts.At this time actively developing fiction, there were scrolls-story or emakimono, which embodied a poetic world and reverence of nature, characteristic of medieval Japanese.Typically, these texts are accompanied by illustrations.Masters of Yamato-e were able to pass the majesty of nature and the spiritual experiences of people using different colors, ensuring flicker and translucency.
poetic understanding of the world and notably in the lacquer ware of the time - literally glowing boxes and bowls, smooth musical instruments, gilded chests.
Dynasty Minamoto
At the end of the XII century due to feudal war capital of Japan was moved again.The victorious Minamoto clan made the country's main city Kamakura.New governor obeyed all medieval Japan.Briefly Kamakura period can be characterized as a time of the shogunate - military rule.It lasted for several centuries.Manage state special steel soldiers - samurai.In Japan, they came to power, began to develop new cultural features.In place of poetry tank came DGCPI - heroic epic glorifying the courage of the soldiers.The religion began to play a significant role Zen Buddhism, who taught achieve salvation on the ground with the help of physical training, willpower and deep self-knowledge.Gloss did not matter, ceremonial side of religion takes a back seat.
Samurai in Japan laid the distinctive culture of the spirit, honor and loyalty.Masculinity and power inherent in them, permeates all art from architecture to painting.Monasteries were built without pagodas of them vanished elegance of the Heian period.Temples were like a simple hut, why only strengthen their unity with nature.A large number of sculptural portraits.Masters learned new techniques to create images that seemed alive.At the same poses, shapes and compositions through all the same courage and rigor.
Emakimono this period are characterized not emotional characters, and dynamic reports about the bloody wars between clans.
Garden - continued home
In 1333 the capital was returned to the Heian period.The new rulers began to patronize the arts.The architecture of this period tend to even closer unity with nature.Austerity and simplicity became coexist with poetry and beauty.At the fore of Zen teachings of the sect, who sang spiritual elevation through the contemplation of nature, harmonizing with her.
During this period, developed the art of ikebana, and houses were built in such a way that the different parts of the home could enjoy the garden from a slightly different angle.A small piece of nature are often not separated from the house, even threshold was its continuation.This is most noticeable in the building Ginkakudzi, which was built porch, smoothly flowing into the garden and hanging over a pond.The man, who was in the house, created the illusion that the boundaries between the living room and a garden with water and no, it's two parts of a whole.
Tea philosophy
In XV-XVI centuries in the Japanese tea houses began to appear.Leisurely enjoying a drink those brought in from China was a whole ritual.Tea houses reminded hermitages.They were equipped so that the participants of the ceremony can feel separated from the outside world.The small size of the room and closed the paper windows create a special atmosphere and mood.Everything - from the rough stone paved path leading to the door, to the simple pottery and sound poaching water - was full of poetry and philosophy of peace.
Monochrome painting
Along with the art of breeding gardens and tea ceremony evolved and painting.The history of medieval Japan and its culture in the XIV-XV centuries.marked by the emergence of suyboku-ha - ink painting.Pictures of the new genre represented a monochrome landscape sketches placed on the scrolls.Masters suyboku-ha, adopting features of the Chinese painting, quickly brought to the Japanese art identity.They have learned to convey the beauty of nature, its mood, majesty and mystery.At the beginning of the XVI century techniques suyboku-hectare organically merged with Yamato-e techniques, creating a new style of painting.
Late Middle Ages
map medieval Japan by the end of the XVI century has ceased to be a "patchwork quilt" of holdings of different clans.It began to unify the country.They began to establish contacts with western states.A significant role is now played secular architecture.Formidable castles shoguns during World steel palaces decorated with solemn rest.Rooms delimited sliding partitions, painted and decorated in a special way scatter the light, creating a festive atmosphere.
painting masters Kano school, which developed during this time were covered not only the screen, but also the walls of palaces.Picturesque paintings are vivid colors that convey the splendor and solemnity of nature.There are new stories -The images of everyday life of ordinary people.Present in the palaces and monochrome painting, acquired special expressiveness.
Most often monochrome painting decorated tea houses, where there is an atmosphere of peace, alien to the solemnity of the castle chambers.The connection of simplicity and grandeur pervades the entire culture of the Edo period (XVII-XIX centuries.).At this time, the medieval Japan once again pursued a policy of isolation.There are new types of art, expressing the particular attitude of the Japanese: Kabuki theater, woodcut, short stories.
Edo Period is characterized by the proximity of castles and sumptuous furnishings modest tea houses, traditional Yamato-e painting techniques and the end of the XVI century.The connection of different artistic currents and crafts is clearly seen in the engravings.Master different directions often worked together, in fact, sometimes the same as the artist performed painted fans and screens, as well as prints and boxes.
Late Middle Ages is characterized by increased attention to the substantive filling of life: there are new fabrics used porcelain, costume changes.With the latter related to the emergence of netsuke representing small buttons of unique or key chains.They have become a definite result of the development of sculpture of the rising sun.
Japanese culture is difficult to confuse with the results of creative thought of other people.Her identity has evolved in specific environmental conditions.The constant proximity to the unforgiving elements gave rise to a particular philosophy of striving for harmony, which is manifested in all areas of art and crafts.
