Conical, round-bottomed vessel

Jomon phase (c. 8000-5000 BCE)

• earthenware
• jomon = "rope" or "cord-mark"
• used to hold food while eating

"Heavily Modeled" Female Figurine

Final Jomon Phase (c. 1000-400 BCE)

• earthenware

Vessel with Human Face

Middle Yayoi Phase (c. 100 BCE - 100 CE)

• earthenware
• believed to be used for burials
• used for storing bones of those who passed

Tomb of Emperor Nintoku

Osaka Prefecture

Late 4th - Early 5th Century

• grandson of jingu, empress of yamato
• lived 395-427

Haniwa Figure of a Warrior

Kofun Period (300-710)

•  clay
• found in/around burial sites
• often places around or on top of the sites
• mythology claims that emperors were so moved by agonies of human sacrifice (attendants, etc.) that they begin using clay figurines in place of people

Womb World Mandala

• reality as it is revealed in the phenomenal world
• world is like a womb holding a child with love, compassion, & wisdom
• vairocana buddha in center surrounded by his different manifestations working towards perfect buddhahood
• each can become buddha via special characteristics (good or bad)
• shows possibilty of buddhahood

Diamond World Mandala

• reality in buddha's realm
• all buddha's and deities depicted are fully enlightened
• indestructible nature of truth (diamond, like wisdom, is hard to break)
• shows 9 quarters with 1461 dieties
• vairocana buddha appears several times

Fudo Myoo (Acala)

Heian Period (c. 839)

Lecture Hall at Toji Temple

• sculptural mandala
• painted wood
• 173 cm tall
• turned to wood-block technique vs. bronze due to:
• loss of imperial support
• return to the native japanese use of humble material
• connection to shinto

Phoenix Hall (Hoodo) of Byodoin at Uji

1053

• earthly copy of buddha amida's "pure land"
• converted from residence area by members of fujiwara clan
• buddha amida bound in place (paradise) but not in time

Amida Raigo Triptych

Late Heian Period

• pictorial representation of the coming of amida to lead way to the pure land
• ink and color on silk

Shaka Triad

Asuka Period, dedicated 623

• commissioned by empress suiko & officials
• sculpted by tori
• created for prince shotoku's recovery & rebirth in buddhist paradise after he and his consort fell ill

Heijo-Kyo, Capital of Nara

Nara Period (710-794)

• country's first permanent capital
• site chosen by chinese geomancy
• based on chinese capital city chang'an
• capital moved to heian-kyo (present day kyoto)

Yakushi Triad in Yakushiji

Hakuho Period, Late 7th - Early 8th Century

• bronze

Tableau of the Yuima and Monju Debate

Hakuho Period, completed 711

Horyuji (pagoda)

• clay over wood & metal

Horyu-ji

Asuka Period, rebuilt around 700

• constructed 607, destroyed 670
• temple for worship & living for buddhist monks & nuns
• includes pago (relic), golden hall (statue), entrance, living quarters, teaching hall, etc.

Ise Shrine

• shinto shrine dedicated to goddess amaterasu
• sacred mirror (one of the three sacred treasures of japan) preserved inside

Horyu-ji

Todai-ji

Nara

Amida by Jocho

Heian Period

• wood with gold leaf

Jingo-ji Yakushi Buddha

Jingo-ji Temple in Kyoto

• wood with traces of paint
• created from single block of wood