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Early Buddhist Architecture in Japan. I. Some basic values in East Asian urbanism influence the design of many Buddhist monasteries. East Asian Imperial Capitals. Xi’an, China 6 th cen. . Nara, Japan, 8 th century. Kyoto, Japan, 9 th cen . A.D. II. A.
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I. Some basic values in East Asian urbanism influence the design of many Buddhist monasteries East Asian Imperial Capitals Xi’an, China 6th cen. Nara, Japan, 8th century Kyoto, Japan, 9thcen. A.D. II. A.
I. A. An ideal city: Confucian geomancy in city plans (Nara, Japan, inspired by the city of Xi’an, China) Xi’an, China 6th cen.
I. A. 1. How did Chinese cosmology picture the earth? Cosmic diagram in Four Deities tile, 200 bc Ideal Chinese capital city
II. A. 2. What meaning does Confucian geomancy attribute to the four cardinal directions? II. A. 3. What position would the virtuous ruler occupy in a Confucian city? North: Dark Turtle & Snake Xi’an, China, 6th cen. West: White Tiger Confucius (551-449 B.C.) East Green Dragon South: Red Bird
II. Context: Buddhism enters Japan in ad552 from China (through Korea) as a quality of higher civilization, including the ideal of the centralized state
II. A. Parts of the HoryujiGakumonju (its full name, meaning Learning Temple) as reflection of the fact that temples at this time were more intent on studying the faith than disseminating it The Horyuji, near Nara, Japan, 7th cen. ad (670-714)
II. B. What is the orientation of East Asian monasteries like Horyuji? The Horyuji Cosmic diagram in Four Deities tile, 200 bc
III. A pantheistic world view (the divine is everywhere) in the pagoda and the image hall The Horyuji
III. A. The pagoda (the stupa of East Asian Buddhist monasteries)
III. A. 1. What was the purpose of the pagoda in East Asian Buddhist monasteries? Brick Pagoda, Dengfeng, China, ad 523 Pagoda of the Horyuji, ad 670
III. A. 2. Like stupas, pagodas presented an image of clarity of Buddhism. How did pagodas come to look so different from the Indian stupa? The Yungang Caves, Buddhist sanctuary, China, 5th-6th century ad
III. A. 3. How was the pagoda filled with the divinity of the Buddha, becoming an autonomous entity within the monastic complex? Pagoda of the Horyuji
III. A. 4. What was the eventual destiny of the pagoda in future Buddhist temple designs? The Asuka-dera, Nara, Japan, 588 The Shitennoji, Osaka, Japan, 592-628 The Horyuji, Nara, 670 The Yakushiji, Nara, Japan, 688
II. B. A deified Buddha: the purpose of the image hall (kondo or golden hall) in East Asian Buddhism Borobudur – terrace with sculpted frieze The Great Stupa at Sanchi The Image Hall at Horyuji
II. B. 1. How was the image hall filled with the divinity of the Buddha, becoming an autonomous entity within the monastery like the pagoda? The Image Hall (Kondo) of the Horyuji
III. B. 2. Monumentality: Creating the grandeur of the temple with wood a. How do the posts at Horyuji contribute to the sense of imposing dignity? The Image Hall (Kondo) of the Horyuji entasis - swelling
III. B. 2. b. Why is the bracketing system key to the structure and ornament of the Buddhist temple in East Asia? Deity hall of the Shinto shrine at Ise Image hall of Horyuji Buddhist temple
III. B. 2. b. two basic parts of East Asian bracketing system = bearing block + bracket arm
III. B. 2. b. simple bracket system higher: three-block bracket
III. B. 2. b. simple bracket system higher farther outward three-block bracket projecting three-block
III. B. 2. b. simple bracket system higher farther outward three-block bracket projecting three-block
III. B. 2. b. farther outward still higher and farther outward steeper, higher, farther projecting three-block two-step one-step one-step projecting complex or two-step projecting complex
III. B. 2. b. Cloud brackets of the Nara style in the Image Hall (Kondo) of the Horyuji
III. B. 2. c. How does the massive roof appear to be effortlessly buoyant? Cloud brackets of the Nara style in the Image Hall (Kondo) of the Horyuji
III. C. Eliade’s sacred and profane space in the East Asian monastery Xi’an, China Shinto Shrine at Ise The Horyuji
III. C. 1. What were two functions the enveloping corridor (kairo) around the temple? The Horyuji
III. C. 2. How does the enveloping kairo also strengthen the sense of the divine Buddha as the subject filling the monastery with his presence? the Horyuji
III. C. 3. Why was the inner or middle gate threshold in south side of enclosure not simply an entrance? The Horyuji
III. C. 3. The Horyuji outer gate inner gate
III. D. Spaces where human beings are the autonomous subject: What monastery buildings were outside the most sacred boundary of the kairo? the Horyuji