Biohistory Jyournal, Autumn, 2004

Research: Index > Searching for the living creatures depicted

Art in Biohistory (Living creatures in Japanese culture) Searching for the living creatures depicted

Science has been described as representing nature with mathematics, but the essence of living creatures also can be represented with words and pictures. Narration are the expressions that arise when living creatures are observed, contemplated, and loved. In that, there is no distinction between mathematics, words, and pictures. We will search for narration in Japanese culture.

A sketch of fungi and chrysanthemums by Okyo Maruyama (1733-1795) (The collection of the Tokyo National Museum)

Observing the history of Japanese art with a focus on expression of living creatures in pictures, one sees a major turning point of great interest during the Edo period. This was the appearance of sketches from nature against a backdrop of the popularity of botany and the influence of Western art. In addition to copying and learning Chinese painting, artists observed and drew sketches of actual living creatures. The objects they drew expanded from the limited traditional subjects of pine trees and cranes to encompass living creatures both familiar and rare. The sketches that revealed living beauty through careful observation of these subjects is one manifestation of "Philos from careful observation", one of the Biohistory's basic tenets.     Of great interest here is that sketches are part of the process of creating the picture. With this process as a basis, the creative intent incorporated in the completed picture itself is important. The scientific perspective of the sketch probes the conception of the living creature placed in the picture by vicariously experiencing the artist's act of observing the creature. A comparison is possible of the differences between the sketch and the completed picture before and after the sketch from nature was rendered, and one can see the Japanese viewpoint regarding the expression of life. First, I am going to outdoors for learning the species name of what has been depicted and studying literature. (Naoko Kitaji)

Left: A look at the root is enough to determine the species. Botanist Mikinori Ogisu teaches us how to look at plants. Right: "Living Creatures in Japanese Culture", a seminar by outside researchers, is conducted from different viewpoints, including Japanese literature (Takako Tanaka) and Western history (Masatake Kurokawa).

		Medaka-A model animal raised by Japanese:Hiroyuki Takeda
		Why do we pay attention to the spider now? :Yasuko Akiyama-Oda,Hiroki Oda

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