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| JAPAN:
HISTORY-ARCHAEOLOGY |
| Late
Heian Period (ca. 900-1185) |
|
| Kamakura
Period (1185-1333); Muromachi Period (1333-1568) |
• The
Age of the Samurai (1185-1868) [Asia for
Educators]
A guide to the samurai governments that ruled Japan from 1185 to
1868. With discussion questions.
• Kamakura
and Nanbokcho Periods (1185-1392) [Timeline
of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of seven artworks in the museum's
collection.
• Muromachi
Period (1392-1573) [Timeline of Art History,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of six artworks in the museum's
collection.
• Japan's
Medieval Age: The Kamakura & Muromachi Periods [About
Japan: A Teacher's Resource]
An in-depth look at political, economic, cultural, and religious
life during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
• Age
of Military Rule: Cycles of Restoration and Destruction [Princeton
University Art Museum]
An excellent short overview of the Kamakura, Kenmu, Nanbokucho, and
Muromachi periods.
Lesson Plan • A
Case Study of Medieval Japan through Art:
Samurai Life in Medieval Japan [Program for
Teaching East Asia, Center for Asian Studies, University of Colorado]
"The samurai warrior has come to symbolize Japan's medieval
period of social and political unrest that lasted from the late
twelfth to late sixteenth centuries. Working with artistic renderings
of the samurai as well as cultural artifacts of samurai life, students
recognize the complex, complementary aspects of the samurai culture
that developed during this period. Students consider this more
nuanced view of the samurai as they take on the role of advisors
to a director hoping to make an authentic film about Medieval Japan."
An in-depth introductory essay and lesson plan, with images, focusing
on the Kamakura (1185-1333), the Muromachi (1336-1573), and the Momoyama
(1573-1603) shogunates.
• Teacher's
Guide for Medieval Japan and the Rise of the Shoguns [Cobblestone
Publications]
This teacher's guide is for the January 2006 issue of Calliope,
a world history magazine for junior high school students, but the
questions would be relevant to many of the resources listed here.
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| The
Mongols' Failed Naval Campaigns Against Japan, 1274 and 1281 |
• "Relics
of the Kamikaze" [Archaeology]
An excellent article about the discovery and excavation of Khubilai
Khan's 13th-century invasion fleet off the coast of Takashima. With
a map and several images. From the January/February 2003 issue of Archaeology magazine.
• Takezaki
Suenaga's Scrolls of the Mongol Invasions of Japan [Bowdoin
College]
An excellent interactive website with several versions of
the recovered 13th-century scrolls commissioned by the Kyushu warrior
Takezaki Suenaga, who fought against the Mongols during the invasions
of 1274 and 1281. Viewers can compare the "original" (reassembled)
13th-century version to 18th- and 19th-century copies and also see
a 21st-century reconstruction of the 13th-century version. Also features
an illustrated glossary.
• The
Legends of Hachiman [Smith College Museum
of Art]
"This particular pair of lavishly ornamented handscrolls
illustrates the legends of the Shinto deity Hachiman [whose 'popularity
... increased after the thirteenth century when Japan was
attacked by Mongol forces in 1274 and 1281']. The paintings, which
date to the mid-seventeenth century, are rendered in the yamato-e
style favored by the members of the Tosa school to which they are
attributed. Both the painting and the calligraphy exemplify the
highly refined styles favored by the court at the start of the
Edo period (1615-1868)." With background information
on Shinto and Hachiman and viewing a handscroll.
Also see the Video
Unit on Medieval Japan in the History-Archaeology
section (Kamakura and Muromachi Periods) for more about the Mongol
invasions of Japan.
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| RELIGION,
PHILOSOPHY, THOUGHT |
| New
Sects in Buddhism |
Shinran,
1173-1263, founder of the Jodo Shinshu (The True Teaching of
the Pure Land)
Primary Source w/DBQs • Shinran's
Lamentation and Self-Reflection [PDF] [Asia
for Educators]
Lesson Plan • Pure
Land Buddhism in China and Japan [Asian
Odyssey, Cleveland Museum of Art]
"Over its long history, Buddhism has adapted itself to fit into
the constantly changing religious, cultural, political, and economic
climates of China and Japan. One such adaptation was the spin-off
of various sects from the mainstream of Buddhism to meet various
needs at particular times. One successful example is the Pure Land
sect, which this lesson will examine in depth."
• Ox-Herding: Stages of Zen Practice [ExEAS, Columbia
University]
The ten ox-herding pictures and commentaries presented here depict the stages of practice leading to the enlightenment at which Zen (Chan) Buddhism aims. The story of the ox and oxherd is an old Taoist story, updated and modified by a twelfth-century Chinese Buddhist master to explain the path to enlightenment.
Dôgen
Zenji, 1200-1253, founder of the Soto Zen sect
Primary Source w/DBQs • Dôgen's
How to Practice Buddhism (Bendôwa) [PDF] [Asia
for Educators]
Nichiren, 1222-1282,
founder of the Nichiren sect
Primary Source w/DBQs • Nichiren's
Rectification for the Peace of the Nation (Risshô Ankoku Ron)
[PDF] [Asia for Educators]
Also see the Video
Unit on Medieval Japan in the History-Archaeology
section (Kamakura and Muromachi Periods) for more about the Buddhist
sects in medieval Japan.
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| GOVERNMENT
AND ADMINISTRATION |
| Maintaining
Order during Times of Political Transition |
|
| MILITARY
AND DEFENSE |
| The
Tale of the Heike |
Primary Source • The Tale of the Heike [Asia
for Educators]
The Tale of the Heike recounts the struggle for power between
the Taira (or Heike) and Minamoto (or Genji) houses in the late twelfth
century. With the Taira's defeat in 1185 and the establishment of
a new warrior government by the victorious Minamoto, the medieval
age began. From this war tale, we can learn much about life in Japan
during this transitional period and about warrior culture. With discussion
questions.
Also see the "War
Tales" section of the Video Unit on Medieval Japan in
the History-Archaeology
section (Kamakura and Muromachi Periods) for more about the Tale
of the Heike.
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| LITERATURE |
|
|
| Kamo
no Chômei (ca. 1153-1216) |
Primary Source • An
Account of My Hut [Asia for Educators]
Excerpts from this famous essay written in 1212, in which
the author, Kamo no Chômei describes his own road to becoming
a Buddhist monk. With discussion questions.
Video Unit • An
Account of My Hut [Asia for Educators]
A video unit on the famous 13th-century essay introduced above. Featuring
Columbia University professor Donald Keene and Asia Society President
Emeritus Robert Oxnam.
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| Yoshida
Kenkô (1283-1350) |
Primary Source • Essays
in Idleness [Asia for
Educators]
Short excerpts from Essays in Idleness. With a brief historical
introduction and exercises for students.
Video Unit • Kenkô's
Essays in Idleness and Japanese Aesthetics [Asia
for Educators]
This video unit on Yoshida Kenkô's 14th-century literary work
discusses the Japanese aesthetic of simplicity and impermanence.
Featuring Columbia University professor Donald Keene and Asia Society
President Emeritus Robert Oxnam.
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|
| Noh
and Kyôgen |
• The
Forms of Japanese Drama [Asia for Educators]
A brief description of the four major dramatic forms that came out
of Japan's medieval period: Noh, Kyôgen, Kabuki, and Bunraku.
Followed by a classroom exercise for students.
• Noh
Drama [Asia for Educators]
This unit begins with a short introduction to Noh, the oldest surviving
form of Japanese theater. Also includes a description of two recommended
play ("Atsumori" and
"Sotoba Komachi"), followed by classroom exercises for
students.
• Noh
Costume [The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
An overview of the development of Noh costumes during the Muromachi
and Momoyama periods. With ten examples from the museum's collection.
Video Unit • An
Introduction to Noh [Asia for Educators]
This video unit on Noh, a dramatic form that originated in Medieval
Japan, discusses Noh's history and basic structure, Noh masks, the
aesthetics of Noh, and Noh theater today. Featuring Columbia University
professors Donald Keene and Haruo Shirane, and Asia Society President
Emeritus Robert Oxnam.
Lesson Plan • Noh
Theatre [Asian Odyssey, Cleveland Museum
of Art]
"To explore the roles in Noh drama and the significance of Noh
masks. "
• Kyôgen [Asia
for Educators]
A short introduction to Kyôgen, the comedic counterpart to
Noh. Also includes a description of a recommended play ("Busu"),
followed by classroom exercises for students.
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|
| ART
AND MUSIC |
| Scroll
Painting |
• Emakimono [Asia
Society]
"During the 11th to 16th centuries, painted handscrolls, called emakimono, flourished
as an art form in Japan, depicting battles, romance, religion, folktales, and even
stories of the supernatural world." A short background essay with a suggested
activity for students.
Lesson Plan • A
Case Study of Heian Japan through Art: Japan's Four Great Emaki [Program
for Teaching East Asia, Center for Asian Studies, University of
Colorado]
"Emakimono or emaki, narrative picture scrolls, developed
into a distinctly Japanese art form in the Heian period, 794-1185 CE. In this lesson,
students examine four emaki masterpieces to analyze the highly refined
court culture, politics, and religion in the late Heian period. Working in groups,
they then create preview posters for a museum exhibit featuring the four emaki,
providing their interpretation of the facets of Heian culture they believe exhibit-goers
should learn." Introductory essay and lesson plan with images of picture scrolls
from the period.
• Takezaki
Suenaga's Scrolls of the Mongol Invasions of Japan [Bowdoin
College]
An excellent interactive website with several versions of
the recovered 13th-century scrolls commissioned by the Kyushu warrior
Takezaki Suenaga, who fought against the Mongols during the invasions
of 1274 and 1281. Viewers can compare the "original" (reassembled)
13th-century version to 18th- and 19th-century copies and also see
a 21st-century reconstruction of the 13th-century version. Also features
an illustrated glossary.
• The
Legends of Hachiman [Smith College Museum
of Art]
"This particular pair of lavishly ornamented handscrolls
illustrates the legends of the Shinto deity Hachiman [whose 'popularity
... increased after the thirteenth century when Japan was attacked
by Mongol forces in 1274 and 1281']. The paintings, which date
to the mid-seventeenth century, are rendered in the yamato-e style
favored by the members of the Tosa school to which they are attributed.
Both the painting and the calligraphy exemplify the highly refined
styles favored by the court at the start of the Edo period (1615-1868)." With
background information on Shinto and Hachiman and viewing a handscroll.
• The
Kitano Tenjin Engi Emaki [Timeline of Art
History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A multimedia learning website about a 13th-century Japanese handscroll
that illustrates the legends of the Kitano Shrine (Kitano Tenjin
Engi). Included are a short introduction to the Kitano Tenjin Engi
Emaki, a video clip about viewing a Japanese handscroll, and three
scenes from the scroll with an audio introduction to each.
Find more art-related
resources for Japan,
1000-1450 CE
at OMuRAA (Online Museum Resources on Asian
Art)
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| © 2009 Asia for Educators,
Columbia University |
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