Japan Western Influence

Japan has a very rich and unique culture, unlike any other culture in the world. The Japanese are close and united, and willing to help each other, to the point that they would even risk their lives for one another. Their culture has certain aspects of it that every nation should have. In his book, John Hersey explores the effects that culture and environment have on an individual’s views and belief through analyzing a stereotypical Japanese man, an Americanized Japanese priest, and a widowed Japanese woman and how they react similarly to the bombing of Hiroshima. The influence of Japanese culture has an astounding impact on the reactions of Hersey’s characters.

The time from 1600 to 1868 is known as the Tokugawa period in Japanese history, this was a period of time where Japan experienced peace and stability. The Tokugawa period was a time in history where elite and distinctive government order ruled the Japanese people. The elite and distinctive government order was founded and formed in 1603 by a shogunate named Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa and a long line of his family ancestors formed and control a distinctive and efficient military Government System. The military Government system ruled and controlled the Japanese people for over 200 years.

Heian Japan, which is commonly known as the golden age had many influences on Japan, but the Kamakura Shogunate may have had more effects on Japan. During the golden age Prince Shotoku brought Buddhism to Japan, but before that there were many confucian scholars. These two religions went hand in hand in both the teachings and writings. Many of the Japanese ideas were collected from Korea. Like China, Japan made an examination system, although it was actually more of a formality. As the book The Asian World 600-1500 says, “The nobles refused to accept the idea that they would have to compete with commoners for government jobs and the highest positions continued to be reserved for aristocrats” (Des Forges and Major, 70), meaning that they let

Japan started to change their attitude to Europeans, they welcomed them because they were satisfied by the glory they bring, they traded things like glasses, clocks, and artillery. However it also brought social changes, and Tokugawa rulers started to grow suspicious of the Portuguese and Spanish intention for Japan, so at last, they only trade with Dutch and Chinese in a fixed harbour. Through the trading with Dutch, they began to build up knowledge of Western ideology and world events, according to the knowledge of Western ideas, Japan's scientific, geographical and political knowledge began to grow. Due to the influences foreign countries brought to Japan, Japan become the country we see

In the second half of the 19th century after the ports of Japan opened, this is exactly what the primary French artists were exclaiming to themselves about the Japanese, “How can one be Japanese!” and in this quandary, they

As possibly the oldest civilization, China has had considerable influence on Japanese culture. A surge of immigration around 300 B.C.E. brought “elements of culture that led to great changes in Japan” (299). This influence is particularly evident in the religious shift to Buddhism. Though a religion was already established in Japan, Buddhism was embraced and quickly overtook Shinto. However, Shinto continued to develop in rebellion to Buddhism (299-300). The religious shift rippled into politics, architecture, and sculpture. Even so, as with Shinto, Japanese culture maintained indigenous traits (299). Moreover, art shows the greatest evidence of Chinese influence while still displaying unique Japanese characteristics. These similarities and differences are seen in the Chinese painting Seeking the Tao in the Autumn Mountains and the Japanese painting Winter Landscape.

Thesis: The Japanese aesthetics of irregularity and simplicity manifest in the artistic creations in calligraphy, make-up brushes and pottery. Through an examination of the both the process by which these items are created as well as the final object made, the soul and personality of the creator emerges.

However, throughout the 19th century, the influence of artists like Hokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige helped transform the former taboo into an appreciation for this cornerstone of Japanese culture. While ukiyo-e was a strength of Hokusai’s, it wasn’t the only style of art he was trained in. While studying under Shunsho, he also attended lessons from Yusen, an artist from the Kano school who taught him about Western style art and the use of perspective. These experiences shaped Hokusai into an exceptional artist and woodworker, but probably would not have been possible if he had been born in another country, showing the significant impact relative location can have. Relative location, defined as “a point or place in relation to another point or place”, played a significant role in Hokusai’s career throughout his life. For example, because of the large distance between where Japan is located relative to where Europe is located, it was hard for Hokusai to share his artistic ideas outside of his home country. In addition to the issue of physical distance, during the early 1800’s Japan was under a foreign policy called sakoku, which allowed no foreigner or Japanese person to enter or leave the country on penalty of death. This

Throughout time, Japan became home to many different cultures, the oldest believed to stretch back to around 30,000 years.One of the strongest influences of these cultures was Chinese. The earliest records of Japan are dated back to around 400 CE, and were written by Chinese visitors. Although Japan was separated from the rest of East Asia it still maintained contact with Korea and China. This subjected it to foreign influence, especially that of the Han (221-207 BC) and later Chinese dynasties. In 593, Shotoku, a Buddhist Prince, emerged in Japan. His rule contributed greatly to the adoption of “foreign” cultures in Japan. In 709 CE, a new capital city, Nara, was built in Japan. Nara was almost an exact replica of the Tang dynasty capital. However, in the late 700s, Heian Japan Era

Contact between Japan and China goes back to around 200AD, according to the Chinese histories, and the influence of China on Japan is as deep as it is long. Whether you look at language, clothing, government or the region, Chinese influence is readily apparent. At the same time, Japan has always remained different, forced by the fundamental differences between things Japanese and things Chinese to adapt rather than merely adopt Chinese influences.

The culture and society of Japan consists of many similar ideas to the foundation that the Western civilization was built upon. Influences that have impacted Japan include; industrialization, continued modernization, and the shift toward a democratic political government. Even with both societies being founded on identical concepts, the major differences are the way the society functions. Japan has been heavily influenced by both China and America and has made their own culture by combining these ideas along with their own traditional ideals. Just as any other country, Japan is no stranger to gender roles, gender stereotypes, and workplace inequalities and the ideas Japan was built upon plays a big role in the way all of these forms of discrimination

In general terms, shin hanga (new prints) can be described as the modern adaptation of ukiyo-e (woodblock prints). As an art movement of the early twentieth century, it had managed to revive traditional ukiyo-e art from the Edo and Meiji periods. Shin hanga thus shares many similar characteristics with ukiyo-e. One of these features is the process of creating them. Both shin hanga and ukiyo-e have a collaborative system where the artist, carver, and printer participate in a division of labor. Another common aspect between the two types of prints is the subject matter. Traditional themes of ukiyo-e, such as landscapes, beautiful women, and kabuki actors, continued in shin hanga. Despite several similar elements, there are, however, significant

Each artist’s respective choice to employ a certain style and to depict their landscapes in a certain way is insightful of the art movements in which they worked, though the later movement (Post-impressionist) was highly influenced by the earlier one (Ukiyo-e). Precisely, Hokusai’s print was completed in 1832 and, thus, is representative of the Japanese Ukiyo-e (translated as the “floating” or “sorrowful” world) movement, notable for its lack of perspective, clean lines and flat areas of pure color. Its artists produced woodblock prints and paintings usually depicting kabuki actors, female beauties, erotic scenes, or natural landscapes. Art in this movement evoked “an imagined universe of wit, stylishness, and extravagance—with overtones of naughtiness, hedonism, and transgression,” and it was considered a contrast to the boring, monotonous routines of everyday life.

Throughout the Heian Period, Japan began to lose respect for China when the nation’s Buddhists were greatly mistreated. This loss of respect is what allowed Japan to follow their own path, going as far as rejecting any guidance from China. This period initiated the ascent of the Fujiwara regency. Though they were strong dictators, they were vital to the flourishing of the arts. This period was a time when society was very important to Japan’s growth, since women were greatly involved. One of these women, Murasaki Shikibu, wrote Japan’s first novel, “Tale of Genji”. In addition to literature, the Japanese also created the Zen Gardens. These gardens consisted of combed sand, perfectly trimmed bushes and trees, and strategically placed rocks. Though highly complex and structured, the purpose of these gardens was to allow the viewer’s mind to slip into a state of meditative peace and serenity. Though there were great artistic achievements, Japan was recently faced intruders proposing a new religious message. Upon the arrival of Christian missionaries, in 1582CE, roughly 150,00 Japanese citizens converted. That’s 2% of the population! Is this the rise of a new religion? I think not. Bakufu would not tolerate this influence, and eventually passed laws to prevent conversion, and the persecution of missionaries and Japanese Christians. I’m afraid that’s all I have for this trip, my friends! From the imitation of China to artistic achievements, Medieval Japan has proved to be a truly fascinating time in

During the 1850s and the 1860s, a style that is known as the “Japonisme” started emerging in Western Europe, mainly in France. And in the mid-1800s, Japanese people started to trade things with the west again. Thus, as a result of that trading, so many of the Japanese imports were being sent to Europe. This French term, Japonisme describes that period of time when the art of the Japanese people influenced the western art in the 19th century. According to our book,