J314 Medieval Culture

Political Institutions Cultural Developments

Kamakura Bakufu/Shogunate Two new kinds of Buddhism

(1185-1336)

= Signifies Rise of Samurai Power

Capital in Eastern Japan 1. New Forms of Popular Buddhism

Shogunal Rule a. Pure Land (Jodo)

+Regents b. True Pure Land (Jodo Shinshu)

+ Military Governors c. Lotus Sect or Nichiren

+Land stewards (samurai)

2. Zen-- Rinzai Sect --Eisai

Soto Sect --Hogen

Ashikaga Shogunate 1336-1572 The fûryû cultural complex crystallizes

Capital Back in Kyoto = blend Tea Ceremony

Landscape Gardening

Shoguns weak Flower Arranging

Military Governors strong Ink painting = Sumi-e

                                                               Noh theatre

Increasing conflict-------->warfare Picture Scolls

Painted Screens

Oral Literature = Heike monogatari or Tale of the Heike

Renga = Linked Verse 7-5-7 Open/ 7-7 Close-->next 7-5-7

Characterisitics of this New Culture:

•Zen influenced

•tossed naturalism

•tasteful simplicity

•fragile imperfection

•rough, restrained beauty

•evokes sadness/oneness

•refined elegance

•sparse, plain decor

Wars of (Re)Unification = Sengoku jidai 1560-1600

Tokugawa Shogunate 1600-1867 Chonin bunka or Urban Culture = Dynamic

Stable, urban, peaceful Townsmen Culture, colorful, spectacle

New Prose fiction

Strong central authority Puppet Theater - Bunraku

Kabuki = actors central

Haiku = 17 syllable poems

Woodblock Prints