Arts and Clothing
Japanese art is what first transformed the country into a globally recognized country. The Europeans first identified the Japanese culture with their beautiful forms of art and innovations like painting, theater, ceramics, garden and flower decorating, and even a traditional tea ceremony. The first type of art in Japan was pottery, dating back to around 8000 B.C. These pots were created using soft clay and hand until the potter's wheel was introduced in the 3rd century B.C. It was usually decorated with religious themes and it became more common with the introduction of the Zen Buddhist tea ceremony where various cups and port were needed. Over time, decorations became more intricate and slightly secular as the artistic structures also became an export item to the world in the 19th century. Additionally, the Japanese also decorated gardens with symbolic designs with bushes and flowers. The main purpose was to arrange these around shrines or temples to give it a feeling of holiness. Clothing is what people commonly distinguish the Japanese with. The monks of Japan usually wear a single cloth around them and the women wear a traditional dress called a "Kimono"; it has long sleeves that reaches from the shoulders to the heels. Along with that, many women also wear a white-painted mask called a geisha and have their hair tied with a short stick. Being a global military power as well, the Japanese have many cultural skills and sports such as the martial arts. This directly corresponds with religion because most of the martial arts require meditation. Some forms are Jujitsu and Sumo. Art has contributed to the literature of Japanese culture because it has allowed authors to portray different types of art in their poems or writings. Different analogies and perspectives can be made from artistic drawing and creations, which are portrayed in the authors' writings. For example, a lot of Haiku poems convey author perspectives on artistic creations.
Left: Kimono, a traditional Japanese dress
Right: Sumo Wrestling, a Japanese sport
Right: Sumo Wrestling, a Japanese sport
Infrastructure and Landmarks
In Japanese culture, the most common form of ancient infrastructure are shrines. The government subsidizes a lot of money into preserving and rebuilding these ancient structures so that some form of folk culture still remains. In a period where western culture has dominated the world, it is important for the Japanese to keep and preserve their ethnic culture. One of the most ancient and sacred Shintoism (the religion, refer to page "cultural characteristics of people") centers is the Jingu Shrine in Ise city. This site, approximately 2000 years old, accommodates an inner shrine of the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami and an outer shrine to Yoyouke, the goddess of silk and agriculture. Once again, we see the religious connection that the Japanese culture exhibits in their arts and infrastructure. Other shrines are scattered throughout the country and they mostly reflect the Buddhism religion because that is the most common religion in Japan. For example, the Eiheiji Temple in the Fukui prefecture region of Japan is decorated by the wonderful art of "Ikebana", or "the art of Japanese flower arranging". They are surrounded by Japanese cedars and designed for silent contemplation or meditation, which, as previously stated, is a essential in Japanese culture. Other spiritual buildings and estates have been created like the Ritsurin Park and the Genbaku Dome (exploded by atomic bomb in WWII in Hiroshima) and they help picture the early origins of Japanese culture.
Left: Ritsurin Park
Middle: Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan
Right: Remains of Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima
Middle: Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan
Right: Remains of Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima