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Resources Organized by Country/Region: Japan



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Art of the Edo Period (1615–1868)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief overview of artistic production in Japan during the Edo or Tokugawa period. With 9 related artworks.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/edop/hd_edop.htm
 
Art of the Edo Period Lesson Plan - Chawan Tea Bowl
Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas
See site for lesson plans on this museum object.

Go to Museum Resource: https://spencerartapps.ku.edu/k12-lesson-plans#/k12/30723
 
Art of the Pleasure Quarters and the Ukiyo-e Style
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A lengthy discussion of the social developments in the Edo period that gave rise to literary and visual arts such as kabuki theater and ukiyo-e paintings and woodblock prints. With 5 related artworks.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/plea/hd_plea.htm
 
Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Online presentation of a 2009-2010 exhibition, the "first comprehensive exhibition devoted to the arts of the samurai" and "the first exhibition ever devoted to the subject of Japanese arms and armor conservation." With images of 27 objects.

Go to Museum Resource: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2009/art-of-the-samurai/photo-ga...
 
Arts of Edo Japan [PDF]
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
"This packet offers an in-depth examination of Edo period (1615–1868) Japan, focusing on the flourishing arts of the period. Art activities include creating a 3D model of a teahouse, a pilgrimage book, and seals."

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/Arts-of-Edo.p...
 
Arts of the Samurai [PDF]
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
"The term samurai is derived from the word saburau, or “one who serves.” The evolution of the samurai from mounted guards to the nobility (during the twelfth century) and their subsequent ascent to military leaders of Japan (until imperial restoration during the nineteenth century) is chronicled in distinctive warrior arts and literary tradition. This packet examines the samurai through precious art objects from the museum’s collection. These include authentic military equipment (arms and armor), paintings depicting famed conflicts, ceremonial attire, and objects created for religious and cultural pursuits strongly connected with the samurai class."

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/ArtsofSamurai...
 
A Brief History of Samurai Armor
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Learn about samurai armor in this video by exploring artworks in the Asian Art Museum’s collection.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/a-brief-history-of-samurai-armor/
 
Bu and Bun: The Arts of War and Peace
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
In addition to superior strategic and military ability, most elite samurai were expected to be versed in the cultural arts. The warrior’s ideal balance of military and artistic skill is captured well in this description of the sixteenth century daimyo Hosokawa Yusai (1534–1610): “Renowned for his elegant pursuits, he is a complete man combining arts [bun] and arms [bu]. A man of nobility, a descendant of the sixth grandson of the emperor Seiwa, he was a ruler endowed with awesome dignity and inspiring decorum…He built a splendid castle, which was majestic, beautiful and high…He discussed Chinese poetic styles and recited by heart the secret teachings of Japanese poetry…" See also Archery Practice.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/bu-and-bun-the-arts-of-war-and-peace/
 
Chanoyu: The Japanese Art of Tea
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
The Japanese phrase Chanoyu, translated literally as “hot water for tea,” refers to the tradition of preparing and serving powdered green tea in a highly stylized manner. Learn more about this tradition. Download PDF on Japanese Tea Ceremony. See also Muromachi Period Tea (1338-1573) and Experience Chanoyu: The Japanese Art of Tea [PDF]

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/chanoyu-the-japanese-art-of-tea/
 
Create a Simulated Woodblock Print
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Students will be able to identify, compare and contrast images of traditional Japanese woodblock prints. They will then create their own simulated woodblock prints. Downloads include activities, slideshow and guides.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/create-a-simulated-woodblock-print/
 
Creating a Japanese Screen
Asia Society
Lesson plan that introduces the idea that art is made to enhance our surroundings and also that the choices made about them reflect something about the person choosing. Uses two Japanese folding screens -- one from the Edo and the other from the Muromachi period -- as primary sources.

Go to Museum Resource: http://sites.asiasociety.org/education/AsianArt/lessons.japanese.htm
 
Edo Period, 1615-1868
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
"With the decisive battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu effectively usurped control of the country. In 1603 he assumed the title of Shogun and established his seat of power in the small fishing village of Edo (modern-day Tokyo)." A brief one-paragraph overview, with 34 objects from the period.

Go to Museum Resource: http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-edo-period.cfm
 
Educator Resource Packet: Flowering Cherry with Poem Slips by Tosa Mitsukoi
The Art Institute of Chicago
"This screen celebrates the Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms to mark the arrival of spring. The tree’s blossoms and hanging poem slips create an elegant design against the gold of the silk. This teaching packet includes an essay, discussion questions, activity ideas, and a glossary."

Go to Museum Resource: https://www.artic.edu/collection/resources/educator-resources/21-educator-resou...
 
Educator Resource Packet: Southern Barbarians (Namban byobu)
The Art Institute of Chicago
"This screen portrays a ship arriving in Japan from Portugal with European merchants in pantaloons and broad-brimmed hats bearing exotic products. The Japanese, in long, flowing patterned robes and sandals, are on the shore picnicking and curiously watching the arrival of the Portuguese. This teaching packet includes an essay, discussion questions, activity ideas, and a glossary."

Go to Museum Resource: https://www.artic.edu/collection/resources/educator-resources/35-educator-resou...
 
Explore a Japanese Handscroll: The Art of Hon'ami Kōetsu (Edo Period, early 1600s)
Princeton University Art Museum
An excellent interactive website for exploring an Edo period handscroll by Hon'ami Kōetsu (1558-1637). "In this handscroll Kōetsu transcribed ten verses from the poetry anthology Shinkokin wakashū on sheets of colored paper that are decorated on the front and back with woodblock-printed mica designs." After exploring the scroll the user can write his/her own poem (by selecting from a set of phrases) and then see this poem "written" on his/her own handscroll in the style of Kōetsu.

Go to Museum Resource: https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/asian-art/japan/viewers/poem-scroll-viewer/
 
The Floating World of Ukiyo-e: Shadows, Dreams, and Substance
Library of Congress
Online presentation of a 2003 exhibition showcasing the Library's holdings of Japanese prints, books, and drawings from the 17th to the 19th century. Images organized into the following categories: 1) Early Masters (1600-1740); 2) Major Genres: Beauties, Actors, and Landscapes; 3) Images and Literary Sources; 4) Realia and Reportage; 5) Japan and the West: Artistic Cross-Fertilization; 6) Beyond Ukiyo-e: Modern and Contemporary Japanese Prints. The EXHIBITION OVERVIEW provides historical background about ukiyo-e.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ukiyo-e/
 
Getting Started with Zazen (Seated Meditation)
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
In Zen Buddhism, zazen (pronounced: zah-zen) is a sitting meditation. Zazen is not focusing on a specific object or thought. Instead, it is the liberating of one’s mind of all thought into a state of emptiness (a complete emptiness that is also complete fullness) from which the practitioner hopes to experience spontaneous awakening to the inner self (enlightenment). Download Includes a glossary.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/getting-started-with-zazen-seated-medi...
 
Golden Fantasies: Japanese Screens from New York Collections
Asia Society
Online presentation of a 2004 exhibition of Japanese folding screens. Features 14 screens with descriptive text. Several of these illustrate Japanese literary classics such as the “Chronicle of the Great Peace” (Taiheiki); the Tale of the Heike; the Tales of Ise; and the Tale of Genji.

Go to Museum Resource: http://sites.asiasociety.org/arts/japanesescreens/index.html
 
Gyotaku: The Japanese Art of Fish Printing
The Kennedy Center, ArtsEdge
"Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=rubbing) was invented in the early 1800's in Japan by the fishermen to record their catch. ... By acquiring knowledge of historical and cultural qualities unique to this particular art form students can gain an understanding of how Gyotaku reflects a part of Japanese history." In this lesson plan "[s]tudents will select a fish, prepare it, ink it, apply the paper or fabric, and complete the fish print for display. During this process they will also examine the fish and learn the correct names and uses of the external anatomical parts of the fish."

Go to Museum Resource: https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-5/Gyotaku_Japanese_...
 
History and Traditions of the Samurai
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Students will use images of samurai armor and weaponry to learn related vocabulary. They will describe the functional and aesthetic aspects of armor through focused viewing and reading, and they will draw conclusions about the changing code of the samurai over the course of 800 years. Download includes a lesson plan, a number of guides, and slideshows.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/history-and-traditions-of-the-samurai/
 
Hokusai and Hiroshige: Great Japanese Prints [PDF]
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
A historical and cultural overview of Edo period (1615–1868) Japan as a context for examining Japanese woodblock prints. See also 11 min Video.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/12/Hokusai_and_H...
 
How to Read a Woodblock Print
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Learn how to read a woodblock print. Download visual guides.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/how-to-read-a-woodblock-print/
 
The Influence of East Asian Lacquer on European Furniture
Victoria and Albert Museum
When lacquered objects made in East Asia first reached Europe in about the early 16th century, they were highly prized for their flawless finish and light-reflecting qualities. Lacquer became available to European elites, along with other luxury items including silk and porcelain, once Portuguese explorers discovered a sea route to the East around the southern tip of Africa and across the Indian Ocean. The flow of goods increased in the early 17th century when the Dutch and English East India Companies began to bring goods to markets in Amsterdam and London. By 1700 many European country houses and palaces contained examples of East Asian export lacquer. Asian lacquer was admired as a precious and mysterious material.

Go to Museum Resource: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/east-asian-lacquer-influence
 
Interiors Imagined: Folding Screens, Garments, and Clothing Stands Source: Interiors Imagined: Fold
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"The original function and context of a genre of screens referred to today as 'whose sleeves?' screens, or tagasode byôbu, are less well studied and understood. As revealed by more than forty extant examples, artisans from various painting schools depicted on folding screens an array of sumptuously patterned garments casually draped over clothing stands." With images of two screens from the Momoyama period.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/fold/hd_fold.htm
 
Japanese Weddings in the Edo Period (1615–1868)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief overview of Edo-period wedding customs: "The social structure of the Edo period (1615–1868) developed under the strict control of the Tokugawa military regime. During this period, the families of the shogunate and provincial leaders (daimyô) arranged marriages based on political interests, and the consent of the shogunate was necessary for a daimyô wedding." With images of 4 related objects.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jwed/hd_jwed.htm
 
Japanese Woodblock Prints (9-12)
The Kennedy Center, ArtsEdge
Explore the history, evolution, and techniques of Ukiyo-e prints.

Go to Museum Resource: https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-9-12/Japanese_Woodb...
 
The Kano School of Painting
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief overview of the Kano school, established by Kano Masanobu (1434-1530). Prominent for more than 300 years, the Kano school is considered to be the "longest lived and most influential school of painting in Japanese history." Closely associated with their powerful patrons, the Tokugawa shogunate, the Kano school prospered throughout the Edo period. With 3 related artworks.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/kano/hd_kano.htm
 
The Legends of Hachiman
Smith College Museum of Art
"This particular pair of lavishly ornamented handscrolls illustrates the legends of the Shinto deity Hachiman. 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)." This project of Smith College now hosted here.

Go to Museum Resource: https://hachimanhandscrolls.com/
 
Make a Temple Book or Japanese Screen
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Students will create their own books and stamps, and can inscribe poetry or good wishes on each others books. They will then take their books with them on a pilgrimage to the Asian Art Museum, the Japanese tea garden, or the beach, and record their impressions. Downloads include instructions and visual guides.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/make-a-temple-book-or-japanese-screen/
 
Momoyama Period (1573–1615)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief overview of cultural developments in Japan during the Momoyama (Peach Hill) period, an era characterized by constant warfare as the daimyos (feudal barons) struggled for control of Japan. With links to 2 related art objects and the museum's shoin room, which is modeled after a formal Japanese reception room from 1600.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/momo/hd_momo.htm
 
Momoyama Period, 1573-1615
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
"After a period of civil strife, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi reunified the country and built a castle in Momoyama, literally "Peach Mountain," south of Kyoto." A brief one-paragraph overview, with one object representative of the period.

Go to Museum Resource: http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-momoyama-period.cfm
 
Muromachi Period (1392–1573)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief overview of cultural and artistic developments during the Muromachi period, when members of the Ashikaga family occupied the position of shogun. The Muromachi era was characterized by social and political upheaval, but it was also a time of economic and artistic innovation. With 6 related artworks.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/muro/hd_muro.htm
 
Muromachi Period, 1392-1573
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
"Following the fall of the Kamakura military government, the Ashikaga family established a new military a regime in Kyoto." A brief one-paragraph overview, with three objects representative of the period.

Go to Museum Resource: http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/japan-muromachi-period.cfm
 
Nature of the Beast: Animals in Japanese Paintings and Prints
Pacific Asia Museum of USC
Paintings and prints from the Edo period to the late 20th century. The inclusion of characters such as Godjira (Godzilla), Doraemon, and the Forest Spirit from Princess Mononoke makes this an especially fun unit for students. Text essays with images on the following topics: 1) Tradition; 2) Reality; 3) Imagination. With an Edo-period timeline, glossary of related terms, lesson plans for teachers, and a "Random Monster Generator" activity for students.

Go to Museum Resource: https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/exhibitions/past/online-exhibition-nature-of-...
 
Netsuke: From Fashion Fobs to Coveted Collectibles
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
An introduction to the netsuke, a decorative accessory worn with the kimono since the 17th century. With images of 15 related objects.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/nets/hd_nets.htm
 
Pictures of the Floating World
Victoria and Albert Museum
"Ukiyo-e means 'Pictures of the Floating World.' Images of everyday Japan mass-produced for popular consumption in the Edo period (1615-1868), they represent one of the high points of Japanese cultural achievement." A special feature on ukiyo-e discussing the following topics: 1) What are Ukiyo-e?; 2) The Production Process; 3) Popular Themes in Ukiyo-e Prints; and 4) Fan Prints; plus a selection of 30 prints with descriptions.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/u/ukiyo-e-pictures-of-the-floating-world/
 
Prints & Photographs Online Catalog: Fine Prints, Japanese, pre-1915
Library of Congress
"The Library's Prints and Photographs Division houses more than 2,500 woodblock prints and drawings by Japanese artists of the seventeenth through early twentieth centuries including Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi, Sadahide, and Yoshiiku. ... About seventy percent of the collection is currently available online." The BACKGROUND AND SCOPE section has selections from the collection organized into the following categories: Actors; Women; Landscapes; Scenes from Japanese Literature; Daily Life; Views of Western Foreigners. Also with brief discussions of ukiyo-e and Yokohama-e prints, the latter being the images of foreigners in the port city of Yokohama produced by Japanese artists following the 1852-54 expedition of Commodore Matthew Perry (1794-1858).

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/jpd
 
Rinpa Painting Style
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief introduction to the Rinpa school of painting, which was "a key part of the revival in the Edo period of indigenous Japanese artistic interests described by the term yamato-e." With 5 related artworks and links to related essays about yamato-e painting and seasonal imagery in Japanese art.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rinp/hd_rinp.htm
 
Samurai
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A brief introduction to the bushi or samurai of Japan. With 3 related artworks.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/samu/hd_samu.htm
 
Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
Asia Society
"The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove were a group of Chinese learned men from the third century CE. During a time of political upheaval, the group distanced themselves from governmental service, choosing instead to spend time engaged in Daoist-inspired discussions, poetry, and music, sometimes while inebriated. ... Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, featuring traditional works of art from China and Japan, has been organized to accompany and provide some cultural context for Asia Society’s exhibition of Seven Intellectuals in a Bamboo Forest, the contemporary video work by Chinese artist Yang Fudong."

Go to Museum Resource: https://asiasociety.org/new-york/exhibitions/seven-sages-bamboo-grove
 
Shoguns and Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
A discussion of shoguns and their role in the artistic and cultural history of Japan from the late 12th century until the end of the Edo period (1868). With 9 related artworks.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/shga/hd_shga.htm
 
Sotatsu’s Waves at Matsushima (Teaching poster) [PDF]
National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
Tawaraya Sōtatsu (act. ca. 1600–40). Japan, early 1600s. Pair of six-panel folding screens. Ink, color, gold, and silver on paper.

Go to Museum Resource: https://www.freersackler.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/education-sotatsu.pdf
 
The Spiritual Life of a Samurai: Meditation and Brushpainting
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Students will discuss the ways in which spiritual belief supported and enhanced the military func¬tion and cultural values of the samurai. They will experience this practice through an ink painting activity. Downloads include lesson plan, slide show, and glossary. See also Code of the Samurai in Art and Literature.

Go to Museum Resource: https://education.asianart.org/resources/the-spiritual-life-of-the-samurai-medi...
 
The Symbol of the Dragon and the Tiger in Chinese and Japanese Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art
This lesson plan looks at the dragon and the tiger, symbols of power, are portrayed in the art of China and Japan.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.clevelandart.org/lesson-plan-packet/symbol-dragon-and-tiger-chinese-...
 
Theater in China and Japan
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Students will explore then compare and contrast the Chinese (Beijing Opera) and Japanese (Kabuki) forms of theater.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.clevelandart.org/lesson-plan-packet/theater-china-and-japan
 
Timeline of Art History: Japan, 1400–1600 A.D.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries are the most turbulent period in Japanese history, as military warlords clash violently and frequently in attempts to increase their own power and territory." With a period overview, list of key events, and 9 related artworks. Also has links to additional information about the Muromachi (1392-1573) and Momoyama (1573-1615) periods, an abridged list of rulers in Japan, and timelines of China and Korea during this time.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=08®ion=eaj
 
Timeline of Art History: Japan, 1600–1800 A.D.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"The Edo, also known as the Tokugawa, period is a time of relative peace and stability, following centuries of warfare and disruption." With a period overview, list of key events, and 10 related artworks. Also has links to additional information about the Momoyama (1573-1615) and Edo (1615-1868) periods, an abridged list of rulers in Japan, and timelines of China and Korea during this time.

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=09®ion=eaj
 
Turning Point: Oribe and the Arts of Sixteenth-Century Japan
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Online presentation of a 2003-2004 exhibition that "explores the genesis of the dramatic stylistic changes in Japanese art during the brief but brilliant Momoyama period (1573–1615), which witnessed the struggles of ambitious warlords for control of the long-splintered country and Japan’s first encounter with the West. ... Serving the last two leaders [of the period] as warrior and tea master—or cultural adviser—was Furuta Oribe (1543/44–1615), who left an indelible mark on the aesthetics of the period." Featuring related artworks with descriptions, organized by medium (genre painting on folding screens and hanging scrolls; ceramics for the tea ceremony; lacquerware; and tsujigahana textiles for garments worn by the society's elite). Images and maps available in the publication of the exhibit.

Go to Museum Resource: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2003/oribe/
 
Ukiyo-E
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
"During the Edo Period (1615-1868), a uniquely Japanese art form developed known as ukiyo-e, or 'pictures of the floating world.' A Buddhist concept, ukiyo originally suggested the sadness (uki) of life (yo). But during the peace and prosperity of the 17th century, another ideograph, also pronounced uki but meaning "to float," emerged. Instead of connoting sadness, ukiyo came to be associated with the momentary, worldly pleasures of Japan's rising middle class." Brief introductory text and 362 prints from the MIA collection, plus a short video (Pictures of the Floating World) and two featured collections of images: 1) Images of Women by Kitagawa Utamaro; 2) Rain in Woodblock Prints.

Go to Museum Resource: http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/explore/explore-collection-ukiyo-e.cfm
 
Ukiyo-e: Japanese Prints Depicting the Floating World
The Cleveland Museum of Art
This lesson plan examines the significance and popularity of the ukiyo-e, Japanese woodblock prints during the Edo period (1615-1868).

Go to Museum Resource: http://www.clevelandart.org/lesson-plan-packet/ukiyo-e-japanese-prints-depictin...
 
Uses of Gold in Japanese Paintings
Kyoto National Museum
Gold has traditionally been a sacred color associated with deities and Buddhist beings. Gold also represents the bright rays of light that illuminate our world. Artists used either gold leaf or gold paint depending on the desired “light” effect, and employed many different techniques—such as kirikane (gold foil is cut into strips or other desired shapes and affixed to objects to be decorated)—for their application. Among the objects in the Kyoto National Museum’s collection are works demonstrating the fascinating and richly varied effect of gold on Japanese art. Museum content on Google Arts & Culture.

Go to Museum Resource: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/use-of-gold-in-paintings-kyoto-nation...
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