1. Background: History of Japan Overview
学习诗词
基礎知識：日本の歴史
三年级小学生
Political History of Japan:
17c.-10c.BC 縄文時代Jomon Period; hunting and nomadic life
10c.BC-3c.AD 弥生時代Yayoi Period; agriculture and community ttlements
3c.-6c. AD 古墳時代Kofun Period; Kings ruled with animism
6c.-710 A.D. 飛鳥時代Asuka Period; Buddhism prevailed; law ruled
710–794 奈良時代Nara Period; Capital in Nara; Buddhists’ dominated
794–1192平安時代Heian Period; Capital in Kyoto; nobles ruled.
1192-1333 鎌倉時代Kamakura Period; Military government near Tokyo
1333-16c. 室町時代Muromachi Period; Military government in Kyoto
戦国時代War Period; Several rulers took over one after another
16c.-1603
1603-1867 江戸時代 Edo Period; Military government in T okyo; clod country
1868-1945 近代（戦前）Before WW2; Capital in Tokyo, open country
1945-prent 現代（戦後）After WW2; Parliamentary democracy
Notes:
1.‘Kyoto 京都 =Capital, Capital Tokyo 東京 =East Capital
2.Until the 1945, the emperor and the nobles were above all class, even when the samurai had the political power.
我是强者3.Shinto was the Japane original religion until Buddhism came from China by way of Korea in 6th century.
4.Periods are conveniently divided for Japane garden study’s sake, and may be different from other historians’ views. In this ca,
Jomon/Yayoi/Kofun refer to the levels of civilization; Asuka/Nara/Heian are divided by capital locations; Kamakura/Muromachi/Edo refer to ruling governments; Before /after WW2 means a big social change.
Cultural Trends Influence on Design Styles
B.C. – 6c. Shito ism; people worshipped the nature as Gods Æ simple, practical and naturalistic design
6c. - 9c. Chine and Buddhists influence Æ large scale, formal, colorful and gorgeous design 9c. - 12c. Localization of Chine culture
居里夫人的品质Æ smaller scale, less formal, asymmetric design 12c. - 15c. Samurai 's stoicism and Zen influence Æ large scale, dynamic and less colorful design 16c. - 17c. War period. Wabi-Sabi concept occurred Æ Rustic, minimal scale, monotone, simple design 17c. - 18c. Peaceful period with Clo-door policy Æ new ‘Japonism ’, mixture of all the styles in the past 18c. - 19c. Affluent commoners' cultural leadership Æ urban entertainments, cool and trendy activities 19c. – Open country, sudden Western influence Æ mixture of east & west styles, often going chaotic
Basic Glossary: Be aware of many homophonic terms
Shinto 神道 = Japane original religion, Bukkyo 仏教 = Buddhism
(suffix: -Jinja 神社 = Shinto shrine, -Tera / -ji 寺 –in 院 = Buddhist temple, -an 庵 = small temple, cott
age or teahou) Jodo 浄土 = Pure land, the Buddha’s place, Zen 禅 = a ct of Buddhism and its practice or teaching shinden 寝殿 = a high-class residence （c.f. shinden 神殿 = a religious building where the god is placed ）
shoin 書院 = a study room, karesansui 枯山水 = a dry landscape garden, kaiyu-shiki teien 廻遊式庭園 = stroll garden roji 露地 = small entry gardens to a teahou (c.f. roji 路地 = small alley), chashitsu 茶室 = teahou, tearoom shogun 将軍 = tycoon, warlord, general, daimyo 大名 = feudal lord, samurai 侍 / bushi 武士 = warriors gosho 御所 = Imperial Palace, rikyu 離宮 = Imperial Villa (c.f. Rikyu 利休 = Sen Rikyu, a tea master) chado / sado 茶道 = The Way of Tea, kado / ikebana 華道／生け花 = flower arrangement
niwa-shi 庭師 = garden artisan (more skilled and educated than ‘gardener’), daiku 大工 = skilled carpenter
2. Shinto and Pre-Garden Settings
神道と庭の起源
Origin of Gardens:
1. Worship Nature
Ancient Japane worshipped surrounding nature as Gods. Whenever they found an extraordinary natural feature, such as water, rocks, trees, the sun, mountains, the ocean, or a forest, the site became a sacred precinct. Such belief grew into Shinto as a religion associated with the Imperial family. In Shintoism, people worshipped multiple Gods, each of which was in charge of a different natural feature.倾听的近义词
2: Personal Entertainment
People also elaborate their yard for various functional and entertainment purpos. The oldest record of garden-like description in the history, written in 620 A.D.: ‘A wealthy noble man built a pond and mound in his yard to remember the beautiful oceanic landscape that he saw during a journey’.
Discussion:
•What was the origin of gardens in religious n?
•What was the personal motivation to make a garden?
•What does ‘garden’ mean to you?
3. Shinden: Nobles’ Residential Gardens 寝殿造 8-12 c.
Summery:
In nobles’ residential style architecture, bridges connect buildings
and islands, and stages are extended over a pond. A pond is often
surrounded by naturalistic planting and pebbled beach. The residents
为你朝思暮想
may walk around and ride a boat in the pond.
Examples:
Perfect example of Shinden style no longer exists,
but following sites may show a similarity or some reminder of this style:
Saiho-ji西芳寺, Kinkaku-ji金閣寺 (building site/garden only）
Toin in Heijo-Palace Site平城宮址東院庭園 in Nara（on-site reconstruction）
Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社in Hiroshima (buildings in the ocean)
Ninna-ji 仁和寺, Daikakuji 大覚寺
Discussion:
•What are bridges, verandas and water for?
Why they always built residence so clo to the water?
•Why buildings are so open?
•What are the rocks in the pond in the right/bottom picture?
4. Jodo: Buddhists’ Paradi Gardens
十的英语浄土庭園 8-12 c.
Summery:
一般的近义词In Buddhist temples in Heian Period, the main building housing a Buddha’s statue and other heavenly features standed beyond a pond, which depicted a pure-land, or the Buddhists’ paradi beyond the a.
Examples:
Byodo-in Phoenix Hall平等院鳳凰堂
Joruri-ji浄瑠璃寺
Discussion:
•What does water and bridges mean in Jodo gardens?
•What is the function of the main building?
Further Discussion:
•What does water mean in other types of gardens?
(e.g. Chine garden, French garden, Italian garden …etc.)
