• Japan, 500-1000 A.D. [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
"The introduction of Buddhism to the Japanese archipelago from China and Korea in the sixth century causes momentous changes amounting to a fundamentally different way of life for the Japanese. Along with the foreign faith, Japan establishes and maintains for 400 years close connections with the Chinese and Korean courts and adopts a more sophisticated culture." With a period overview, list of key events, and five related artworks.

• Asuka and Nara Periods [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of three artworks in the museum's collection.

• Early Statecraft and Buddhism: Structures of Power and Faith [Princeton University Art Museum]
An excellent short overview of the Asuka period, as well as the Kofun, Hakuho, and Nara periods.

• Early Japan (50,000 BC - 710 AD) [About Japan: A Teacher's Resource]
An overview of Japanese history from 50,000 BCE to 710 CE. Section 5 is about the Asuka period (called the Yamato period in this article).

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• Japan, 500-1000 A.D. [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
"The introduction of Buddhism to the Japanese archipelago from China and Korea in the sixth century causes momentous changes amounting to a fundamentally different way of life for the Japanese. Along with the foreign faith, Japan establishes and maintains for 400 years close connections with the Chinese and Korean courts and adopts a more sophisticated culture." With a period overview, list of key events, and five related artworks.

• Asuka and Nara Periods [Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
A short introduction, with images of three artworks in the museum's collection.

• Early Statecraft and Buddhism: Structures of Power and Faith [Princeton University Art Museum]
An excellent short overview of the Asuka period, as well as the Kofun, Hakuho, and Nara periods.

• Nara and Heian Japan (710 AD - 1185 AD) [About Japan: A Teacher's Resource]
An overview of Japan's Nara and Heian periods. Discusses the Fujiwara family, their private estates, and the rise of the warrior.

• Classic Court Culture: Media of Reception and Identity [Princeton University Art Museum]
An overview of Japan's Nara and Heian periods. Discusses the Fujiwara family, their private estates, and the rise of the warrior.

• Heian Japan: An Introductory Essay [Program for Teaching East Asia, Center for Asian Studies, University of Colorado]
Essay highlighting the key points of Japanese history during the Heian Period, including the moving of the capital from Nara, the turning away from Chinese models, the Fujiwara family and the Heian aristocracy, and Buddhism in Japan. Part of a larger unit for teaching the Heian Period through art.

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• The Japanese Language [Asia for Educators]
This unit presents an overview of the Japanese language, both spoken and written. It includes a chart of the Japanese syllabary and discussion questions/student exercises.

• Japanese Syllabaries [Asia for Educators]
This unit provides an opportunity for students to practice writing both Japanese syllabaries — katakana and hiragana.

• Chinese Characters (Kanji) [Asia for Educators]
This unit provides the opportunity for students to read and write kanji, the Chinese characters used in the Japanese writing system.

Also see the Video Unit on Classical Japan in the History-Archaeology section (Nara and Heian Periods) for more about the Japanese use of the Chinese writing system.

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Interactive Map • The Spread of Buddhism [Pacific Asia Museum]
To access the map from the main page of this Flash website, select any of the four topics, then select 'Timeline & Map' from the menubar at the bottom of the page. A timeline-map of the Buddha's life will appear first. Select 'Spread of Buddhism' at the bottom-right to get to the interactive timeline-map showing the spread of Buddhism. There is also a PDF version of the map available on the HTML version of the website.

• Japanese Buddhism [The Art of Asia, Minneapolis Institute of Arts]
A short video about Buddhism in Japan. An illustrated transcript of this video is also available online.

• Buddhism in Japan [Asia Society]
"A short history of Buddhism, with special focus on its introduction and development in Japan. Includes an exploration of Zen Buddhism and art imagery."

• Faith and Form: Selected Calligraphy and Painting from Japanese Religious Traditions [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution]
Online presentation of a 2004 exhibition that was "distinguished by important examples of Buddhist and Shinto inspired calligraphy and painting." Features 13 objects from the exhibition, with audio commentary from the collectors about each object. An in-depth written guide to the objects [PDF] is also available, as well as a video clip of the collectors discussing the works and the collection process.

• Buddhism and Japanese Aesthetics [ExEAS, Columbia University]
This unit provides a general introduction to three aesthetic concepts — mono no aware, wabi-sabi, and yûgen — that are basic to the Japanese arts and “ways” (dô). Secondly, it traces some of the Buddhist (and Shintô) influences on the development of the Japanese aesthetic sensibility.

Kukai, 774-835, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school
Primary Source w/DBQs • "Indications of the Goals of the Three Teachings" (Sango Shiki) and "A School of Arts and Sciences" [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

Saicho, 767-822, founder of the Tendai (Tiantai) school
Primary Source w/DBQs • Selected Writings: "Prayer on Mount Hiei"; "On the Possibility of Enlightenment for All Men"; "Vow of the Uninterrupted Study of the Lotus Sutra"; The Mahayana Precepts in Admonitions of the Fanwang Sutra" [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

Also see the Video Unit on Classical Japan in the History-Archaeology section (Nara and Heian Periods) for more about Buddhism in Japan during this period.

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• The Japanese Missions to Tang China, 7th-9th Centuries [About Japan: A Teacher's Resource]
"On nineteen occasions from 630 to 894, the Japanese court appointed official envoys to Tang China known as kentôshi to serve as political and cultural representatives to China. Fourteen of these missions completed the arduous journey to and from the Chinese capital. The missions brought back elements of Tang civilization that profoundly affected Japan's government, economics, culture, and religion." An in-depth article on the topic.

Prince Shôtoku, 573-621; Constitution, 604 CE
Primary Source w/DBQs • The Constitution of Prince Shôtoku [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

Emperor Kôtoku, 596-654; Reform Edict, 646 CE
Primary Source w/DBQs • The Reform Edict of Taika [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

Emperor Kammu, 737-806; Kondei System, 792 CE
Primary Source w/DBQs • The Kondei System: An Official Order of the Council of State [PDF] [Asia for Educators]

Also see the Video Unit on Classical Japan in the History-Archaeology section (Nara and Heian Periods) for more about the influence of Confucianism on Prince Shôtoku's Constitution.

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Manyôshû, compiled 7th century; Kokinshû, compiled 8th to 10th centuries
Primary Source • The Manyôshû and Kokinshû Poetry Collections [Asia for Educators]
Excerpts from Japan's oldest collections of poems. The Kokinshû was the first collection of poems of the waka form. Followed by discussion questions.

Primary Source • What Is a waka? [Asia for Educators]
An essay about the history and structure of waka (also called tanka), a type of short poem from which the haiku was derived. Followed by discussion questions and classroom exercises.

Lesson Plan • Japanese Tanka Poetry [Asian Odyssey, Cleveland Museum of Art]
For grades 9-12. Introduces the Japanese poetry form of tanka (also called waka). Uses five paintings from the CMA's collection as reference.

Also see the Video Unit on Classical Japan in the History-Archaeology section (Nara and Heian Periods) for more about waka poetry and the Manyôshû and Kokinshû poetry collections.

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• Literature of the Heian Period (794-1185) [Asia for Educators]
Two introductory readings on the aristocratic-court culture of the Heian Period, which produced such literary masterpieces as The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book. One reading is for students; the second reading is provides additional background information for teachers. Both readings are intended to serve as introductions to a lesson about The Tale of Genji, The Pillow Book, or waka.

Primary Source + Lesson Plan + DBQ • Writers of the Heian Era [Women in World History, Center for History and New Media, George Mason University]
An excellent teaching module for Heian-period literature, with four excerpts from The Pillow Book and two excerpts from The Tale of Genji, plus three images from a 12th-century scroll depicting The Tale of Genji. There is also a lesson plan for high school students, "An Intimate Glimpse: Lives of Court Women in Japan," and a document-based question (DBQ).

Primary Source • Excerpts from The Pillow Book of Sei Shônagon [Asia for Educators]
With exercises for students.

• Murasaki Shikibu [Women in World History]
A brief biography of the author of The Tale of Genji.

Primary Source • Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan [Digital Library, University of Pennsylvania]
Full text of a 1920 book that includes the diary of Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji.

• The Tale of Genji [Asia for Educators]
A short introduction to The Tale of Genji, followed by an analysis of the famous "Yûgao" chapter. With exercises for students.

Primary Source (in Japanese) • Genji monogatari [Japanese Text Initiative, University of Virginia]
In three versions that can be viewed separately or together — in the original script, in a modernized script, and in romaji.

• The Heart of History: The Tale of Genji [PDF] [Education About Asia, Association for Asian Studies]
The author suggests "several ways in which aspects of The Tale of Genji may deepen our understanding of Japan during the
Heian period as well as even contemporary Japan."

Lesson Plan • Courtship and Calligraphy in The Tale of Genji [Asian Odyssey, Cleveland Museum of Art]
For grades 9-12. Uses two paintings from the CMA's collection as reference.

• The Tale of Genji [Global Heritage Pavilion, UNESCO]
Woodblock illustrations of scenes described in the novel, accompanied by a description of what is taking place and quotes from the novel. A source for students to gain a sense of the novel and court life of the time.

• Japanese Aesthetics and the Tale of Genji [ExEAS, Columbia University]
Using an excerpt from the chapter “The Sacred Tree,” this unit offers a guide to a close examination of Japanese aesthetics in The Tale of Genji (ca.1010). This two-session lesson plan can be used in World Literature courses or any course that teaches components of Zen Buddhism or Japanese aesthetics (e.g. Introduction to Buddhism, the History of Buddhism, Philosophy, Japanese History, Asian Literature, or World Religion).

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Primary Source • Folk Tales from Japan [D. L. Ashliman, University of Pittsburgh]
Nine popular Japanese folk tales from various sources, selected and edited by D. L Ashliman, retired University of Pittsburgh professor.

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• Emakimono [Asia Society]
"During the 11th to 16th centuries, painted handscrolls, called emakimono, flourished as an art form in Japan, depicting battles, romance, religion, folktales, and even stories of the supernatural world." A short background essay with a suggested activity for students.

Lesson Plan • A Case Study of Heian Japan through Art: Japan's Four Great Emaki [Program for Teaching East Asia, Center for Asian Studies, University of Colorado]
"Emakimono or emaki, narrative picture scrolls, developed into a distinctly Japanese art form in the Heian period, 794-1185 CE. In this lesson, students examine four emaki masterpieces to analyze the highly refined court culture, politics, and religion in the late Heian period. Working in groups, they then create preview posters for a museum exhibit featuring the four emaki, providing their interpretation of the facets of Heian culture they believe exhibit-goers should learn." Introductory essay and lesson plan with images of picture scrolls from the period.

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