Japanese Lanterns
Materials:
Clay, texture & clay tools, slab roller, rolling pin, slip
Challenge:
Create a Japanese lantern using multiple slabs, with a roof and a base.
Criteria:
1. You may only use slabs to create your lantern.
2. You must have two layers of slabs
a. A base or support, and
b. The top ‘house’ layer with a roof to enclose the top layer. Your house may not be larger than 10 inches.
3. You must have holes cut out in a pattern or design for illumination. The light will come through the lantern in the ‘house’ layer.
Japanese Lantern History:
The Japanese use of stone lamps in Japan, called Ishidoro, began with the introduction of Buddhism to the country in the 6th Century. They were used to originally light temples and later to mark the grounds of sacred shrines, or more secular areas like teahouses, and private gardens.
The burning lamp is a common metaphor in Buddhist texts; it symbolizes the Buddhist teachings: the light that helps us to overcome the darkness of ignorance. There is a Buddhism sutra that states that light is dedicated to Buddha. Many Buddhist sutras (scriptures) say it is virtuous to offer the light of a lamp to the Buddha, and so, the lanterns in front of Japanese temples and shrines were probably used initially as symbolic offerings or memorials to the Buddha.
Stone lanterns became more common with the onset of the Japanese sacred tea ceremony, a national tradition that came about after the Chinese introduced tea to Japan in the 9th Century. The lanterns lit dark paths leading to the tea ceremonial hut or decorated tea ceremony masters tea gardens. The Way of Tea is a ritual, still practiced today that embodies the ideas of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.
Stone lanterns eventually moved into use in modern times as garden decorations. The garden lantern serves two fold purposes. The shapes have specific meanings and on its own it looks like a sculptured showpiece that acts as one of the focal points of the garden. The true magic of the Japanese garden lanterns comes to play when night falls and these lamps are ignited bringing the entire garden to light. Typical Japanese garden lanterns do not throw out an excessive amount of light that will brighten up the whole place. Rather the light that radiates out of these lanterns are dim and bring about a sense of serenity shedding enough light for the visitor to make his way through the garden while appreciating its beauty.
www.onmarkproductions.com/html/ishidoro.shtml
www.thejapaneseconnection.com/Toro/
Steps:
1.) Brainstorm: Draw out 7 ideas for your lantern design. Look in books and on line to help you come up with your ideas. SITE YOUR SOURCES!
2.) Demonstration: Creating a mock up or a maquette with cardstock (paper).
3.) Make a mock up of your lantern. You will create a mini version of your lantern to help you flush out the problems along the way.
Create 3 parts to the piece: The base, the house, and the roof.
4.) Demonstration: Beginning your slab lantern
5.) Roll out slabs, cut all the slabs to size and leave them overnight so they become leather hard.
6.) Begin constructing the base.
7.) Construct the ‘house’ separately from the base.
8.) Cut out the holes in the ‘house’ part.
9). Build the roof, with a flange, and attach it to the ‘house.’
10.) Attach the ‘house’ to the base or leave it free standing on the base.
11). Craftsmanship is key!. Put your name on it and place it in the kiln room.
Examples
Riverside stone lanterns are usually placed to overlook a pond or stream for they create a beautiful image in the water reflection.
Oribe
First produced in the Momyana period and is among the oldest japanese garden lanterns known. The lantern is a classic representation of a "planted" stone lantern style for they do not have a base at the bottom. The Oribe lantern has a carved Buddha at the base of the lantern.
Kasuga
The Kasuga lantern is a classic example of a japanese "tachi-gata" or pedestal style lantern. This style of lantern dates back to the Ashikaga period. It is commonly used as a focal point and the stone carvings on the light box often relate to its origin.
Miyoshi
The name of the originator "Miyoshi" is carved in the face of this elegant granite lantern. This is a classic ikekomi-gata (buried) style japanese lantern. The Miyoshi is stunning placed in an entry way or along a garden path.
Kotoji Lantern
This lantern is an outstanding symbol of Japanese creative symmetry in stone. The lantern is named Kotoji meaning, "harp tuner", for the two legs on which the body of the lantern stands are said to resemble to tuning forks of the Japanese musical instrument "koto". Usually one leg is placed on the land and the other in water, reflecting the interdependence of land and water.
Lantern Rubric
Name: __________________________________________________________
Scoring
√+ = Extremely high level of creativity and craftsmanship, expertly resolved
√ = Meets criteria, could push further for greater results
√- = Barely meets criteria, more work needed for improvement, unresolved
0 = Does not meet criteria, unresolved, not finished, absent