Background Information
The traditions—Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokojisenke—provide instruction in the Way of Tea to students around the world. Learn more.
Background Information
Vocabulary associated with the arts of the samurai.
Lesson
Lesson plan on the monetary and cultural value of Japanese swords and the role they played in Japanese trade.
Background Information
The Tosa school, which originated in Kyoto during the Muromachi period (1392–1573), traditionally painted for the imperial family and nobility. They took as their subjects classical Japanese literature, such as the Tale of Genji and the Tales of Ise. Learn more.
Background Information
Learn about the Rinpa (or Rimpa) school of Japanese painting during the Edo period of Japan.
Video
The annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony follows the Japanese custom in which the end-of-the-year bell (joya no kane) is struck 108 times before midnight on New Year’s Eve, symbolically welcoming the New Year and curbing the 108 mortal desires (bonno), which according to Buddhist belief torment humankind.
Video
Asian Art Museum Docent, Peter Sinton, gives a talk on his collection of Japanese gift covers. This talk was in conjunction with In the Moment: Japanese Art from the Larry Ellison Collection, wherein speakers explored their passion behind collecting. This talk was part of a Thursday Night event.
Video
The interdisciplinary performance features artists Tatsu Aoki, Kioko Aoki, Francis Wong, Megan Lee, Wesley Hitomo Yee and Melody Takata, as well as master artists Chizuru Kineya and Michikaoru Hanayagi.
Video
Lewis Lancaster of UC Berkeley gives an overview of Japanese Buddhism.
Background Information
European art and culture had a significant impact in Japan, both before and during the period of self-imposed isolation.
