Community College of Aurora

Transcription

1 Community College of Aurora Compare and Contrast: Ancient Guardian Figures Terra Cotta Warriors Haniwa Lisa Stacy Art History 1 Art 111 Shanda Plock September 20, 2013

2 Stacy Page 2 Funerary objects have been used by many cultures throughout history. Some pieces were intended to be seen by visitors, while others were buried with the dead; never to be seen again. Funerary objects served cultural functions. In some cultures they were meant to celebrate the life and accomplishments of the deceased. Some were meant to protect the dead in the afterlife, or the object may have been intended for use by the dead in the afterlife. Another possibility is an object functioned as a reminder of human mortality. Funerary goods made from pottery have been common in many cultures. They reached a high point in China where they were buried with the dead to serve or entertain in the afterlife. This discussion will show the relation between the funerary art of China and Japan, the Terra Cotta Warriors and the haniwa; respectively. The Terra Cotta Army of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, was discovered by chance in March of Farmers digging a well about 1 mile east of the emperor s tomb discovered an underground chamber. Archeologists later found the chamber contained an army of 8,000 life-size terra-cotta soldiers. The clay figures, all unique, were in military formation and mirrors the emperor s military power in his lifetime. The clay army was a spirit army constructed to protect the emperor in the afterlife, the same as they protected him in life. Terra-cotta soldiers and horses in the tomb of the Qin emperor Shihuangdi, near Xi an, Shaanxi province, China. Credit: Digital Vision/Thinkstock Terra-cotta soldiers in the Qin tomb, near Xi an, Shaanxi province, China. Credit: Lukas Hlavac/Fotolia

3 Stacy Page 3 Haniwa is the term for the unglazed earthenware cylinders and hollow sculptures used to adorn the surface of the kofun tombs of Japanese nobility. The Japanese haniwa were made for ritual use and buried with the dead during the Kofun period. The Kofun Period was named after the gigantic tombs, or tumuli, that appear in the third century. Ko means old, fun means tomb. The largest tumulus in Japan the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku. About 20,000 clay haniwa statues stood on the enormous earthen mound. While the Terra Cotta Warriors depict a military presence, the Japanese haniwa were whimsical creations and perhaps represented the realm the deceased ruled during his life. Besides decorative and spiritual reasons, the haniwa figures served as a retaining wall for the burial mound. Haniwa Chanters. Late 5 th -early 6 th century. Clay, height 25 ¼ (64.2 cm) and 22 ¼ (56.5 cm). Tokyo National Museum Source: How to Look at Japanese Art Reconstruction of haniwa on tumulus, Jimbo Shimojo, no. 2, Gunma Prefecture. Drawing by Migishima Kazuo and Iizuka Satoshi Source: Bridge of Dreams : The Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese Art The Terra Cotta Warriors and the Japanese haniwa sculptures were both made from rings of clay. The head, arms, legs and torsos of the terra cotta army figures were made separately

4 Stacy Page 4 from molds then assembled. Studies show that eight face molds were likely used. Additional clay were added after the molding process and given individual facial features. Some believe the clay warriors are all individuals. Each statue was life-size, molded in separate sections, assembled then fully painted. Each figure has the name of the master craftsman stamped on it. Archaeologists have found 87 different names stamped on the warriors. It s believed there were 87 master craftsmen with a team of apprentices under each master. Experts estimate 10 apprentices per team, nearly a thousand workers. All 8,000 warriors were completed in only 8 years. This general digitally recreated for National Geographic magazine (watch video) displays the kind of bold colors that originally covered all the army's figures, officers as well as rank-and-file soldiers. Illustration by Pure Rendering GmbH, National Geographic Showing the massive army deployed in the main pit, this digital recreation created for National Geographic magazine is based on the evidence found so far, including the figures' poses, fragments of paint, and the bronze blades of weapons. Illustration by Pure Rendering GmbH, National Geographic

5 Stacy Page 5 The haniwa figures were created according to the wasumi technique, mounds of coiled clay were built up layer by layer to shape the figure. Hani means clay, wa means circle. The haniwa vary from 1 to 5 feet in height, the average being approximately 3 feet high. Unlike the Terra Cotta Warriors, Haniwa sculptors adapted the basic clay cylinder into many different forms. Iconography included abstract shapes to objects, animals (for example: deer, bears, horses, and monkeys), and human figures, such as warriors and female shamans. In contrast to the Terra Cotta Warriors, the haniwa were often built in a hurry and thus were built simplistically. Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century Source: Wikimedia Commons A Kofun- era Haniwa soldier on display at the Tokyo National Museum. This statue is a National Treasure of Japan. Source: PHGCOM/Wikimedia Commons

6 Stacy Page 6 Qin Shi Huangdi constructed a 20-square-mile funerary compound in preparation for his death. A collection of terracotta sculptures, known as the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, were buried with the emperor. It s estimated there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. The iconography consisted of cavalry, chariots, archers, lancers, and hand-to-hand fighters. There are four main pits located approximately 1.5 km east of the emperor s tomb and are about 7 meters deep. The army was placed facing east, poised for battle, as if to protect the tomb. Originally, the haniwa were set on top of the funeral mounds. As they became more developed, they were placed towards the outside of the grave area. They could be seen from a great distance. It s thought this was done to serve as boundary markers to mark the borders of a gravesite, or to protect the site from evil spirits. There is a theory that the soul of the deceased resided in the haniwa. Haniwa stood over grave mounds, facing the world. Similarly to the Terra Cotta Warriors, some thought the haniwa were protectors of the tomb. A single tomb might have had thousands of haniwa surrounding it. This configuration was thought to be a haniwa procession to welcome the deceased. The Terra Cotta Warriors were constructed and used from BCE. Smaller versions of the First Emperor s clay army have been uncovered at other Chinese sites. This suggests the emperor s tomb became a model for many others. Terra Cotta Warriors are present in modern day society. Several artists have created modern day versions of a terra cotta army and reproduction warriors are widely available for purchase. For examples of modern day Terra Cotta Warriors visit the following: - Rebekkah modern day versions of Terracotta / /

7 Stacy Page 7 - Newly Cast Terra Cotta Warriors Look to More Peaceful Future in Artist Gong Yuebin grew up during China's Cultural Revolution and it shows. His piece "Site 2801," on display at Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, Calif., reflects a re-imagined terra cotta army warriors interspersed with 10 modern-looking soldiers, symbolizing an unchanged feeling of militarism. Spencer Michels reports A PIECE OF CHINESE HISTORY FOR YOUR HOME!! The Kofun Period (third to sixth century AD) ended when Buddhism was introduced to Japan, around 538 AD. As the Japanese adopted Buddhism, the building of elaborate burial mounds stopped. With the end of burial mounds, there was no longer a need for haniwa and they were no longer manufactured. In modern times, the haniwa has become an icon of Japanese culture. Similar to the Terra Cotta Warriors, the haniwa continue to be an inspiration for today s artists. Replica haniwa figurines can be found in souvenir shops in Japan. Haniwa can also be found advertising parks and businesses. Haniwa have become popular characters in Japanese anime and manga series. One of the most famous is the haniwa in the popular manga series Yu- Gi-Oh. Haniwa can also be found in video games from Japan and other areas of the world. The Age of Empires game features some chapters set in Kofun-period Japan. The game Final Fantasy Legend II has a chapter titled Legend of the Haniwa where the objective is for the player to take down the haniwa and rescue the sword. Below are a few examples of modern day haniwa: - Modern Haniwa -

8 Stacy Page 8 - Haniwa from Yu-Gi-Oh Artist Margot Robinson has used the haniwa as inspiration for her Peaceful Warrior Collection - Click the Galleries heading to view the collection. In conclusion, the funerary art from ancient times serve as cultural symbols and are part of each country s rich history. The Terra Cotta Army and the haniwa continue to influence modern culture. While there are striking contrasts between the Terra Cotta Warriors of China and the Japanese haniwa, there are several similarities. The most significant purpose these guardian figures have in common is the protection of the dead in the afterlife.

9 Stacy Page 9 Works Cited Addiss, Stephen. How to Look at Japanese Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Print. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Haniwa. Web Sponsors, 12 July Web. 15 Sep Kleiner, Fred. Gardner s Art Through the Ages: A Global History, Fourteenth Edition. U.S.A: Central Learning. Print. Murase, Miyeko. Bridge of Dreams : The Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese Art. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Print. Perkins, Dorothy. Encyclopedia of Japan: Japanese History and Culture, from Abacus to Zori. New York: Facts on File, Print Haniwa. Web Sponsors, n.d. Web. 15 Sep 2013 Terra-Cotta Army Protects First Emperor s Tomb. Web Sponsors, n.d. Web. 15 Sep 2013 Secrets of The Dead: China s Terracotta Warriors. Web Sponsors, 5 May Web. 15 Sep 2013 Haniwa. Web Sponsors, n.d. Web. 15 Sep 2013