Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by PC78 (talk | contribs) at 07:26, 2 May 2008 (tagged). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article or section is in a state of significant expansion or restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article or section has not been edited in several days, please remove this template. If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with {{in use}} during the active editing session. Click on the link for template parameters to use. This article was last edited by PC78 (talk | contribs) 16 years ago. (Update timer)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Korean influence on Japanese culture" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The theory favored by many Western archeologists is that Japanese are descendants of immigrants from Korea who arrived with agriculture around 400 B.C. Since then many aspects of Japanese culture seen today originated from Korea including Buddhism and the Yakuza in the 6th century. Influence from Korean artists can also be seen ranging from the architecture of Buddhist temples to statues, pottery and even Japanese folk music.

Japanese Language

Architecture

During the Asuka Period, Japanese architecture were primarily influenced by the Paekche Kingdom. Japanese nobility, wishing to take advantage of the culture across the sea, imported Korean artists and artisans to build and decorate their first palaces and temples. Korean architects, sculptors, painters and textile workers were highly respected and rewarded.

Temple Architecture

In 601 AD, Prince Shotoku began the construction of his palace, the first building to have a tiled roof. Next to it he built his temple which became known as the Horyu-ji. He employed workers from Paekche for these two projects. The temple became his personal devotional center where he studied with Hye-che, a Buddhist priest from Koguryo. The temple also housed people who practiced medicine, medical knowledge being another bi-product of Buddhism. Next to the temple there were dormitories which housed student-monks and teacher-monks.

The first Horyu-ji burned to the ground in 670 CE. It was rebuilt and although it is thought to be smaller than the original temple, the Horyu-ji today is much the same as that built by Shotoku. The temple was also rebuilt by artists and artisans from Paekche. The wooden pagoda at Horyu-ji as well as the Golden Hall are thought to be masterpieces of seventh-century Paekche architecture. Two other temples, Hokki-ji and Horin-ji were also possibly built by Paekche workmen.

Pottery

Sculptures

Buddhist Sculptures

One of the most famous of all Buddhist sculptures from the Asuka period found in Japan today is the "Kudara Kannon" which means "Paekche Kuanyin." This wooden statue formerly stood as the central figure in the Golden Hall at the Horyu-ji. It was removed to a glass case in the Treasure Museum after a fire destroyed part of the Golden Hall in 1949.

"This tall, slender, graceful figure made from camphor wood is reflective of the most genteel state in the Three Kingdoms period. From the openwork crown to the lotus pedestal design, the statue marks the superior workmanship of 7th century Paekche artists." (Carter and Covell 58)

The first and foremost clue, which clearly indicates Paekche handiwork, is the crown's design which shows the characteristic honeysuckle-lotus pattern found in artifacts buried in the tomb of Paekche's King Munyong (reigned 501-523) The number of protrusions from the petals is identical. The coiling of the vines appears the same. Crowns of nearly identical type remain in Korea, executed in both gilt bronze and granite. The crown's pendants indicate a carryover from Shamanist designs seen in fifth-century Korean crowns.(Carter and Covell 58)

Kuanyin's bronze bracelets and those of the Four Heavenly Kings at the Golden Hall show signs of similar openwork metal techniques.

Folk Music

Religion

References

Notes

1. Diamond, Jared (June 1998). "Japanese Roots". Discover Magazine 19 (6).
2. Robert E. Buswell Jr., ed. Currents and Countercurrents: Korean Influences on the Buddhist Traditions of East Asia. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2005.
3. Yearbook for Traditional Music, Vol. 15, East Asian Musics (1983), pp. 31-37

This article has not been added to any content categories. Please help out by adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar articles.