P2+Samurai+Arts

Samurai Arts: Ikebana, Haiku, Landscape Painting, & Gardens

Matt G. and Kimia P.

Introduction:

In this essay, you will find paragraphs about Ikebana, Haiku, Landscape Painting, Gardens, and Shinto. Ikebana is an art of cut flower arrangements. Haiku is an important type of poetry in Japanese culture. It is 17 syllables. Landscape painting is the art of painting nature in gardens on silk or paper screens. Gardens are beautifully arranged so that the turn things in nature even more beautiful. Shinto is one of the original religions of the Japanese along with Buddhism.

Shinto:

Shinto is the original religion of the Japanese. Shinto shrines, festivals, and religious practices are held in beautiful natural settings so worshippers can feel close with the gods and their ancestors, while also appreciating nature. The people of Japan believe that the //torii// serves as an entrance to the spiritual world. They also work as frames, which the beauty of nature may be appreciated through. The third function of the torii is a gateway to the gods. It is believed that, once a person enters through the torii gates, they leave the world of nature and go to the world of the power of the Kami. Izanagi and Izanami thought that their world was perfect because it had a mild climate, a big diversity of flora, rich seas, and imposing geography. The three elements of Shinto worship are purification, which involves using water to wash your hands and mouth, as an act of ritual washing. The Shinto religion has no founder, no sacred text, nor a religious philosophy. Followers of the Shinto religion believe in ritual washing, neatness and order, personal sincerity, and a code of honor and respect for living things.

Haiku:

Haikus are one of the most important types of poetry. It is a 17 syllable poem, and it is three lines long. The first line has 5 syllables, and the second line has 7, and the last line has 5. Real Haikus only began in the late 19th century. This is when they became independent and weren't part of another longer chain. Famous poets such as Basho really wrote Hokku, which means that what they wrote were only parts to longer chains. Haiku is usually about whatever the person writing it is feeling, but they are not usually too complicated. Haiku is formal poetry that is accompanied by nature paintings done in mediation gardens displayed by silk calligraphy. Haiku writing is the art expected of a Samurai. Part of the Samurai's job is writing haikus. There is a saying that a man and his brush are one, so if you write carelessly, your writing is careless too. That is why Haikus are one of the most important types of Japanese poetry.

Garden:

A garden can contain many beautiful creations such as a bonsai tree that contain something even more powerful in its self like a kami. Bonsai trees are often found in gardens. They are beautiful trees, but the Japanese put them in pots to make them look more beautiful than in nature. Sometimes families care for one bonsai tree for years. To keep them healthy, the people taking care of them trim them often. Sometimes, the trees, if cared for well, can live up to 800 years. //Kami// are gods and goddesses that dwell in many different natural creations, such as the sky, waterfalls, rocks, plants, and others like Bonsai trees. Kami are important to the Shinto religion and the Japanese culture, because they protect the Japanese people from some natural disasters and diseases. The most important Kami is Amaterasu, who is the sun goddess. That is why something as little as a bonsai tree can be so helpful to the community and beautiful to the eye.

Ikebana:

Ikebana is a traditional art of flower arrangement. Japanese artist adopted a Chinese style of painting called //sumi-e// (SOO-mee-eh). Sumi-e artist painted just about all landscape paintings, almost all in black ink. Ikebana, a traditional art of flower arrangement, still brings beauty to the homes of Japan. This art of flower arrangement has a strict rule regarding the color, grouping, and shape of the flower arrangement. In Ikebana, every bend of twigs, and each group of leaves, has its own religious meaning. Ikebana is also used to enrich a person’s mind and spirit.

Landscape Painting:

Japanese landscape painting was influenced by Chinese styles that later developed their own Japanese style. Paintings include scenes of court or city life, battles, and nature with mountains, trees, flowers, and animals. They are usually painted in gardens. Paintings are painted on silk or paper screens using ink and watercolor.

Conclusion:

The topic Art of the Samurai is an essential part of the Tokugawa Period because it is part of their way of life; they needed all of these topics to have the culture. Haiku is a way of communicating their thoughts at one certain point. Ikebana is a way of making nature of beautiful than it is in nature. Shinto is their original religion; everything revolves around it. Landscape Painting is a way of recording what is seen. Gardens are also a way of peace and mediation.

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