2.

Artistic Traditions from Asia

2.1 Hindu and Buddhism
Hinduism
Originated around the Indus Valle, in the north-west of the subcontinent.

Hindu sacred texts: Ancient Sanskrit text that contain the central ideas of Hinduism.

Hindu Gods

Supreme God (Brahman), whose qualities are represented by other deities.

Hindu trinity:

• Brahma: Creator of the universe.

• Vishnu: Preserver and protector.
• Shiva: destructive force of the Universe, also linked to a creative energy

Hindu Concepts

Samsara: Circle of birth and rebirth.

Karma: Principle of cause and effect. The next incarnation always depends on the actions carried out in
the previous life.

Moksha: Liberation from the Samsara.

Architecture & Sculpture

Temples are objects of worship, usually dedicated to a specific deity. They don’t tend to be
congregational and are individual.

Hindu architecture and sculpture are very related and go hand to hand, many Hindu temples are
covered on the outside by sculptures.

Temples are identified as a sacred mountain, and sometimes are excavated on them. Temples are
excavated or built on stone.

Very sexual sculptures with a hierarchy of scale. Originally, they might had been colored.

Shiva Nataraja

Shiva’s dance is presented with a flaming halo, that represent the cycle of life and time. On his upper
right hand, he holds the damaru (Drum that made the first sounds in creation. On his upper left hand, he
holds Agni (The fire that will destroy the universe).
Buddhism
Founded by an Indian prince and transmitted to Asia.

The Buddhist doctrine, became the four noble truths:

• Life is suffering.
• Suffering is caused by desire, and by clinging to the notion of self.
• It’s possible to end suffering
• Suffering can be ended by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Buddhism believes in the cycle of rebirth (Samsara), and the law of cause and effect (Karma).

The ultimate goal of Buddhist is to reach nirvana, a state where ego, suffering and desire are
extinguished.

Sculpture

Representation of Buddha, different types of representations across Asia, but with common aspects:

1. A skull protuberance, representing the wisdom in Buddha.

2. Tuft of hair or gem, representing the enlightenment.
3. Extended earlobes, representing his wealth and rejection of materialism.
4. Three neck folds.
5. Monk’s robes.
6. Mudra, different hand gestures that Buddha uses to communicate.
7. Seated in a lotus position
8. Sometimes seated on a lotus platform, representing its purity.

Architecture

Stupa: Funerary monument, it’s not a structure to enter, kept important relics. As time went on, it was
transformed into a pagoda. Stupa is the Sanskrit word for heap, worshipers should walk around them,
representing the endless cycle of life. It had gates (Torana) on the cardinal points, which included
sculptural decorations.

Pagoda: Evolution of the Stupa, the most common ones had 5 stages. On the inside, they had a statue of
Buddha, next to Miroku, the Buddha of the future.

Shintô
Literally means “the way of the gods”. It was the native religion of Japan, and it coexists with the
Buddhism. On this religion, any element of the nature can be considered a deity.

• Kami: Deity
• Jinja: Sanctuary
• Torii: Arc that represent that you are entering a sacred space, symbolize the separation between
the sacred place and the real worlds. It doesn’t need to be a big door; it can also be a small one.
• Matsuri: Festival
• Mikoshi: Portable shrine
The most important shrine is the Great Ise Shrine, it’s the most important religious building in Japan,
and it’s very old. It’s dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, which is the deity related to the royal family.

2.2 Painting Formats in East Asian Art

• Hand Scroll: Not intended to be displayed, but to be an intimate experience, like reading a book.
Their size could be very big. Very close relation between the drawing and the text. It had the
mark of previous owners, and sometimes the owner would add their own text.
• Hanging Scroll: Used for vertical compositions.
• Picture Book:
• Screen & Sliding Door: Very similar to folding screens, normally, they were divided into six
pieces. The painting was done on silk, and then mounted into the screen.
• Fan: They could be oval or folding. The painting was done apart and then mounted on a bamboo
base. When the fans got old, the bamboo was removed, and they were added into albums.

2.3 The Arts of China and Japan

Nature and Art
Nature is a very important theme, as well as a very refined sensibility for the seasonal changes. The use
of materials that do not last, represents the passing of time. The Japanese garden, gains a big
development, being as important as the building itself.

The buildings are asymmetrical, as a way of integrating with nature. They tent to avoid symmetry,
because its seen as artificial.

Nature in visual arts:

Most notable, the use of different plants. Highlighting:

• Pine Tree: represents longevity, by surviving the winter.

• Bamboo: represents strength, very elastic and flexible.
• Plum Tree: represents the arrival of spring and the revitalizing energy.
• Cherry Tree: icon of Japan.
• Irises: related to summer, represent a very important chapter in Ise Monogatari. Related to
beauty.

Japanese Art
Heian Art
Heian-Kyō (Kyoto) was the capital of Japan, established in 794. Japanese stop the connections with
China. It’s the flourishing period of Japanese art (has the same value as classical periods of Greece).

Shinden-zukuri: Building style, it was a style linked with the aristocracy and then adopted in future
aspects. Importance of gardens, close connection with nature. The buildings had almost no fixed walls
and where mostly sliding doors.

Yamato-E Painting
Style that originates in the Heian period but will continue through Japanese history.
It appears by trying to differentiate from Chinese art. The term Yamato-e literally means Japanese
painting. Very close relation between art and literature, it usually depicts literature, landscapes and the
four seasons.

Very stylized figures and use of bright pigments. Use of golden clouds.

The painting usually depicts the moment with more motion in the story. The faces where not
individualized, but rather stylized, as in an ideal beauty.

Zen Art
Originated in China and consolidated in Japan, it’s the Japanese version of the Chinese Chan. Great
importance of meditation. It was meant to aid in meditation and in meditating activities.

It was embraced by the samurai class. It was the most prominent form of Buddhism between the 14th
and 16th century.

Ink and monochrome paintings and calligraphy. Very simple style.

The most common subjects where: Plants (orchids, bamboo, plums…), landscapes and important figures
(Daruma). It was mostly identified with vertical scrolls.

Daruma = Bodhidharma (founder of Zen Buddhism). And had very distinctive features, such as: Huge
open eyes, beard and large earrings.

Zen Garden

Dry garden, only composed by stones and rocks. Almost no green.

The most important one is the Ryoan-ji temple, which is considered a masterpiece of Zen Garden.

It’s a very abstract place and could have different meanings. Characterized by its simplicity, composed
by tiny stones that the monks raked to form patterns.

Kano School
Founded in the 15th century but continued on until the 19th century. Most influential school in Japanese
history.

The most important subject matters are plants, animals and landscapes. Use of golden backgrounds.
Gold was used as a symbol of power.

It was learned by repetition. It combines the subject matter and the Chinese style. There was flatness
and depth in the compositions.

At the beginning it was mostly commissioned by the samurai class, but in the end, lower classes such as
the merchants, commissioned them.

Rimpa School
School that best represents Japanese Art.

Revival of different past styles, not a common one, but rather different ones as an individual.
Very simplified renditions that become patters, with a very high emphasis on the patterns. Use of gold.
Great relevance of nature themes.

Ukiyo-e
Ukiyo = floating world, e = Image

Refers to woodblock prints that depicted genre scenes, representing the urban popular culture that
developed during this period. Although we identify this style with woodblock prints, it also had
paintings. It became very popular during the 17th to 19th century.

The Ukiyo-e technique consisted in carvings on wood that were used to print on paper the paintings,
they where mass produce and very cheap due to its cheapness. They were used as flyers and were not
considered works of art until they came to the western world.

There where several people involved in the creation of woodblock prints, like the editor, the artist, the
woodblock carver, the printer and the censor (Very important due to the big amount of censorship in
Japan during this period). The Woodblock print process was a collective effort and could not be done by
and individual. The prints were a commercial enterprise.

They were very popular among the masses due to them being very cheap and easy to get, they were
also used as a way of informing specific events or as souvenirs.

The most popular subject matter where genre paintings that represented the urban culture, including
actors, warriors, beautiful women, landscapes…