Artwork Analysis Blog Post (Due October 21, 2020)

 


The Heian period was a significant period in Japanese artistic culture, defined by elegance, opulence, and poetic expression. Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine (Kitano Tenjin engi emaki), a thirteenth-century piece from this very period, illustrated a Japanese legend that aggrieved spirits could bend forces of nature to their will.

In this particular piece, the death of scholar and poet Sugawara no Michizane following his unjust exile is believed to have made his spirit restless. Therefore, according to legend, his spirit brought upon natural disasters and diseases, only to be curbed once a shrine was dedicated to his memory and he was deified as the god of agriculture (and later would become associated with literature, learning, and music, presumably due to his being a poet and a scholar when he was alive).

 

Works Cited

Dr. Sonia Coman, "A brief history of the arts of Japan: the Jomon to Heian periods," in Smarthistory, December 2, 2019, accessed October 20, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/japan-jomon-heian/.

Borgen, Robert. "Michizane as Tenjin." In Sugawara No Michizane and the Early Heian Court, 307-36. Cambridge (Massachusetts); London: Harvard University Asia Center, 1986. Accessed October 20, 2020. doi:10.2307/j.ctt1tg5m1m.13.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Artwork Analysis Blog Post (Due September 4, 2020)

Image
Uruk was significant in that it was the first major city in Sumer, as well as the place at with written language was used (as far as we can tell). Uruk heralded their kings not just as royalty, but as shepherds and priests (the most dominant theories state that it was ruled by priests alone before the monarchy was established). This piece of art is believed to represent one of their so-called “priest-kings”, an iconic mark of this substantial historical era. Not much is known about this piece, as this was crafted at the beginning of history, but most debate lies around the hat or headband and what it represents. Notably, many of the other pieces crafted to represent Uruk “priest-kings” were also clad in this odd headwear for thus far indefinite reasons. The most prevalent theory is that it is a shepherd’s hat – a physical depiction of a king’s royal and priestly duties to their people. Some websites, such as Sumerian Shakespeare, have entire pages dedicated to this debate, as well as t
Read more

Artwork Analysis Blog Post (Due October 28, 2020)

Image
  The cross has always been an important symbol (the most important symbol, in fact) of all sects of Christianity, and African Christianity is no exception. The cross represents the Crucifixion of Jesus and is the embodiment of redemption, death, and faith. The symbol is central to the faith of Christians, so it’s no surprise that it has been implemented into art all over the world. The African take on the cross is particularly beautiful, as they take a uniquely complex and elegant approach to the design. This piece, attributed to Ezra, is the most widely admired as a work unrivaled in its elaborate motif. It is made of wood, most likely a purposeful choice, as wooden crosses are said to possess the power to bless and heal. Some believe that the intricating interlacing at the bottom of the cross symbolizes the Tree of Heaven (also known as the Tree of Paradise), which represents resilience and strength.   Works Cited Ross, Emma George. “African Christianity in Ethiopia.” In Hei
Read more

Artwork Analysis Blog Post (Due November 4, 2020)

Image
  The ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe are and remain one of the most humbling and stunning architectural undertakings, so one can only imagine how they looked before when the city was fully standing and people bustled throughout as the probable capital of an unknown kingdom. Its walls, crafted with granite blocks, are intimidatingly high, standing at thirty-six feet in some places and stretches across over eight hundred feet. Their unusually but magnificently coiled design fascinated travelers and colonizers alike, so much so that the craftsmanship was the subject of heavy debate. Sadly, there is little to no information on those who inhabited these ruins before they became just that, but it appears that the wealthy and royals often graced those walls.   Works Cited Dr. Nancy Demerdash, "Great Zimbabwe," in Smarthistory, October 8, 2016, accessed December 12, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/great-zimbabwe/ . Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Read more