1

TITLE SLIDEA Photo Exhibit of A Photo Exhibit of

China, South Korea, India and Japan

China, South Korea, India and Japan

Dr. Jessica Stowell and Mrs. Kay MillerDr. Jessica Stowell and Mrs. Kay Miller

by

2

MAIN MENU

To view the slides for a specific country, click a map.To view the entire presentation slide-by-slide, press the down-arrow key on

your keyboard. To branch to the ending slides, click here .

MAIN MENUMAIN MENU

3

CHINA

PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITIONPHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION

China the land of ancient wisdom.

To view the China exhibition press the down- arrow key on your keyboard.

4

CREEPING DRAGON

The Great Wall snakes its way across northern China undulating, clawing, and devouring any in its path. 2000 years ago the Emperor Qin ordered the walls of the warlords connected to keep out the barbarians from the North. It consumed hundreds of thousands of workers who are buried in or near the wall. Wide enough to accommodate 6 horses abreast pulling a chariot, the wall is glorious

and repugnant as a dragon.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

5

A GATE TO TRANQUILITY

The circle represents private space, informality, peace, while the square represents public space, formality, activity. As one passes from a square courtyard through a round moon gate into a home or garden, peace and privacy should ensue. You might notice that some Chinese restaurants have a moon gate to the dining room--as you pass through you are to relax and enjoy your meal.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

6

LITTLE EMPEROR

Children (yes, even girls) are treasured by their families. The one child policy in China has been a hardship for a Confucian society which holds the premise that a house full of children is ideal. Heavy expectations are placed upon the one child; likewise the only children have the full attention of 2 parents and 4 grandparents, creating more spoiling, but self confidence. This little girl was accompanied by her two grand- mothers who asked me to take her picture. The confidence and delight in her eyes represent the new China. Dr. Jessica Stowell

7

STONE SENTINEL

Guarding the past while looking to the future, this sentinel stands near the grave of Confucius, who wielded pervasive influence on Chinese society. Teaching that education was all important, that a hierarchy of respect was essential for society to operate smoothly, that we should talk less and listen more, Confucian thought has ordered East Asian cultures for over 2000 years and may be an essential philosophy to carry us into the 21st century.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

8

TO BE IS ENOUGH

The Asian view of being rather than incessantly doing lends a peaceful air to the society. Even on an incredibly crowded street, one can feel a certain calm among the people. This attitude gives permission for a post lunch nap when the weather is hot.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

9

A STORY UNFOLDS

The story of a people is told in the needlework of its women: the Hmong embroidery illustrating the wars, the European tapestry coats of arms, the tapa cloths of the islands, and certainly quilts. During the Spring Festival these lucky symbols are traditionally placed on farmers’ windows which are made of paper. They are replicated here by the wives of the farmers in Hu County where farmers’ folk painting is a tradition. Dr. Jessica Stowell

10

FAMILY AS

FOUNDATION

The Confucian ideal of respect for one’s parents, and the parents’ care for children is firmly in place 2300 years after Confucius’ death. The Chinese society (and that of East Asia) is firmly rooted in the family model. Confucian wisdom relates that if the family is right the community will be right, if the community is right then the state will be right, if the state is right, then the nation will be right.

FAMILY AS A FOUNDATION

Dr. Jessica Stowell

11

RISING HOPE

Incense smoke represents the prayers wafting to heaven; more incense, more smoke, therefore more prayers. One can purchase a long burning coil such as these to hang in the temple for days. Much of China smells of fragrant incense hanging in the air.

RISING HOPE

Dr. Jessica Stowell

12

INGENUITY

When a storefront is beyond your means, the back of a cycle does nicely. This scroll seller displays not only merchandise but a true ingenuity of character which is typical of the Chinese people. Services from bicycle repair to acupuncture can be seen on sidewalks of the cities and villages. Space may be limited, but perseverance and ingenuity are unlimited. Dr. Jessica Stowell

13

LUNCH BREAK

Hardship permeates Chinese society, counterbalanced by a determina- tion unknown to the West. These primitive tools bespeak the tenacity of the user who stopped for lunch in the blistering heat while his shirt, shoes, and mop dried out. Dr. Jessica Stowell

14

Interactive Action

To return to the main menu, click here

To advance to the India presentation press the down- arrow key on your keyboard.

To branch to the ending slides, click here

End of China exhibit:End of China exhibit:

15

INDIA

India the land of infinite variety.

PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITIONPHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION

To view the India exhibition, press the down- arrow key on your keyboard.

16

GOLDEN ENIGMA

A shining gilded dome and vivid prayer flags identify Swayambhunath, famous the world over as “The Monkey Temple.” Dying animals, deformed beggars, and pilgrims lie prostrate in the filth left by the people and monkeys who live there.

Mrs. Kay Miller

17

A THOUSAND VESSELS

In Bhaktapur, a city just east of Kathmandu, families which once belonged to the potter’s caste dry their wares in the sun of Potter’s Square, just as their ancestors have done for centuries. Though caste has been officially abolished, old traditions continue to shape the lives of many people. Mrs. Kay Miller

18

RELEASE

The image of reclining Buddha, which depicts Buddha at the moment of his death and enlightenment, is familiar throughout Asia. Reflecting the peace for which people of all religions long, this face of a twenty three foot long reclining figure was carved in solid rock in a cave at Ajanta some two centuries before the birth of Christ. Mrs. Kay Miller

19

REFLECTION OF

GRANDEUR

The brilliant white marble of the Taj Mahal, shimmers in the reflecting pool at the foot of the monument. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jehan to memorialize his beloved wife, the Taj symbolizes the grandeur, mystery, and romance of one of the most resplendent periods of Indian history. Mrs. Kay Miller

20

BOMBAY LAUNDROMAT

The dhobis--laundry men--ply their trade in the city of Bombay. Drying clothes stretch for miles, hung on lines or simply spread out on bushes or the ground. The scene--like all of Indian society--seems chaotic on the surface. However, each item is returned to its owner at the end of the day.

Mrs. Kay Miller

21

In a nation with a population of over 900 million--second largest in the world--people must utilize every resource. A stack of cow dung provides the fuel to roast eggplant for the evening meal of this family gathered around a small fire to celebrate a festival.

FRUGAL CELEBRATION

Mrs. Kay Miller

22

SUPPLICATION

Anguish and fatigue visible in her posture, this woman represents thousands of beggars throughout India.

Mrs. Kay Miller

23

A WORLD OF COLOR

Drying in the summer sun of Tamil Nadu, bright silk thread stretches for miles across the countryside. Soon it will be woven into the colorful cloth for which the region is famous. The area, also known for its ancient temples, is but a single golden strand in the brilliant design of India’s fabric. Mrs. Kay Miller

24

THE FABRIC OF LIFE

Epitomizing the kind of cottage industry that Gandhi envisioned at the heart of free India’s economy, this weaver sits every day in a shallow dirt pit in his home and creates the ancient patterns of a madras plaid.

Mrs. Kay Miller

25

A CLENCHED FIST

The clenched fist and fierce expression of this man, sitting quietly outside a village restaurant in India, suggest the tension that exists in a land which has been conquered by numerous external forces and is subject to much internal political and religious strife.

Mrs. Kay Miller

26

Interactive Action

To return to the main menu, click here

To advance to the Japan presentation click here

To branch to the ending slides, click here

End of India exhibit:End of India exhibit:

27

JAPAN

Japan the land of the rising sun.

PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITIONPHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION

To view the Japan exhibition, press the down- arrow key on your keyboard.

28

HOLY GATE

Large or small, elaborate or plain, a torii gate stands at every Shinto shrine marking the entrance to sacred space. This one, which seems to float in the water at Miyajima Island, is a spectacular icon of Japanese culture.

Mrs. Kay Miller

29

HOME OF MANY GODS

A straw rope, a Shinto symbol that identifies the tree as sacred dwelling place of Kami, encircles this ancient Ginko tree which stands in the yard of a Buddhist Temple. Just as the two religions coexist in this setting, so they combine in the lives of many Japanese.

Mrs. Kay Miller

30

EUMENICAL OFFERING

Further evidence of the mingling of Buddhism and Shinto is this prayer paper which was tied to the sacred tree. As Buddhist worshippers leave a temple, they may purchase a printed oracle to predict the future. After it has been read, the oracle is often twisted and tied around a twig--a petition if the prophecy is good, a safeguard if it is poor. Mrs. Kay Miller

31

EVERYDAY ART

In Japan, a country of exquisite landscape and architecture, the simple curve of a roof delights the eye and a decorative ornament is a work of art.

Mrs. Kay Miller

32

GARDEN OF IMAGINATION

Many visitors are puzzled by the emptiness of a Zen garden such as this one in Kyoto. By viewing the garden, composed only of space and stones, an outsider may better understand the simple and austere lifestyle of those who practice Zen Buddhism and who believe that only such emptiness allows one to find the meaning within him or herself. Mrs. Kay Miller

33

A source of confusion for some Westerners in the fact that many Japanese deities are known by several names. This figure represents Binzuru, who is also called Bhaisajyagu, Yakushi Nyorai, and Pindola. No matter what he is called, he is always recognized as the healing Buddha.

ONE GOD

Mrs. Kay Miller

34

SOLITARY LANTERN

In the twilight rain, the sight of a solitary lantern standing beside a deserted path evokes a melancholy sigh. The Japanese call this feeling mono no aware. Difficult to translate, the term has sometimes been defined as “the ah-ness of things.”

Mrs. Kay Miller

35

Barrels of sake line the passageways at Toshogu Jinja, which houses the tomb of Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa Shogun. In contrast to the immensely ornate shrine, the natural pattern of the stacked barrels and calligraphy reminds the visitor that ordinarily the Japanese aesthetic cherishes simplicity and artlessness.

THE SHOGUN’S

SAKE

Mrs. Kay Miller

36

WAITING PLACE

Although they may see no paradox in following Buddhism, Shinto, and Confucianism in life, most Japanese are buried as Buddhists. Mist shrouds the mountains behind these tombstones near the gate of the cemetery at Koyasan, site of the mausoleum of Kukai, who, according to legend, brought Buddhism from China to Japan in 816 and now waits in deep meditation for the coming of the Buddha of the future. Mrs. Kay Miller

37

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

The languages of two nations--once fierce enemies in war--today combine in a universal prayer.

Mrs. Kay Miller

38

Interactive Action

To return to the main menu, click here

To advance to the South Korea presentation click here

To branch to the ending slides, click here

End of Japan exhibit:End of Japan exhibit:

39

KOREA

South Korea the land of morning calm.

PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITIONPHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION

To view the Korea exhibition, press the down- arrow key on your keyboard.

40

UNCARVED BLOCK

Asian aesthetic reveres untam- pered nature; the importance of this crag is revealed through the pedestal and the worn path around it. The “scholars rocks” were sought to grace the gardens of the wealthy, even enhancing the meditation process. Recent research has shown that some of the rocks used in gardens a millennium ago may have been altered by filing and drilling to look unique.

. Dr. Jessica Stowell

41

HETAE AND FRIEND

Hetae, palace guardians, solidly stand for the past while the future rides on the back. Korea has an incredible future as 25% of the population is under 20. But even the young are firmly rooted in the past as all Confucian societies find sustenance in their history.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

42

DELIGHTFUL STUPA

Brilliant color, a part of the culture, enlivens the somber nature of a temple courtyard. Stupas, memorials to the departed, are found in varied forms all over Asia. This multi-storied Buddhist tower stands among lanterns added for a special celebration.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

43

Appearing at village gates, guardian chonson reflect the shamanistic beliefs of part of the Korean people who have no difficulty combining shamanism with Buddhism, or Christianity. While these chonson are stone, wood is also used; the wooden chonson have a prescribed ritual for their creation. Only chosen villagers may cut the trees and carve the figures which must be finished before nightfall on one day.

MR. AND MRS.

CHONSON

Dr. Jessica Stowell

44

WE STAND TOGETHER

Buddhist priests and nuns stand united as they witness a statue unveiling ceremony at Heinsa Temple. The firm foundation of Buddhism supports this culture, while the unity of purpose and attitude takes Korea forward. Dr. Jessica Stowell

45

In a Secret Garden (Piwan) in Seoul reposes a library where scholars came to learn Confucian Classics and to take the Imperial Examinations which secured government posts and reflected honor on their families. This is the gate through which they passed to the library above; the ancient juniper trunk (possibly 2000 years old) indicates a contorted route to learning.

A GATE TO KNOWLEDGE

Dr. Jessica Stowell

46

The necessities for the learned are displayed in this calligraphy supply shop in Seoul. An array of brushes, ink sticks, brush holders, chops (signature seals), water droppers, and paper tempts passersby who can’t miss the oversize brush. Calligraphy unites the three art forms of writing, poetry, and painting. The bicycle is the ideal transportation to reach this palace of erudition.

ALL A SCHOLAR

COULD WANT

Dr. Jessica Stowell

47

NO DETAIL TOO SMALL

Assiduous work is a hallmark of South Korean culture. This eave bracket carved and painted in traditional style might have been created 800 years ago or last year. The level of craft is so high and exacting that the buildings become works of art.

Dr. Jessica Stowell

48

GATE OF VICTORY

AND TREASURE

Dr. Jessica Stowell

Names for gates, courtyards, pavilions, houses, rooms, abound in Asia. This Heinsa Temple gate proclaims victory that the treasure within (1,200 wood blocks containing the Buddhist Scripture) are

housed here after being carved a second time after the Mongols destroyed the first set in the 1200s.

49

PRAYER ROCKS

Nature is revered as even a tiny rock can represent a prayer. These carefully balanced stacks of small rocks on a wooded trail at Heinsa Temple speak of the meditative spirit that created the delicate balance.

Dr. Jessica Stowell