Decorative arts of Japan. Okimono is a Japanese arts and crafts. Natural landscape color pool

Works of Japanese decorative and applied art traditionally include lacquerware, porcelain and ceramics, wood, bone and metal carvings, artistically decorated fabrics and clothing, works of weaponry, etc. The specificity of works of decorative and applied art is as follows: they, as a rule, have a purely practical, utilitarian use, but at the same time they also play a purely aesthetic role, serving as decoration Everyday life person. The aesthetics of surrounding objects for the Japanese was no less important than their practical purpose: admiring beauty. Moreover, the traditional consciousness of the Japanese is characterized by a special attitude towards beauty as one of the mysteries of the universe. Beauty for the Japanese is a phenomenon that goes beyond the boundaries of our everyday world, which can be described in words and understood with reason.

For the Japanese, despite their extreme practicality and pragmatism in everyday affairs, the everyday, material world was certainly perceived as illusory and transitory. And that beyond its borders there is another, unmanifested world, which fundamentally cannot be measured.” common sense” and which cannot be described in words. Higher beings live there, the mystery of life and death is associated with it, as well as many mysteries of existence, including the principles of beauty. That world is reflected in ours, like the moon in the surface of water, echoing in the souls of people with a sharp and poignant feeling of the beautiful and mysterious. Those who are not able to see and appreciate this subtle and multifaceted play of meanings and shades of beauty are considered by the Japanese to be hopeless, rude barbarians.

In order to establish their involvement in the transcendental world, the Japanese (primarily the elite, the aristocracy) attached great value ritual actions, and especially their aesthetic side. From here come the ceremonies of admiring the cherry blossoms, scarlet maples, the first snow, sunrises and sunsets, as well as poetry competitions, flower arranging (ikebana), theatrical performances etc. Even such simple everyday situations as drinking tea or sake, or meeting guests.

The practical implementation of traditional aesthetic principles in Japanese decorative and applied arts is reflected in the example of Japanese artistic swords.

For any Japanese, a sword is an object of almost religious worship, mystically connected not only with the fate of the current owner, but also with entire generations of warriors who owned it. Moreover, many swords are considered animate - they have their own soul, their own will, their own character. Since ancient times, the sword has served as a symbol of power, a symbol of the samurai fighting spirit and has been associated with both Shinto and Buddhist cults. The process of forging a sword is equated to a religious sacrament, to a Shinto mystery. When a swordsmith starts forging a sword, he performs strict ritual actions: he fasts, performs cleansing ablutions, and offers prayers to the kami gods, who invisibly help and guide his work. The created sword is infused with the spirit of the kami, so the sword must be flawless in all respects.

The Japanese have a special passion for ceramic products. The earliest of them are known from archaeological excavations and belong to the Jomon period. On the development of Japanese ceramics and, later, porcelain significant influence Chinese and Korean technologies contributed, in particular, firing and colored glaze coating. A distinctive feature of Japanese ceramics is that the master paid attention not only to the shape, decorative ornament and color of the product, but also to the tactile sensations that it caused when it came into contact with the palm of a person. In contrast to the Western approach, the Japanese approach to ceramics assumed uneven shape, surface roughness, spreading cracks, glaze streaks, fingerprints of the master and demonstration of the natural texture of the material. Artistic ceramic products include, first of all, bowls for tea ceremonies, teapots, vases, pots, decorative dishes, sake vessels, etc. Porcelain products are mainly thin-walled vases with exquisite decoration, tea and wine sets and various figurines.

The sphere of artistic metal products included temple sculpture and utensils, weapons and decorative objects used in everyday life; the variety and perfection of processing of traditional metals (bronze, iron, copper, steel) was combined with the use of complex alloys, distinguished by a wealth of color shades and plastic properties. The most common among them were shakudo, which gave various shades black, brown, blue and purple flowers, and Shibuichi, who served almost inexhaustible source gray tones. Recipes for making alloys were a professional secret and were passed on from master to student.

In the XVII-XVIII centuries. By orders of wealthy townspeople, sculptural images were made for home altars, as well as images with a benevolent meaning and protecting the family hearth. Among them are Daruma, the legendary monk, whose name in Japan is associated with the origin of tea, Daikoku - the deity of happiness and wealth, Jurojin - the deity of happiness and longevity.

Along with this, some household items served decorative purposes. These were incense burners, vases, dishes, boxes, trays, which were characterized by the combination of various metals in one product, the use of openwork carvings, engravings, notches, and inlays.

The tradition of applying enamel decor on a metal base came to Japan from China at the end of the 16th century. The enamel technique had 4 varieties: cloisonné, champlevé, engraved and painted. The enamels were called “siplo” - seven jewels: gold, silver, emerald, coral, diamond, agate, pearls, which, according to legend, brought happiness to people. Japanese cloisonne enamels of the 17th-18th centuries, largely based on Chinese samples, were distinguished by a limited palette of slightly muted tones, a clear geometric pattern, and a deep dark green background. In the middle of the 19th century. The enamel technique has experienced a rebirth. Multicolor shiny enamels were obtained, which adhered tightly to the metal base and were easy to grind. The flourishing of the art of cloisonné in late XIX V. was associated with the name of the famous master Namikawa Yasuyuki. Small-sized products came out of his workshop, completely covered with enamels, applied with jewelry care. Images of flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons and phoenixes, numerous species traditional ornaments found a place in the intricately woven lace pattern. The use of gold foil created a sparkling shimmering shine to the polished surface of the product.

The manufacture and decoration of weapons has ancient traditions in Japan. The sword was seen as a sacred object given by the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami to her grandson, whom she sent to rule the earth and eradicate evil. A straight sword with a double-sided sharpening (Ken or Tsurugi) became an accessory of the Shinto cult and became one of the imperial regalia.

In the Middle Ages, the sword became a symbol of the warrior class, embodying the power, courage, and dignity of the samurai. It was also believed that the souls of deceased ancestors lived in it. In the 7th century a sword shape was created with a slight bend on the back of the blade, single-sided sharpening, which survived almost unchanged until the 19th century. and was called “nihonto” (Japanese sword).

From the 16th century aristocrats and representatives of the military class were required to wear two swords: a long one - “katana” and a short one - “wakizashi”, which was intended for committing ritual suicide. In case of violation of the code of honor, scientists, artisans and peasants, with special permission, were allowed to wear only a wakizashi or a sword without an “aikuchi” guard.

The long and labor-intensive process of making a blade was arranged as a solemn ritual, accompanied by special prayers, spells, and dressing the blacksmith in ceremonial clothes. The blade was welded from several strips, forged at least five times, ground and polished. From the end of the 12th century. blades began to be decorated with grooves, images of the sun, moon, stars, dragons, inscriptions-spells, made by engraving and in-depth relief.

Details and frame of the sword from the 16th century. were created by special craftsmen - gunsmiths and jewelers. The blade was inserted into a handle, the basis of which was two wooden bars, fastened with a metal ring “futi” and tips “kasira”, the handle was often wrapped in the skin of a shark or stingray, called “same” (shark). There was a belief that such a hilt preserved the ritual purity of the sword and protected the owner. Small embossed metal “menuka” parts were attached to the handle on both sides, which ensured a more secure grip of the sword with both hands. On top of this, the handle was wrapped with cord or braid, creating a braided pattern on the surface. An important detail of the sword was the “tsuba” (guard) - protective plastic separating the blade from the handle; the scabbard of a small sword was often decorated with carefully finished metal plates “kozuka”, which represented the handle of a small knife inserted into a special pocket in the sheath.

In the XVII-XIX centuries. weapons, which had lost their practical value, became a decorative addition to a man's suit. It was decorated with various materials and techniques of jewelry making, openwork carving, inlay with alloys, various methods of creating relief compositions, enamels and varnish. The tsuba acquired special artistic perfection and began to be regarded as an independent work of art. The subjects of the images were traditional motifs characteristic of other types of art: flowers, birds, landscapes, Buddhist parables, historical legends, even assessments of urban life. The details of one sword were combined in execution style and often represented a development of one plot.

Among the gunsmiths who specialized in decorating swords, the one founded in the 15th century was especially famous. the Goto school, whose seventeen generations of masters maintained its glory for 400 years.

Japan is an amazing country, which very carefully honors and preserves its customs and traditions. Japanese handicraft just as diverse and amazing. In this article, the main handicraft arts, whose homeland is Japan - amigurumi, kanzashi, temari, mizuhiki, oshie, kinusaiga, terimen, furoshiki, kumihimo, sashiko. You've probably heard about some types, maybe you yourself have started creating using this technique, some are not so popular outside of Japan itself. Distinctive feature Japanese handicraft is neatness, patience and perseverance, although... most likely these traits can be attributed to world handicraft).

Amigurumi - Japanese knitted toys

Japanese kanzashi - fabric flowers

Temari - the ancient Japanese art of embroidering balls

In the photo there are temari balls (Author of embroidery: Kondakova Larisa Aleksandrovna)

- the ancient Japanese art of embroidering balls, which has won many fans all over the world. True, Temari’s homeland is China; this handicraft was brought to Japan about 600 years ago. Initially temari were made for children using the remains of old ones; with the invention of rubber, braiding balls began to be considered a decorative and applied art. Temari as a gift symbolizes friendship and devotion, it is also believed that they bring good luck and happiness. In Japan, a temari professional is considered to be a person who has passed 4 levels of skill; to do this, you need to weave 150 temari balls and study for about 6 years!

Another thriving type of Japanese applied art, its technology is reminiscent of macrame weaving, but more elegant and miniature.

So what is it mizuhiki- this art of tying various knots from cords, as a result of which stunningly beautiful patterns are created, has its roots in the 18th century.

The scope of application is also varied - cards, letters, hairstyles, handbags, gift wrapping. By the way, it is thanks to gift wrapping mizuhiki have become widespread. After all, gifts are due for every event in a person’s life. There is such a huge number of knots and compositions in mizuhiki that not even every Japanese knows them all by heart; along with this, there are also the most common basic knots that are used to congratulate the birth of a child, for a wedding, funeral, birthday or admission to university.

- Japanese handmade on creating three-dimensional paintings from cardboard and fabric or paper using appliqué technology. This type of needlework is very popular in Japan; here in Russia it has not yet become particularly widespread, although learning how to create paintings using oshie technique very simple. To create oshie paintings, you need Japanese washi paper (which is based on the fibers of mulberry, gampi, mitsumata and a number of other plants), fabrics, cardboard, batting, glue, and scissors.

The use of Japanese materials - fabric and paper in this form of art is fundamental, because washi paper, for example, in its properties resembles fabric, and, therefore, is stronger and more flexible than ordinary paper. As for the fabric, the fabric from which it is sewn is used. Of course, Japanese craftswomen did not specifically buy new fabric for oshie; they gave them to their old kimonos. new life using it when creating paintings. Traditionally, osie paintings depicted children in national costumes, scenes from fairy tales.

Before you start working, you need to choose a design for the painting, such that all its elements have a finished, clear look, all the lines should be closed, like in a children's coloring book. Briefly, the technology for creating oshie is as follows: each cardboard element of the design is wrapped in fabric, and batting is first glued onto the cardboard. The batting gives volume to the painting.

combined several techniques at once: wood carving, patchwork, applique, mosaic. To create a picture of a kinusaiga, you first need to make a sketch on paper, then transfer it to a wooden board. Indentations, a kind of grooves, are made on the board along the contour of the design. After that, small shreds are cut from an old silk kimono, which then fill the cut grooves on the board. The resulting picture of kinusaiga amazes with its beauty and realism.

- Japanese art of folding fabric, the history of its appearance and the main methods of packaging in this technique can be read. Using this technique for packaging is beautiful, profitable, and convenient. And on the Japanese computer market there is a new trend - laptops packaged in the style Furoshiki. Agree, very original!

(Chirimen craft) - antique japanese handicraft, which originated in the era of late Japanese feudalism. The essence of this arts and crafts is the creation of toy figures from fabric, mainly the embodiment of animals and plants. It's clean female appearance needlework, Japanese men are not supposed to do it. In the 17th century, one of the directions of “terimen” was the production of decorative bags into which aromatic substances were placed, worn with oneself (like perfume) or used to scent fresh linen (a kind of Sachet). Currently theremen figurines used as decorative elements in the interior of the house. You don't need Terimen to create figures. special training, all you need is fabric, scissors and a lot of patience.

- one of the most ancient types of lace weaving, the first mentions date back to the year 50. Translated from Japanese kumi - folding, himo - threads (folding threads). The laces were used both in functional - fastening samurai weapons, tying armor on horses, tying heavy objects, and for decorative purposes - tying a kimono (obi) belt, gift wrapping. Weave kumihimo laces mainly on machines, there are two types, takadai and marudai, when using the first, flat cords are obtained, while when using the second, round cords are obtained.

- simple and elegant japanese handicraft, somewhat similar to patchwork. Sashiko- This is a simple and at the same time exquisite hand embroidery. Translated from Japanese, the word “sashiko” means “small puncture”, which fully characterizes the technique of making stitches. The literal translation of the Japanese word "sashiko" means " great luck, happiness". This ancient embroidery technique owes its appearance to... the poverty of rural residents of Japan. Unable to replace old, worn clothes with new ones (fabric was very expensive in those days), they came up with a way to “restore” them using embroidery. Initially, sashiko patterns were used for quilting and insulating clothing; poor women folded worn fabric in several layers and joined it using the sashiko technique, thus creating one warm quilted jacket. Currently, sashiko is widely used for decorative purposes. Traditionally, patterns were embroidered on fabrics of dark, mostly blue, tones using white thread. It was believed that clothing embroidered with symbolic designs protected against evil spirits.

Basic principles of sashiko:
Contrast of fabric and thread - traditional fabric color is dark blue, indigo, thread color is white, a combination of black and white flowers. Nowadays, of course, the color palette is not strictly adhered to.
The stitches should never intersect at the intersections of the ornament; there should be a distance between them.
The stitches should be the same size, the distance between them should also not be uneven.

For this type of embroidery, a special needle is used (similar to a sewing machine needle). The desired design is applied to the fabric and then a needle and thread are inserted; a small loop should remain on the inside. This embroidery is characterized by speed of work; the difficulty lies only in the ability to apply strokes and mix colors. Entire pictures are embroidered this way, the main thing is to choose the threads to get a realistic drawing. The threads used for work are not quite ordinary ones - it is a special “cord” that unravels during work and due to this, a very beautiful and unusual stitch is obtained.

- translated from Japanese kusuri (medicine) and tama (ball), literally “medicine ball”. The art of kusudama comes from ancient Japanese traditions where kusudama was used for incense and a mixture of dried petals. In general, kusudama is a paper ball consisting of large quantity modules folded from a square sheet of paper (symbolizing flowers).

Okimono in the traditional European sense is a figurine. In Japanese culture, a “carved figurine” is a work of Japanese decorative and applied art, a figurine intended for interior decoration. Historically, the term okimono referred to small sculptures or decorative objects placed in the tokonoma of a traditional Japanese home.

An okimono is similar in design, in plots, and often in size to a netsuke, but the okimono does not have a hole for a cord, which is found in a netsuke.

Okimono are mainly made of wood, ivory, bronze, and silver. Combinations of these materials are common. To give a greater decorative effect, craftsmen used inlay with mother-of-pearl, enamels, coral, and gold varnish. The most valuable are items made from ivory, sometimes tinted with a tea solution and decorated with engraved designs.

Udagawa Kazuo. Woman feeding baby

Kazuo's work was exhibited at several international exhibitions and rightfully gained fame as the “Japanese Madonna.” In the image of the young mother one can discern a resemblance to the famous Madonna Benois by Leonardo da Vinci. The master created several versions of it - in bronze (one of the copies is in the collection of Nasser D. Khalili), in wood and bone. The most valuable, of course, is the model carved from ivory, which adorns the collection of A. Feldman.

Japan is amazing eastern country, located on the islands. Another name for Japan is the Land of the Rising Sun. Soft warm humid climate, mountain ranges volcanoes and sea ​​waters create magnificent landscapes among which young Japanese grow up, which undoubtedly leaves an imprint on the art of this small state. There are people here with early years get used to beauty, and fresh flowers, ornamental plants and small gardens with a lake are an attribute of their homes. Everyone is trying to organize a piece for themselves wildlife. Like all eastern nationalities, the Japanese have maintained a connection with nature, which they have honored and respected throughout the centuries of their civilization.

Air humidification: the air washer “WINIX WSC-500” generates small particles of water.. Operating modes of the Winix WSC-500 washer: The air washer “WINIX WSC-500” has a convenient automatic operating mode. At the same time, the most optimal and comfortable humidity in the room is maintained - 50-60% and the plasma air purification and ionization mode (“Plasma Wave™”) is turned on by default.

Architecture of Japan

For a long time Japan was considered a closed country; contacts were only with China and Korea. Therefore, their development followed its own special path. Later, when various innovations began to penetrate the territory of the islands, the Japanese quickly adapted them for themselves and remade them in their own way. The Japanese architectural style features houses with massive curved roofs to protect them from constantly walking heavy rains. The imperial palaces with gardens and pavilions are a real work of art.

Among the religious buildings found in Japan, we can highlight wooden Shinto temples that have survived to this day, Buddhist pagodas and Buddhist temple complexes, which appeared in a later period of history, when Buddhism entered the country from the mainland and was declared the state religion. Wooden buildings, as we know, are not durable and vulnerable, but in Japan it is customary to recreate buildings in their original form, so even after fires they are rebuilt in the same form in which they were built at the time.

Japanese sculpture

Buddhism has had strong influence for the development of Japanese art. Many works represent the image of Buddha, so numerous statues and sculptures of Buddha were created in temples. They were made of metal, wood and stone. Only after some time did masters appear who began to make secular portrait sculptures, but over time the need for them disappeared, so sculptural reliefs with deep carvings began to be used more and more often to decorate buildings.

National view art in Japan is considered a miniature sculpture of netsuke. Initially, such figures played the role of a keychain that was attached to the belt. Each figurine had a hole for a cord on which the necessary items were hung, since clothes at that time did not have pockets. Netsuke figurines depicted secular characters, gods, demons or various items, which had a special secret meaning, for example, a wish for family happiness. Netsuke are made of wood, ivory, ceramics or metal.

Decorative arts of Japan

The manufacture of bladed weapons was elevated to the rank of art in Japan, bringing the manufacture samurai sword to perfection. Swords, daggers, frames for swords, elements of combat ammunition served as a kind of men's jewelry, denoting belonging to a class, so they were made by skilled craftsmen, decorated precious stones and carving. Japanese folk crafts also include ceramics, lacquerware, weaving, and wood engraving. Traditional ceramic products are painted by Japanese potters with various patterns and glazes.

Japan painting

In Japanese painting, at first the monochrome type of paintings, closely intertwined with the art of calligraphy, prevailed. Both were created according to the same principles. The art of making paints, ink and paper came to Japan from the mainland. In this regard, it began new round development of the art of painting. At that time, one of the types of Japanese painting were long horizontal scrolls of emakinomo, which depicted scenes from the life of Buddha. Landscape painting in Japan began to develop much later, after which artists specializing in subjects from social life, painting portraits and war scenes.

In Japan they usually painted on folding screens, shoji, house walls and clothes. For the Japanese, a screen is not only a functional element of the home, but also a work of art for contemplation, defining the overall mood of the room. National clothing, kimono, is also a piece of Japanese art, bearing a special oriental flavor. Decorative panels on gold foil using bright colors can also be classified as works of Japanese painting. The Japanese have achieved great skill in creating ukiyo-e, the so-called wood engraving. The subject of such paintings was episodes from the lives of ordinary townspeople, artists and geishas, ​​as well as magnificent landscapes, which became the result of the development of the art of painting in Japan.