Nihonga Art Movement

Introduction

Nihonga literally means Japanese painting, but it is a relatively recent term, coined during the Meiji period after Japan opened to the West, to distinguish Japanese painting from Western-style oil painting.  Definitions tend to change, and today, when many nihonga painters draw inspiration from Western art instead of limiting themselves to traditional Japanese themes, the distinction is best explained by differences in the materials used.  In nihonga, mainly paper or silk is used, not canvas, and the paints are made of finely ground minerals mixed with animal glue. Ink is also widely used in nihonga, as are gold and other metals, applied as paint, powder or thin sheet metal (‘The Secret Hideaway of Japan’s Best Nihonga Artists’). Introduced to Japan through its contact with Chinese culture, the Nihonga technique has remained relatively unchanged since the 8th century. Although the style originated in the Chinese Tang dynasty (618-907), it was overlooked by his homeland when ink painting became the dominant medium. The Chinese style, however, was adopted in Japan, and its development defined Japanese painting for centuries (‘What Is Nihonga Art and Its History?’). The pigments used in Nihonga were different from oil paintings. They were more intense and flexible than watercolors. The colors were special as one technique was to heat the pigments to change the color and then mix them with nikawa, animal skin glue, a particularly time-consuming process (‘Unwritten Dialogues – An Interview with Adam Booth’).

Starting point

Beginning in late 19th century Japan as an indigenous art movement, Nihonga continues to this day, exemplified by the art and genealogy of over six generations of painters. Described in part through the use of traditional materials, techniques and methods, Nihonga's artists are highly skilled and versatile, having mastered a wide variety of styles, while boasting a complete repertoire of genres, themes and themes. It is not uncommon for a painter Nihonga known for his meticulous gold and silver displays to also create deeply expressive ink landscapes. As an art movement, Nihonga and her artists have incorporated almost every aspect of modernity into painting (‘What Is Nihonga Art and Its History?’). At that time, Japanese painting was widely considered flat and primitive compared to Western painting. The main complaint was that it lacked the mechanisms used in Western art, including scientific perspective and chiaroscuro shading, which create dimension and variations in light. Convinced that Japanese painting could not compete unless this perceived deficiency was overcome, Okakura challenged his students to find new ways of expressing air and light. Instead of borrowing from the West, Okakura urged them to look within the traditions of China and Japan so that their solution would be authentically Asian (‘The Secret Hideaway of Japan’s Best Nihonga Artists’). 

Aesthetics

There are 9 basic principles in Japanese art and culture. They are called aesthetics, concepts that answer the question of what art is and form the basis for Japanese art, fashion, pop culture, music and movies: 1) wabi-sabi or imperfection, 2) miyabi or elegance, 3) Shibui or discretion, 4) iki or avant-garde, 5) jo-ha-kyu or slow beginning, acceleration and end, 6) yugen or mystery, 7) geido or discipline and morality,  8) enspu or vacuum and 9) kawaii or cute (‘9 Principles of Japanese Art and Culture’).

The Kabuki Theatre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67-bgSFJiKc 

Kabuki is a Japanese traditional theatrical form, which originated in the Edo period in the early seventeenth century and was especially popular with the inhabitants of the city. Initially, both men and women played in kabuki plays, but eventually only male actors played the plays: a tradition that has remained to this day. Male actors specializing in female roles are called onnagata. Two other important types of roles are aragoto (rough style) and wagoto (soft style).

Kabuki's works deal with historical events and moral conflicts in the relationships of the heart. The actors speak in a monotonous voice and are accompanied by traditional instruments. The Kabuki stage is equipped with various gadgets, such as rotating scenes and hatches through which actors can appear and disappear. Another specialty of the Kabuki scene is a pedestrian bridge (hanamichi) that spans the audience. Important features of Kabuki Theatre include its distinctive music, costumes, props and sets, as well as specific plays, language and acting styles, such as mie, in which the actor takes a distinctive stance to establish his character. Keshÿ, the special makeup, provides an element of style easily recognizable even by those unfamiliar with the art form. After 1868, when Japan opened up to Western influence, actors tried to increase Kabuki's reputation among the upper classes and adapt traditional styles to modern tastes. Today, Kabuki is the most popular of the traditional styles of Japanese drama (Kabuki Theatre).

Arts

The greatest influence on Japanese painting came from China. It was only at the end of the Heian period (931-1185) that indigenous Japanese tastes began to impose themselves on art and literature. Japanese artists enjoyed creating paintings that reflected their natural landscape or that depicted Japanese literary themes rather than those of China. This shift to specific Japanese themes and locals, as well as the growing tendency to evoke emotional, subjective response in the viewer, were the main features of a style that became known as yamato-e. By the end of the Edo period, or Tokugawa, period (1615–1868), many different schools of painting flourished, including Kanō which followed the Chinese antecedents more closely, Rinpa, followers of the artist Kōrin and Sōtatsu, who extolled indigenous traditions, and bunjinga or nanga, which referred to Chinese literary paintings created by a scholar-master. Japanese painting is generally characterized as linear, with the paint applied to flat areas. Historically, both Chinese and Japanese painters have avoided the simple reproduction of forms of nature. But unlike the more intellectual and academic tendencies of Chinese artists, Japanese artists also tried to convey a subjective response to beauty and pleasure in the world around them. A Buddhist appreciation of the transitory combined with a reverence of nature derived from Shintō, the native Japanese religion, have for centuries created an art that is predominantly Japanese. In the early twentieth century, Japan no longer looked east to China for artistic inspiration. With the Meiji Restoration in 1686 — when the nation opened up to international trade and commerce after nearly 250 years of self-imposed isolation — Japan gained access to Western technology and art. As early as 1876, the study of Western art became part of the Technical School of Art (Kōbu Bijutsa Gakko). Yōga, or Western-style oil painting, executed with a hard brush on thick canvas, was encouraged as an important tool to catch up with the West. The artists of Nihonga They tried to merge aspects of Western art, such as chiaroscuro and the one-point perspective, with the conventions of traditional Japanese painting styles. Not only Japanese materials were used, but his teaching and practice Nihonga It incorporated centuries-old beliefs and traditions. Given the strong focus on group identity within Japanese society and culture, many artists felt a responsibility to cultivate a common national style, drawing their inspiration from historical schools or artists. Japanese artists have traditionally studied under established Sensei, or teachers, while the when (group, association or guild), which developed during the Meiji period, continued to occupy a critical place in the Japanese art world. One of its main functions when is to hold exhibitions, providing young, aspiring artists with the opportunity to show their work. Artists apply to participate with the sponsorship of a teacher or mentor. They are usually formed around a particular Sensei or charismatic figure, when They are extremely unstable, many are created and soon dissolve. Some, however, manage to achieve a respectable longevity. One of the first to encourage Nihonga, the Kangakai (Society for Painting Appreciation), founded by Fenollosa in 1884. With the support of the government, the Nihonga It continued to flourish with its own marketing system as well as the support of powerful and wealthy patrons. Certainly Nihonga it has developed in various ways – some of which are more inspiring than others – but remains little known outside Japan. A great exhibition, "Nihonga: A Century of Modern Japanese Painting: 1868-1968", organized by the Museum of Saint Louis in 1995, was a groundbreaking exhibition that, along with the impressive edition that accompanied the exhibition. It has helped direct more attention and serious scholarship to this exciting genre. And, as in the past, among the numerous challenges artists face of Nihonga It remains the way of merging traditional techniques with modern sensibilities (‘What Is Nihonga Art and Its History?’).

Music

Historically, Japanese folk music was strongly influenced by music from China, with some of its forms imported from China more than a thousand years ago. Many popular Japanese musical instruments originated in China and were then adapted to meet local needs. 1) Traditional Japanese Music, 2) Somio & Gagaku, 3) Kabuki & No, 4) Instrumental Japanese Music. Traditional Japanese music usually refers to the historical folk music of Japan. Two forms are recognized as the oldest forms - shōmyō, or Buddhist chanting, and gagaku, or theatrical court music. Shōmyō is a ritual music sung in a Buddhist ceremony by a group of Buddhist monks – literally translated, the word "shōmyō" combines characters for "voice" and "wisdom". Gagaku is the oldest of Japan's musical traditions and includes dances and songs in two styles – kigaku, which is instrumental music, and seigaku, a form of vocal music. There are several Japanese dramatic forms in which music plays an important role. The main ones are kabuki and no. Kabuki is known for its highly stylized dancing and singing, along with its elaborate makeup (sported by a predominantly male cast). Noh is a form of classical Japanese musical drama performed since the 14th century. Noh is often based on stories from traditional literature, with a supernatural transforming into human form as a hero telling the story – usually involving a mask being worn. Noh has been called "Japanese opera" and is a "chanted drama", but the song depends on a limited tonal range. Music has many spaces (ma) between sounds. Negative blank spaces are actually considered the heart of music. Accompaniment is provided by an ensemble of hayashi of three drummers and a flutist. Traditional Japanese music has a meditative character, with highly ritualistic performance – sharing much in common with martial arts and other Japanese art forms, such as tea ceremony and calligraphy. Music often seems to represent the natural sounds and sounds of life, through percussion, wind instruments and stringed instruments. An interesting feature of classical Japanese music is its sparse rhythm and the absence of regular chords. All rhythms are based on "ma" and silence is an important part of the songs (‘History Of Japanese Music’).

Notable Compositions

Shômyô - Buddhist liturgical chants, Shingon sect (Japan)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIGulnnBwts 

Shomyo, which literally means "voice clear", is a style of melodic chanting based on sacred texts. It originated in India, later migrating to Japan from China and Korea sometime after the arrival of Buddhism in the mid-6th century AD. The earliest documented rendering of shomyo was in 752. But it was only sometime in the Heian period (9th to 12th centuries) that shomyo really prevailed, since the successors of Saicho, founder of the Tendai sect, and Kukai, founder of Shingon, completed notation systems for the shomyo styles of their respective traditions. These remain the dominant shomyo styles today (Editors). The shomyo is a classic Buddhist song in Japan. Although it comes from older Chinese sources, the main influences of shomyo nomenclature and performance practices are found in later Japanese music in the same way that ancient Western art music was based on early Roman Catholic music theory (Shomyo | Buddhist Chant | Britannica).

Kisetsu No Nagare - Hirota

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3AWa1H35Zs

Kodo - "O-Daiko" - HD (japanese drummers - Taiko - giant drums Japan)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7HL5wYqAbU

Kodō are one of the elite taiko drum bands and have been a major force in the revitalization of taiko drums after World War II, touring regularly in Japan and the United States. Their performances also include other traditional Japanese instruments, such as the shamisen, along with traditional dances and vocal performances (‘History Of Japanese Music’).

Rising – Yoshida Brothers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqlsO6iP5ow&t=2s 

The Yoshida Brothers are Japanese shamisenist musicians who have released several albums on Domo Records. The two brothers are interpreters of the traditional Japanese musical style of Tsugaru-jamisen originating in northern Japan. They made their debut in 1999 in Japan as a duo playing shamisen. Their first album sold over 100,000 copies and made them small celebrities in Japan, which surprised the Yoshida Brothers themselves. Since then they have attracted an international audience. Their music was an amalgamation of the fast and percussion Tsugaru-jamisen style along with Western and other local musical influences. In addition to performing songs found only in shamisen, they also use instruments such as drums and synthesizers. Ads for Nintendo's Wii video game console that began airing in North America in November 2006 included the Yoshida brothers' song "Kodo (Inside the Sun Remix)" (‘Yoshida Brothers’). Their debut album sold over 100,000 copies and they have since toured the US and recorded an album in Los Angeles, attracting international fans. Their music was also used in the television commercial for Nintendo's Wii. Their style pushes the shamisen sound from traditional music to jazz, experimental music, rock 'n' roll and pop (‘History Of Japanese Music’).

Bibliography

‘9 Principles of Japanese Art and Culture’. Japan Talk, https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/9-principles-of-Japanese-art-and-culture. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

Editors, The. ‘Shomyo No Kyai’. Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, https://tricycle.org/magazine/shomyo-no-kai/. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

‘History Of Japanese Music’. Audio Network, https://www.audionetwork.com/content/the-edit/inspiration/history-of-japanese-music. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

Kabuki Theatre. Directed by UNESCO, 2009. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67-bgSFJiKc.

Shomyo | Buddhist Chant | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/shomyo. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

‘The Secret Hideaway of Japan’s Best Nihonga Artists’. Japan Objects, https://japanobjects.com/features/nihonga-artists. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

‘Unwritten Dialogues – An Interview with Adam Booth’. Tokyo Art Beat, https://www.tokyoartbeat.com/en/articles/-/unwritten_dialogues_an_intervi. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

‘What Is Nihonga Art and Its History?’ BRUVEL FINE ARTS, https://www.bruvelfinearts.com/pages/what-is-nihonga-art-and-its-history. Accessed 5 Jan. 2023.

‘Yoshida Brothers’. Wikipedia, 13 July 2022. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yoshida_Brothers&oldid=1098002074.