# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 149

Narration and the written language

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/147. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/147.json.

## Pottery, temples and Buddhist sculpture · Narration 1 of 2

### Buddhist temples and sculpture

*仏教が日本に伝来してから、寺院、仏閣の建立が発達し、中でも法隆寺は世界最古の木造建築物とされている* connects the arrival of Buddhism with temple construction. It says Horyuji Temple is considered the world's oldest wooden structure.

*八世紀ごろは仏像彫刻の黄金時代と言われている* means "Around the eighth century is said to have been the golden age of Buddhist sculpture."

### Kanji: / 黄, / 創, / 豊, 金

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

### Kanji: 盛

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

**1** 日本の原始時代の文化は 縄文式土器が使われていた時代から始まっている。  
にほんのげんしじだいのぶんかはじょうもんしきどきがつかわれていたじだいからはじまっている。  
Japanese prehistoric culture began in the period when Jomon-style pottery was in use.

**2** 土器の表面に縄目の文様があるので、縄文土器と言う。  
どきのひょうめんになわめのもんようがあるので、じょうもんどきという。  
It is called Jomon pottery because there are cord-pattern designs on the surface of the pottery.

**3** 紀元前二世紀前後のころ、金属器と弥生式土器とよばれる土器とをもった いわゆる弥生式文化がアジア大陸から伝えられた。  
きげんまえにせいきぜんごのころ、きんぞくきとやよいしきどきとよばれるどきとをもったいわゆるやよいしきぶんかがアジアたいりくからつたえられた。  
Around the second century B.C., the so-called Yayoi culture, with metal implements and pottery called Yayoi-style pottery, was introduced from the Asian continent.

**4** 仏教が日本に伝来してから、寺院、仏閣の建立が発達し、中でも法隆寺は世界最古の木造建築物とされている。  
ぶっきょうがにほんにでんらいしてから、じいん、ぶっかくのこんりゅうがはったつし、なかでもほうりゅうじはせかいさいこのもくぞうけんちくぶつとされている。  
After Buddhism was introduced to Japan, the construction of temples and Buddhist halls developed, and among them Horyuji Temple is considered the oldest wooden structure in the world.

**5** 八世紀ごろは仏像彫刻の黄金時代と言われている。  
はっせいきごろはぶつぞうちょうこくのおうごんじだいといわれている。  
Around the eighth century is said to have been the golden age of Buddhist sculpture.

**6** 十一世紀にはいってから、浄土教の隆盛に伴い、阿弥陀堂が多く建てられる様になった。  
じゅういちせいきにはいってから、じょうどきょうのりゅうせいにともない、あみだどうがおおくたてられるようになった。  
After the beginning of the eleventh century, as Pure Land Buddhism flourished, many Amida halls came to be built.

**7** 平等院鳳凰堂もこの時代に建てられたものである。  
びょうどういんほうおうどうもこのじだいにたてられたものである。  
The Phoenix Hall of Byodoin was also built in this period.

```
Japanese Painting

1 Previous to the introduction of Buddhism the art of painting in Japan had made but little progress. It was from China that Japan derived her first great inspiration in art, along with her first lessons in Buddhism, and naturally, therefore, her first efforts in art were of a religious nature,

Japanese painting entered upon a stage of great development in the Heian Period (784-1192), A notable development of the period was the progress made by secular art as distinguished from religious painting. This may be seen in the NISE-E or portraits and in the scrolls illustrating stories (EMAKIMONO), One of the most celebrated of the latter is the series by Takayoshi, illustrating the GENJI MONOGATARI, a novel written by Murasaki Shikibu, a celebrated authoress of the Heian Period, The demand for landscape paintings grew in the Heian Period and many scenes from nature were painted on the sliding doors of the Imperial Palace and on folding screens. The decline of Chinese influence during the period is also to be noted.

the development of Japanese art culminating in the Kamakura Period in the creation of a purely Japanese style (YAMATO-E) in contradistinction to the Chinese style (KARAE).

The Kamakura Period (1192-1333) may be regarded as an extension of the Heian Period, with its technique polished and refined. Both the secular and religious paintings of this period show an improvement in artistic quality, and the Japanese style gradually came to perfection.

1 The middle of the Kamakura Period had already seen the rise of the Chinese style, and, in the Muromachi Period (1333-1573), it was in a flourishing condition, side by side with the Tosa school, which was producing great masters like Yukimitsu, Yukihiro, and Mitsunobu. But Mitsunobu was the last of the masters of YAMATO-E, for from that time this style began to decline.

SUMI-E, the delicate style of brush painting with black ink, was developed in the Muromachi Period (1333-1573), It originated with the Buddhists of the Zen sect who were familiar with the art of the Chinese Ming Dynasty.

1 The Momoyama Period (1573-1603), which followed, was a time of transition. It was also a period of great artistic sophistication. Artists expressed themselves in bright colors and elaborate designs. Gorgeous folding screens were introduced.

The Ukiyo-e school first made its appearance in the early days of the Edo Period (1603-1867). It aimed at depicting the social life of the day, particularly of the lower classes. It is somewhat different from the so-called genre pictures which had been in vogue much earlier, being principally the work of artists of the YAMATO-E school, who were fond of painting historic scenes. The genre pictures were intended for the delectation of the upper strata of society, not for the populace. The Ukiyoe school, on the other hand, aimed at providing scenes of daily life for the lower classes in the form, at first, of illustrations for story books, and later of independent prints.

It is indeed difficult to select any single individual as the originator of Ukiyo-e, but Hishikawa

Moronobu, who appeared in the Genroku age (1688-1703), was the first great master who contributed to the development of the Ukiyo-e school. Most of Moronobu’s pictures were drawn for engraving on wood-blocks, but he also left some excellent paintings, an examination of which makes it clear that he must have first studied the Tosa and Kanoo styles before working out his own style. As the production of color-prints progressed, Ukiyo-e grew more popular, especially in Edo. Suzuki Harunobu (1724-1770) specialized in the production of Azuma Nishikie, and after him came Kitagawa Utamaro, Saitoo Sharaku, Utagawa Toyokuni, Katsushika Hokusai, and Andoo Hiroshige, all of whom won great popularity for their color-prints.
```

```
Sculpture

The art of sculpture in Japan, previous to the Meiji Era, was practically confined to the carving of Buddhist images, although images of national deities and portrait statuary were occasionally produced. The powerful influence which Buddhism had begun to exercise is shown by the specimens of sculpture in the Nara Period (710-784)

2 that have come down to the present time. Foremost among the excellent works of the period is the colossal figure of Buddha in the Toodaiji Temple at Nara, known as the “Nara no Daibutsu,” a work which was completed in 749 A.D.

Japanese sculpture made a fair growth in the Nara and Heian Period, but it attained its highest realistic development in technique in the Kamakura Period, when it freed itself from Chinese influence. The age produced many great sculptors, Unkei, Kaikei, and Tankei being most influential. The Nioo (two Deva Kings) who guard the Nandaimon Gate of the Toodaiji Temple are said to be the joint productions of Unkei and Kaikei.

Much progress was also made in the art of casting bronze images. The Great Buddha of Kamakura is eloquent proof of this fact.

The Kamakura Period may be regarded as the golden age of the art of sculpture in Japan, and practically no further development in this field was found later. The Muromachi period which followed witnessed the rise of the Zen-shuu sect of Buddhism, which does not attach so much

2 importance to the production of fine images as the other sects. It was natural, therefore, that religious sculpture should fall into decay, a decay which continued into the Momoyama and Edo Period, when the only activity in this form of art was the carving of masks for the Noh drama.

2 However, for the decline of religious sculpture after the Muromachi Period there was some compensation in the rise of decorative sculpture for architectural purposes. The handsome palaces built in the period brought into being what was known as “temple carving," this being the carving of human figures, birds, animals, flowers, etc., in the form of pictorial designs. Among the temple carvers; Hidari Jingoroo is most popular.

The sculptural art during the Edo Period was in the hands of mere craftsmen and not of artists in the strict sense of the term. With the advent of the Meiji Era came a turning point in the history of Japanese sculpture which resulted from the introduction of Western-style technique, the invitation of able Western artists and various other factors.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| の | See Grammar Notes |
| 時代 | era, period |
| 文化 | culture |
| は | leaves |
| 土器 | earthenware |
| が | but (See Gram. Notes) |
| い | stomach |
| から | from (See Gram. Notes) |
| いる。 | to need (See Gram. Notes) |
| 表面 | surface |
| に | on (See Gram. Notes) |
| 縄目 | impression of straw rope; bonds |
| 文様 | pattern |
| ある | certain, some |
| で、 | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| と | and (See Gram. Notes) |
| 言う。 | to say |
| 紀元 | an era; epoch |
| 前 | before, front |
| 二 | two |
| 前後 | about; approximately |
| ころ、 | season |
| れる | to be able to --
(See Grammar Notes) |
| を | particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill) |
| いわゆる | so called |
| アジア | Asia |
| 大陸 | continent |
| 仏教 | Buddhism |
| し | city |
| 寺院、 | Buddhist temple |
| 仏閣 | Buddhist temple |
| 建立 | construction |
| も | as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes |
| 寺 | Buddhist temple |
| 最古 | the oldest |
| 建築 | construction |
| 八 | eight |
| 仏像 | image of Buddha |
| 彫刻 | carving; sculpture |
| 十 | ten |
| 一 | one |
| 隆盛 | prosperity |
| 多く | many of them |
| もの | things (tangible) |

## Paintings, prints and their masters · Narration 2 of 2

### From picture scrolls to color prints

*絵画では大和絵や絵巻物が発達した* means "In painting, Yamato-e paintings and picture scrolls developed." These secular arts grew during the Heian Period.

*十四世紀にはいってからは墨絵が全盛をきわめ、彫刻では仏像彫刻に代って能面が彫刻界を代表する様になった* says ink painting reached its height after the fourteenth century began. It also says Noh masks came to represent sculpture instead of Buddhist sculpture.

*浮世絵の創始を見たのは 十七世紀の中ごろで、庶民生活や風俗、俳優の姿、風景などを豊かな色彩をもってえがいたものである* places the beginning of ukiyo-e in the mid-seventeenth century. It depicts ordinary life, customs, actors, and landscapes in rich colors.

*これらの浮世絵の多くは木版画となっている* means "Many of these ukiyo-e are woodblock prints." Utamaro, Toyokuni, Sharaku, Hokusai, and Hiroshige are named as masters.

**8** 又この時代、貴族の住宅建築として寝殿造りという様式が発達した。  
またこのじだい、きぞくのじゅうたくけんちくとしてしんでんづくりというようしきがはったつした。  
Also in this period, a style called shinden-zukuri developed for aristocratic residences.

**9** 絵画では大和絵や絵巻物が発達した。  
かいがではやまとえやえまきものがはったつした。  
In painting, Yamato-e paintings and picture scrolls developed.

**10** 十四世紀にはいってからは墨絵が全盛をきわめ、彫刻では仏像彫刻に代って能面が彫刻界を代表する様になった。  
じゅうよんせいきにはいってからはすみえがぜんせいをきわめ、ちょうこくではぶつぞうちょうこくにかわってのうめんがちょうこくかいをだいひょうするようになった。  
After the beginning of the fourteenth century, ink painting attained the highest stage of prosperity, and in sculpture, Noh masks came to represent the field in place of Buddhist sculpture.

**11** 浮世絵の創始を見たのは 十七世紀の中ごろで、庶民生活や風俗、俳優の姿、風景などを豊かな色彩をもってえがいたものである。  
うきよえのそうしをみたのはじゅうななせいきのなかごろで、しょみんせいかつやふうぞく、はいゆうのすがた、ふうけいなどをゆたかなしきさいをもってえがいたものである。  
Ukiyo-e began in the middle of the seventeenth century and depicted the lives and customs of ordinary people, actors, landscapes, and other subjects in rich colors.

**12** 浮世絵の有名な大家は、美人画で有名な歌麿、役者の似顔絵で有名な豊国や写楽、富嶽三十六景で有名な北斎、東海道五十三次で有名な広重などである。  
うきよえのゆうめいなたいかは、びじんがでゆうめいなうたまろ、やくしゃのにがおえでゆうめいなとよくにやしゃらく、ふがくさんじゅうろっけいでゆうめいなほくさい、とうかいどうごじゅうさんつぎでゆうめいなひろしげなどである。  
Famous masters of ukiyo-e include Utamaro, famous for pictures of beautiful women; Toyokuni and Sharaku, famous for portraits of actors; Hokusai, famous for Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji; and Hiroshige, famous for the 53 stages on the Tokaido highway.

**13** これらの浮世絵の多くは木版画となっている。  
これらのうきよえのおおくはもくはんがとなっている。  
Many of these ukiyo-e are woodblock prints.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 時代、 | era, period |
| 貴族 | nobility |
| 住宅 | residence |
| 様式 | mode; form; style |
| 絵画 | paintings |
| で | --is and -- (See Grammar Notes) |
| や | and---among others (See Gram. Notes) |
| 絵巻物 | picture scroll |
| 四 | four |
| 墨絵 | black and white drawing; Indian-ink drawing |
| 能面 | Noh mask |
| 創始 | creation; origination |
| 七 | seven |
| 庶民 | common people; populace |
| 風俗、 | custom |
| 風景 | scenery; view |
| など | and so forth, etc. |
| な | I wish, I hope, huh |
| 色彩 | color |
| ある。 | certain, some |
| 大家 | great master; authority |
| 役者 | actor, player |
| 富嶽 | Mt, Fuji |
| 三十 | 30 |
| 六 | six |
| 五十 | 50 |
| 三 | three |

## Prehistoric art and architecture · Questions 1 of 2

### Origins and later construction

These questions cover Jomon pottery, Yayoi culture, Buddhist construction, sculpture, and aristocratic residences.

*弥生式文化は いつごろ どこから 伝えられましたか* means "Around when and from where was Yayoi culture introduced?" An answer gives both a period and a place.

Other answers identify a structure, a style, or what developed. *八世紀ごろは、何の 黄金時代と 言われていますか* asks which art had its golden age around the eighth century.

**14** 日本の 原始時代の 文化は、いつごろから 始まっていますか。  
にほんのげんしじだいのぶんかは、いつごろからはじまっていますか。  
Around when did Japanese prehistoric culture begin?

**15** 縄文式土器と 言うのは、どんな 土器ですか。  
じょうもんしきどきというのは、どんなどきですか。  
What kind of pottery is Jomon-style pottery?

**16** 弥生式文化は いつごろ どこから 伝えられましたか。  
やよいしきぶんかはいつごろどこからつたえられましたか。  
Around when and from where was Yayoi culture introduced?

**17** 世界最古の 木造建築物は 何ですか。  
せかいさいこのもくぞうけんちくぶつはなんですか。  
What is the oldest wooden structure in the world?

**18** 仏教が 日本に 伝来してから、何が 発達しましたか。  
ぶっきょうがにほんにでんらいしてから、なにがはったつしましたか。  
What developed after Buddhism was introduced to Japan?

**19** 八世紀ごろは、何の 黄金時代と 言われていますか。  
はっせいきごろは、なんのおうごんじだいといわれていますか。  
Around the eighth century is said to have been the golden age of what?

**20** 浄土教の 隆盛に 伴って 何が 多く 建てられる様に なりましたか。  
じょうどきょうのりゅうせいにともなってなにがおおくたてられるようになりましたか。  
As Pure Land Buddhism flourished, what came to be built in large numbers?

**21** 十一世紀ごろ 建てられた 有名な 寺院は 何ですか。  
じゅういちせいきごろたてられたゆうめいなじいんはなんですか。  
What famous temple was built around the eleventh century?

**22** この 時代、貴族の 住宅として どんな 様式の 建築が 発達しましたか。  
このじだい、きぞくのじゅうたくとしてどんなようしきのけんちくがはったつしましたか。  
In this period, what style of architecture developed for aristocratic residences?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| は、 | leaves |
| ます | trout |
| か。 | either--or-- (See Gram. Notes) |
| 言う | to say |
| どんな | what kind of; what sort of |
| です | to be (See Gram. Notes) |
| 寺院 | Buddhist temple |

## Painting, masks and woodblock prints · Questions 2 of 2

### Styles, subjects, and masters

These questions cover when ink painting, Noh-mask sculpture, and ukiyo-e flourished. They also connect print masters with subjects or series.

One answer identifies Noh masks as what came to be made in sculpture instead of Buddhist statues.

*北斎は 何で 有名ですか* means "What is Hokusai famous for?" Some answers name artists. Others name pictures or print series.

**23** この 時代、絵画では どんなのが 発達しましたか。  
このじだい、かいがではどんなのがはったつしましたか。  
In this period, what kinds of painting developed?

**24** 墨絵が 全盛を きわめたのは、いつごろですか。  
すみえがぜんせいをきわめたのは、いつごろですか。  
Around when did ink painting attain the highest stage of prosperity?

**25** 十四世紀には 彫刻では 仏像彫刻に 代って 何が 出来る 様に なりましたか。  
じゅうよんせいきにはちょうこくではぶつぞうちょうこくにかわってなにができるようになりましたか。  
In the fourteenth century, what came to be made in sculpture in place of Buddhist statues?

**26** 浮世絵の 創始を 見たのは、いつごろですか。  
うきよえのそうしをみたのは、いつごろですか。  
Around when did ukiyo-e begin?

**27** 浮世絵とは どんな 絵ですか。  
うきよえとはどんなえですか。  
What kind of pictures are ukiyo-e?

**28** 美人画の 大家は だれでしたか。  
びじんがのたいかはだれでしたか。  
Who was the great master of pictures of beautiful women?

**29** 役者の 似顔絵で 有名なのは、だれですか。  
やくしゃのにがおえでゆうめいなのは、だれですか。  
Who is famous for portraits of actors?

**30** 北斎は 何で 有名ですか。  
ほくさいはなんでゆうめいですか。  
What is Hokusai famous for?

**31** 広重は 何で 有名ですか。  
ひろしげはなんでゆうめいですか。  
What is Hiroshige famous for?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 出来る | to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.) |
| だれ | who? |

## Pottery and temple construction · Word list 1 of 4

### Pottery and temple building

The words cover prehistoric pottery, its decoration, and Buddhist buildings.

*土器* means "earthenware."

*寺院* and *仏閣* both mean "Buddhist temple." The narration uses both words when describing temple construction after Buddhism reached Japan.

**32** 原始時代  
げんしじだい  
primitive age

**33** 絵画  
かいが  
drawings; paintings

**34** 縄文式  
じょうもんしき  
straw-rope pattern

**35** 土器  
どき  
earthenware

**36** 弥生式  
やよいしき  
Yayoi style

**37** 文様  
もんよう  
pattern

**38** 後代  
こうだい  
posterity

**39** 寺院  
じいん  
Buddhist temple

**40** 仏閣  
ぶっかく  
Buddhist temple

**41** 建立  
こんりゅう  
construction

**42** 木造建築物  
もくぞうけんちくぶつ  
wooden building; wooden structure

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 原始時代 | primitive age |
| 縄文式 | straw-rope pattern |
| 弥生式 | Yayoi style |
| 後代 | posterity |
| 木造建築物 | wooden building; wooden structure |

## Buddhist sculpture and architecture · Word list 2 of 4

### Religious art and courtly forms

The words cover Buddhist sculpture, religious and aristocratic buildings, and Japanese painting.

*彫刻* means "carving" or "sculpture." *寝殿造り* means "Shinden-form of architecture."

*絵巻物* means "picture scroll." It belongs to the passage's account of painting.

**43** 仏像  
ぶつぞう  
image of Buddha

**44** 彫刻  
ちょうこく  
carving; sculpture

**45** 黄金時代  
おうごんじだい  
golden age

**46** 浄土教  
じょうどきょう  
Joodo sect

**47** 隆盛  
りゅうせい  
prosperity

**48** 阿弥陀堂  
あみだどう  
Ami da hall

**49** 貴族  
きぞく  
nobility

**50** 建築  
けんちく  
construction

**51** 寝殿造り  
しんでんづくり  
Shinden-form of architecture

**52** 大和絵  
やまとえ  
Yamato-e painting; picture representing things Japanese

**53** 絵巻物  
えまきもの  
picture scroll

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 黄金時代 | golden age |
| 浄土教 | Joodo sect |
| 阿弥陀堂 | Ami da hall |
| 寝殿造り | Shinden-form of architecture |
| 大和絵 | Yamato-e painting; picture representing things Japanese |

## Ink painting and portraiture · Word list 3 of 4

### Painting styles and subjects

The words name painting styles, their visual qualities, their makers, and their subjects.

*墨絵* means "black and white drawing" or "Indian-ink drawing." *浮世絵* means "genre picture."

*似顔絵* means "portrait." The narration links portraits and other subjects with different ukiyo-e masters.

**54** 墨絵  
すみえ  
black and white drawing; Indian-ink drawing

**55** 全盛をきわめる  
ぜんせいをきわめる  
attain the highest stage of prosperity

**56** 能面  
のうめん  
Noh mask

**57** 彫刻界  
ちょうこくかい  
sculpture circle

**58** 浮世絵  
うきよえ  
genre picture

**59** 豊かな  
ゆたかな  
rich

**60** 色彩  
しきさい  
color

**61** えがく  
えがく  
draw; paint

**62** 大家  
たいか  
great master; authority

**63** 美人画  
びじんが  
drawing of beautiful girls

**64** 似顔絵  
にがおえ  
portrait

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 全盛をきわめる | attain the highest stage of prosperity |
| 彫刻界 | sculpture circle |
| 浮世絵 | genre picture |
| 豊かな | rich |
| えがく | draw; paint |
| 美人画 | drawing of beautiful girls |
| 似顔絵 | portrait |

## Woodblock prints and ancient materials · Word list 4 of 4

### Prints and ancient materials

One group names famous print series and woodblock printing. Another describes prehistoric dates, pottery surfaces, and metalware.

*東海道五十三次* means "53 stages on the Tookaidoo highway." *木版画* means "wood-block printing."

*金属器* means "metal ware." The narration places metalware beside Yayoi-style pottery introduced from the Asian continent.

**65** 富嶽  
ふがく  
Mt, Fuji

**66** 三十六景  
さんじゅうろくけい  
36 scenes

**67** 東海道五十三次  
とうかいどうごじゅうさんつぎ  
53 stages on the Tookaidoo highway

**68** 木版画  
もくはんが  
wood-block printing

**69** 文化  
ぶんか  
culture; Civilization

**70** 表面  
ひょうめん  
surface

**71** 縄目  
なわめ  
impression of straw rope; bonds

**72** 紀元前  
きげんまえ  
B. C.

**73** 前後  
ぜんご  
about; approximately

**74** 金属器  
きんぞくき  
metal ware

**75** いわゆる  
いわゆる  
so-called

```
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise

1 Topics;

a Talk about the following topics in Japanese with your classmates.

(1) Japanese paintings and drawings.

(2) Japanese sculpture.

(3) Japanese architecture.

2 Exercises;

a Interpretation Exercise.

(1) What is the oldest wooden structure in the world?

(1) 法隆寺が 世界最古の 木造建築物と されています。

(2) What developed after Buddhism was introduced to Japan?

(2) 寺院、仏閣の 建立が 発達しました。

(3) When did the black and white drawing attain the highest stage of prosperity?

(3) それは 十四世紀にはいってからです。

(4) What kind of drawing is Ukiyoe?

(4) 庶民の 生活や 風俗、俳優の 姿、風景などを 豊かな 色彩を もって えがいたものです。

(5) Who was famous for thirty-six scenes of Mt. Fuji?

(5) 富嶽三十六景で 有名なのは 北斎でした。
```

```
Homework

1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary.

2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.

3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji.

4 Read the Cultural Notes
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 三十六景 | 36 scenes |
| 東海道五十三次 | 53 stages on the Tookaidoo highway |
| 木版画 | wood-block printing |
| 紀元前 | B. C. |
| 金属器 | metal ware |