Artwork
Fresh water jar in the form of a wooden bucket, 1625–1635. Made in China for Japanese patrons. Porcelain with underglaze blue. Asian Art Museum, Gift of Roy Leventritt, B69P95L.
Artwork
Flowers and Birds of the Twelve Months, one of a pair (1703), by Yamamoto Soken (1683-1706). Japan. Six panel folding screen; Ink and colors on silk. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60D82+.1.
Artwork
Fire procession costume, approx. 1700–1900. Japan. Silk, linen, and arrowroot (kuzu). The Avery Brundage Collection, 1991.137.
Artwork
Festivities of the Twelve Months, approx. 1700-1800. Japan. Handscroll; ink and colors on paper. The Avery Brundage Collection, B86D19.
Artwork
Festival of Sumiyoshi Shrine, one of a pair, 1650–1700. Six panel folding screen; ink, colors and gold on paper. Transfer from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Herbert Fleishacker, B69D58.
Artwork
Female Shinto spirit, Heian period (794–1185) or Kamakura period (1185–1333), approx. 1100–1200. Japan. Wood with traces of pigment. Transfer from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mrs. Herbert Fleishacker, B69S36.
Lesson
Students explore the unique geogrraphical features through visual analysis of works of art. Then, they infer how these characteristics affected Japan’s culture and relationships with the mainland.
Background Information
After 150 year of civil war, the Shogunate in Japan was determined to enforce and maintain a stable society. The Shogunate further extended its control of the people through a class system with social and economic constraints. The highest class was composed of the samurai, followed by farmers, craftsmen, and at the lowest level, merchants.
Artwork
The first man across the Uji River and the battle of Awazugahara, From The Tale of the Heike, one of a pair, late 1600s. Japan. Six panel folding screen; ink, colors and gold on paper. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60D60+.
Activity
Sword making is a refined and highly scientific art that is revered in Japan. A sword guard (tsuba) is a metal guard on a samurai sword between the handgrip and the blade. It protects the hand from sliding onto the sharp edge of the blade. Sword guards vary in shape and design and were carved or molded. Use the templates or create your own shape and design a sword guard.
