Here you will learn about the art created in Japan and Korea on the east coast of Asia from 5,000 BC until the present..

Click here for the PDF of the handout Common Characteristics of The Art of Japan and Korea

PowerPoint (PPT) presentations from class:

1. Japanese Art 1 Origins and Shinto October 23

2. Japanese Art 2 Imperial Court, Buddhism and Samurai October 25

3. Japanese Art 3 Edo Period and Popular Culture October 30

4. Japanese Art 4 Modern Japan November 1

5. Korean Art November 6

Click here to print out the slides from the presentations. Each is a PDF file formatted with six slides per page.

1. PDF for Japanese Art 1 PPT October 23

2. PDF for Japanese Art 2 PPT October 25

3. PDF for Japanese Art 3 PPT October 30

4. PDF for Japanese Art 4 PPT November 1

5. PDF for Korean Art PPT November 6

Required Readings:

1. Jomon Culture (ca. 10,500-300 BC) Homework! Read for October 23. This period was a time of great experimentation in ceramics and the foundation for modern Japanese ceramic artists.

2. Ise Shrine Homework! Read for October 23. The Grand Shrine at Ise is the headquarters of the Shinto religion and the most famous pilgrimage site in Japan. It is dedicated to the founders of the imperial family.

3. Heian Period Homework! Read for October 23. Many historians consider this period a high point of Japanese culture. The essay describes the cultural and social context of a period.

4. Shinto Homework! Read for October 23. Shintoism is the native religion of Japan and a great source of their popular culture. Please also view the video of the Kitano Shrine Scroll

5. Samurai Homework! Read for October 25. Learn about the history and development of samurai culture the 12th to the 19th century.

6. Zen Buddhism Homework! Read for October 25. Zen Buddhism was a key factor in the life and aesthetics of the samurai who were great patrons of the artist/monks of the Muromachi Period.

7. Art of the Edo Period (1615-1868) Homework! Read for October 30. Here is an overview of the painting and decorative arts styles of this vibrant urban culture.

8. Woodblock Prints Homework! Read for October 30. Ukiyo-e style woodblock prints are the focus of this essay. From travelers to kabuki fan clubs, woodblock prints served a very diverse audience.

9. Art of the Pleasure Quarters and the Ukiyo-e Style Homework! Read for October 30. The essay contains a more detailed description of the cultural context that linked the fine arts to the performing arts.

10. Japonisme Homework! Read for November 1. European art and especially Impressionism, was greatly influenced by Japanese woodblock prints that flooded the continent after 1870.

11. Japan, 1900 - Present Homework! Read for November 1. The essay actually starts in the late 1800s and follows fine arts, decorative arts and fashion through the last century. There are 22 works of art for your enjoyment - check the section under the map.

12. Golden Treasures: The Royal Tombs of Silla, Korea Homework! Read for November 6. For millennia, Silla tombs have preserved hoards of precious ornaments buried within. Chief among the treasures are accessories of pure gold: crowns, caps, belts, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and decorative swords. Besides gold, there are also numerous ornaments fashioned from silver, gilt bronze, crystal, glass, beads, and jade.

13. Art of the Korean Renaissance 1400- 1600 Homework! Read for November 6. The Neo-Confucian royal court and elite literati (yangban), the primary patrons of the arts, embraced and encouraged the advancement of secular art and culture. The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries witnessed the revival and reinterpretation of classical traditions alongside significant achievements in innovative art forms.

Additional Resources:

1. Asuka and Nara Periods (538-794) is the first era when Japan was influenced by Chinese art and the imperial court adopted Buddhism.

2. The Japanese Blade The samurai said that their sword was their soul. This essay introduces you to the technology and manufacture that produced the best sword edge in the world.

3. The Kano School of Painting Artists of the Kano School served the shoguns, daimyo and wealthy merchants from the16th through 19th centuries. They are best known for their luxurious, bold screens of gold and multicolored designs.

4. An Introduction to Japanese Prints and the Printing Process I created this PowerPoint presentation to give you a very brief history of Japanese print making and a demonstration of the building of a nishki-e, multi-color print.

5. Netsuke: From Fashion Fobs to Coveted Collectibles has a great selection of the marvelous miniature sculptures that were a "must have" for all fashionisttas in the Edo Period.

6. Japanese Weddings in the Edo Period describes the dowry of provided by wealthy and politically connected families. It's not your typical Bed, Bath and Beyond!

7. Miyake, Kawakubo and Yamamoto: Japanese Fashion in the 20th Century introduces you to three avant garde designers who turned Paris on its head.

8. Japanese Language From Omniglot.com this is a short version of information about the Japanese language and writing system.

9. Goryeo Celadon, Korea During the nearly five centuries of the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), celadon constituted the main type of ceramics produced on the Korean peninsula. This exquisite ware typically appears gray-green in hue. Goryeo celadon ranges from a plain, undecorated type to objects with incised, carved, mold-impressed, or inlaid designs, and to vessels embellished with colorful compounds like iron oxide (black or brown) and copper oxide (red), and also with gold.