Week 2: Japan and Japanisme

 

Japan and Japanisme

During 100 A.D. Japan’s empire was strong and in close contact with China and Korea. It wasn’t until 1542 that the country was exposed to European trading and in 1854, American trading. Between 100AD and the 1800s, Japan focused on its culture, traditions, and civilization, to strengthen its identity. Japan and China had close ties and influences on each other, yet their ways of designing were not identical. While China liked formality, symmetry, consistency, and perfectionism, Japan designed with impromptu, asymmetry, change, and imperfections. During the Arts and Crafts movement, many designers were influenced by Japanese textiles and created wallpapers that were inspired by the design’s focus on nature. They also appreciated the Japanese style's focus on craftsmanship and use of wood and exposed joints which led to the sturdy, simple, and resilient designs we see in the arts and crafts era. Not only did this era inspire the arts and crafts movement but it also inspired many architects over time including Frank Lloyd Wright, whose designs rely heavily on the Japanese style.

Diving deeper into the Japanese style, we can see the characteristics that closely relate to and reference their religious practices. These characteristics include simplicity, connections to nature, and emphasis on minor details. The Buddhist religion’s main focus is Zen, which entails meditation to enhance intuition. This is reflected in their designs not only to emphasize the concept but to create a space with little distraction that evokes a calm feeling so mediation can take place. Zen gardens are a big aspect of Japanese design and consist of plants that are mainly greenery and do not flower, water features for sensory, and well-kept grasses and trees. Their structures are made of wood due to the frequent earthquakes Japan experiences because wooden structures react to the ground’s movement better than concrete or brick masonry. Structures of importance are usually broken up into odd-numbered vertical bays that have facades of Shogi, light wood, or translucent paper combined with shutters to add support.

On the interior, rooms are broken up modularly and separated by fusuma’s which are screens or panels that are usually on a moveable running track and made of decorative silks or paper. Rice and straw tatami floor mats are heavily used on interiors and determine the size and proportions of a room. Room decor was seen through the use of flowers, artwork, or important scrolls especially in important spaces of a structure. Furniture like seating and tables were designed to be low to the ground for religious practices to harness the center of gravity. Chairs were rarely seen in Japanese decoration due to their height so cushions that could be moved easily and lower to the ground were used.  When chairs were used, they were designed with short legs and could usually fold to be moved and stored easily. The most commonly used woods, which were used and emphasized heavily in decorating, consisted of white mulberry, zelkova, chestnut, and paulownia.

Smaller decorations also play a big role in Japanese designs. Lamps were used as additional lighting during the night when natural daylight could not penetrate through the large windows that were commonly used to connect nature to the interior of a space. These lamps were made from paper to defuse light and wood to give structure to the lantern. Floral arrangements also known as Ikebana’s became not only a prized decorative piece, but a complex art. Schools are dedicated to teaching the complex bending of the roots and precise care for these flowers and plants. Tea ceremonies are crucial in the Japanese religion, making ceramics a special decoration that is usually displayed throughout a home. Japanese methods of construction are minimalistic in tone but are accompanied by complex textiles and patterns seen in decoration to give a simplistic yet interesting style.

One Step Further: Frank Lloyd Wright

As an architect major, I have studied extensively the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and the influence he had on designing, yet there was little said about how he was influenced to create the world-renowned prairie style. After reading this week's material, I can now see the astonishing connection the prairie style has with the Japanese style.

Wright first became interested in the Japanese style at the beginning of his career by collecting Japanese woodblock prints. As a college dropout, Wright was never formally trained to become an architect, yet his own research and studies on Japanese designs and personal connections may be the reason for his major success. In 1885 Wright met architect Joseph Silsbee’s cousin, Ernest Fenollosa, who at the time was the Western expert of Japanese architecture. Fenollosa traveled to Japan to teach Western culture yet came back with more information on Japan than given on America. At the time, Japanese architecture was not well known in Western cultures, which gave Wright the upper hand to incorporate something new into his designs.

One main aspect of Wright's work that was influenced by Japanese architecture was his renderings. Japanese prints allowed objects to break through the surrounding frame such as plants, trees, or other site context views. Wright began to incorporate this into his renderings and allowed tree limbs and other elements to frame his designs. This enhanced the renderings and gave a more realistic view on what a structure would look like. He then began to use this in the actual construction of his buildings. He framed abstract patterns in art glass windows to reduce the distance between the exterior and interior. This method blurred the harsh glass window with the organic external views creating an interesting continuous flow from outside to in.

Wright's work was noticed by the Japanese influence, and he was honored with the opportunity to design the Jiyu Gakuen Girls school in Tokyo. While here he studies the culture and ways of designing even more to enhance his designs back in the West. Today, his world-famous work is used in universities and schools across the country to teach students the importance of the prairie design that was heavily influenced by the Japanese era.

Sources:

Frank Lloyd Wright Credited Japan for His All-American Aesthetic | Arts & Culture| Smithsonian Magazine

Japanese Influence in the Works of Frank Lloyd Wright | KCP International

Additional information:

HISTORY OF ANCIENT JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE (youtube.com)

Japanese and Modernist Architecture Come Together in this Residence in Japan (youtube.com)