2. 8.2 ART & CULTURE IN HEIAN
E.Q.: What were the achievements of art, culture and religion during the Heian period?

3. Heian city where the Emperor and Empress lived
lots of people followed them there
Court – a group of nobles who live near and serve or advise the ruler
Lived apart from commoners
“Dwellers among the clouds”

4. Nobles loved beauty and elegance
were supporters of the arts – gave lots of money to them
= “Golden Age of the arts in Japan”

5. FASHION Silk robes Gold jewelry
Decorative fans painted with flowers, trees, birds

6. LITERATURE Popular among women Diaries & journals
Women – wrote in Japanese
Men – wrote in Chinese

7. Lady Murasaki
Shikibu
The Tale of Genji – the world’s first full length novel
Poetry parties – tanka poems
(31 syllables)

8. Saying Goodbye
Carefully I walk Trying so hard to be brave They all see my fear Dark glasses cover their eyes As mine flow over with tears  

9. VISUAL ARTS Paintings: bright, bold colors Illustrations of stories
Nature scenes
Court life
Painted on doors & furniture

13. Calligraphy
Decorative writing

14. Architecture Copied Chinese buildings/temples
Wooden frames – unpainted
Thatched roofs
Elegant gardens & ponds

20. PERFORMING ARTS Musicians, jugglers, acrobats Wild & fun
Plays where they
mimicked people

21. Noh
– a more serious drama combining music, speaking & dance about Japan’s past heroes

22. BUDDHISM Nobles loved elaborate rituals – too expensive for commoners
Common people – “Pure
Land Buddhism” – chanted
Buddha’s name over and over
to achieve salvation
Zen – self-discipline &
meditation

23. Homework
Section 2 Assessment p. 208 # 1-2 all letters