October 2015 – Business Essay Samples

Week 5 – Labour

Slave Labour, Banksy, 2012

One interesting piece be would a wall mural by one of my favourite renown artists, Banksy. This work was first spotted on a side wall in London, May 2012 and was used as a protest against the use of sweatshops to produce souvenirs for the Olympics back then. The mural shows a poorly dressed boy using the sewing machine, assembling a Jack Union bunting. It’s interesting how the mural is done in black and white whereas the Britain flag is hung brightly coloured.

This artwork on slavery and labour reminds me of the people in China being exploited to manually assemble gadgets, make shoes, clothes and basically anything you can find in the market at minimal wage. I remember watching a documentary on how a Chinese couple would squeeze with 130 million other migrant workers just to get on the last train home to see their children during the New Year’s holiday. The director, Lixin Fan, actually followed the couple on their journey back home to visit their daughter.

Last Train Home, 2009, Theatrical Poster

It’s rather heart wrenching to see how the family has been going through this annually for two decades, parents not being able to be present throughout their children’s growth.

Have a watch of the trailer if you’re interested: https://youtu.be/qm32ud6Gpfw

Week 4 – Allan Sekula

How does Allan Sekula’s engagement with the sea help us to think about trade in the 16th century?

After watching the trailer of his film essay “The Forgotten Space”, I’ve highlighted something he said that could possibly sum up trade in the 16th century. “The current engagement with the sea turn the sea of exploit and adventure to an invisible drudgery.”

I feel that Sekula’s work serves as a reminder to us on how important trade was, back in the 16th century and how it affects us today. It was during that period of time where sea routes were the ideal way for trade. People were more adventurous, take for example, going back to the Portuguese, where they would go on voyages, first traveling to Africa before going to India, then to Southeast Asia. The trading of gifts, art pieces, and necessities such as spices and silk, shows how much trading in the 16th century allowed different countries to connect with each other and expand both politically and economically.

Mcmullen Museum of Art, Nanban Trade Screen

Ships were the main vessels used for transporting goods, which are now replaced by steel containers as shown in the trailer. Not only did we look at maps during class, we also see several art pieces with ships in them, be it in the centre or in the background. This shows that ships were an important mode of transport during that period of time – used for transporting people, trading goods and gifts for exchange. We can see in the picture above a Nanban screen with a black Portuguese ship arriving in Japan, showing the meeting between the Portuguese and Japanese.

Team 3 – Research on Hidden Christian Artefacts

A brief background on how hidden Christianity artifacts came about… Christianity was introduced to Japan by St. Francis Xavier in 1549 and was widely accepted by many Daimyos (feudal lords) and its people in Western Japan. However, Christianity was banned in 1614 when Tokugawa Ieyasu saw it as a serious threat to Japan. The law against the religion was then carried out in 1643. Due to the ban, Christian followers and its icons were eradicated through the Edo period (between 17^th century – 19^th century).

Despite the Edo period being the Dark Age for Japanese Christians, they still managed to keep their faith by secretly practicing the religion and adapting it. These people were known as Kakure-Kirishitan, “Hidden Christians”.

An interesting way of how Japanese would hide their Christian identity is when during the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, tea bowls were turned three times before drinking to symbolise the Holy Trinity. Another way is to have napkins folded in a certain pattern to let the hidden Christians know when to silently recite a Christian prayer. Prayers were also camouflaged to sound like Buddhist prayers or were spoken in Latin. Japanese Christians were also organised into different households to gather and have religious services in their own homes.

Hidden Christian art comes in when the Japanese hide their religious identity by making the symbolic cross resemble Buddhist statues, either that or hiding it in them. The artefacts come in many forms such as; stone lanterns, wall scrolls, ceramic containers used for collecting water for baptism, and the most renowned Buddhist statue known as Guan Yin. These artefacts were used to fool the Japanese government into believing that they were not Christians.

Kirishitan Stone Lantern

Shunko-in Temple, Kyoto

This stone lantern is housed in Shunko-in, a Zen Buddhist Temple in Kyoto. Interestingly, the temple is known to house many important historical objects that reflected different religions and teachings in Japan.

Maria Kannon

Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture

Maria Kannon, also known as Virgin Mary and Guan Yin (Two Merciful Mothers). The statue of Virgin Mary was made to resemble Guan Yin but worshipped as Virgin Mary. Most of the time, a cross is also hidden within the image. Maria Kannon statues were mostly made of white porcelain and are sometimes seen to be carrying or nursing a baby – to resemble the Japanese Shinto Deity (Kami) of easy childbirth.

The Bell of Nanban-ji

Shunko-in Temple, Kyoto

This is a Jesuit bell made in Portual in 1577 and was used at Nanbanji Church, which was established by Jesuit Father Gnecchi-Soldo Organtino with the support of Oda Nobunaga in 1576. However, due to the ban of Christianity in the Edo Period, the church was destroyed. The bell was then brought to Shinko-in and buried there during WWII by the grandfather of the present vice-abbot to prevent the destruction by the government. Engraved on the bell are the letters “IHS” and “1577”. “IHS” are the first 3 letters of the Greek name of Jesus. This bell not only tells us the Christianity in Japan, but also the relationship that Japan had with Portugal and Spain with regards to politics and trade.

Wall Scroll

Shimano-yakata museum, Ikitsuki

A scroll painting of Mother Mother Mary as Guan Yin carrying a baby Jesus, with two saints looking up to them amongst the clouds.

Magic Mirror, “Makkyo”

Kyoto Journal, taken by John Einarsen

Bronze mirror with one side brightly polished, while the reverse side is embossed with a design. When light is directed onto the surface of the mirror and reflected onto a flat surface, an image will magically appear. The mirror is used for Christians to secretly identity themselves.

(Reference video: http://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/what-the-ancients-knew/videos/what-the-ancients-knew-ii-shorts-the-magic-mirror/)

Whilst researching, I chanced upon a documentary, “Otaiya” also known as “Big Eve” (Hidden Christian’s meaning of Christmas Eve) whilst researching on hidden Christianity. The film is basically about a Japanese Christian priest having a secret ceremony during Christmas Eve. Here’s a preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzdSIWT3OjY#t=183

Bibliography:

Reis-Habito, Maria (1996) “Maria-Kannon: Mary, Mother of God, in Buddhist Guise,” Marian Studies: Vol. 47, Article 8.

Team 3 – Wall Text and Object Label

WALL TEXT

HIDDEN CHRISTIAN TREASURES OF JAPAN

How did the hidden Christians of Japan come about? In this special part of the museum, you will be able to learn about the history of Hidden Christians and the several artefacts that were found during this time period in a form of a treasure hunt game.

Christianity was widely accepted when St. Francis Xavier first introduced it to Japan in 1549. However, during the Tokugawa Period when Tokugawa Ieyasu took over Japan, he saw Christianity as a threat to the country and decided to ban the religion altogether. In 1614, Tokugawa Ieyasu signed the Christian Expulsion Edict that banned Christianity, leading the Japanese government continuously and systematically eradicating Christian believers and banning them from practicing their religion. This period in the 1600s is known as the dark age of Edo period.

Despite the ban, devoted Japan Christians still managed to keep their faith and secretly practicing it. These secret believers were known as the Hidden Christians, and in Japanese, “Kakure Kirishitan”. Because of the ban, the Hidden Christians came with various ways of practicing Christianity without being found out by the Japanese military officials. They adapted traditional Japanese practices such as tea ceremonies, said prayers that sounded like Buddhist chants, and also came up with the term “Maria Kannon”, also known as Virgin Mary and Guan Yin, Goddess of Mercy. For example, they made Virgin Mary to resemble Guan Yin but worshipped the statue as Virgin Mary instead.

Can you identify the various artefacts being hidden within this Japanese house?

***

INDIVIDUAL OBJECT LABEL

“MAKKYO (魔鏡)” aka THE MAGIC MIRROR

Bronze

The “Makkyo” also known as The Magic Mirror, is used by the Hidden Christians of Japan to secretly identify themselves. The making of this intriguing artefact is dated back to early 2009-2000 BCE in China and was widely used during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 24 AD). One side of the mirror is brightly polished while the other side, the bronze surface, is embossed with a design. The Makkyo is used by having light shone directly onto the shiny surface of the mirror, and by reflecting it on a flat surface, an image would magically appear. A crucifix will then be reflected and revealed onto the surface.

Bibliography: http://www.kyotojournal.org/renewal/the-magic-mirror-maker/

Team 3 – Pictures taken in Ninja Museum

NINJA HOUSE

I had the chance to visit the Ninja Museum of Igaryu in Mie, Japan last December and taken a few pictures. Little did I know that I’d actually be able to share them here. These pictures and information are for reference and hopefully the way that Ninjas hide their possessions can serve as an inspiration on how and where we can hide our artefacts. It can also help in the design process of the traditional Japanese room.

The Ninjas actually hide secret weapons under wooden floor planks, so if an intruder were to invade their house, the Ninja will know exactly where to get his weapon from.

They also hide stash of money in a vase under wooden planks in case anybody steals them.

There will also be a ninja on duty to keep a lookout on intruders and they will be hiding on the top floors behind closed windows. In the dark, nobody will be able to spot them. This could be an idea for stashing an artefact here, or simply a guard on lookout as an obstacle for the player in the game.

Here is the website for further reference: http://iganinja.jp/en/

Team 3 – Final Proposal

Art History Final Creative Project

GROUP 3:

Alicia, Joanne, Vivian, Zemin

Topic: Christian Art in Asia

Our group has planned to come up with a proposal of a game titled as “Hidden Christian Treasures of Japan”. The game is planned to take place in a life sized traditional Japanese room, in the 1600s time period. You can learn and at the same time have fun while searching for different type of Japanese artefacts in the room.

Possible format of exhibition:

As it is simply an idea for a proposal, we will be scaling the size of the room down into a 3D model so that you can get the idea of how the game will work. Accompanying it will be a pamphlet or booklet with various information printed on – instructions on how to play the game, introduction to Christianity in Japan, why the religion and its art were hidden and lastly, information on the individual artefacts.

Possible objects:

Nanban screens
Maps on how Christianity evolved in Japan
Votive altars
Statues/figures – hybrid art of Guanyin and Jesus
Nanban lacquered cabinet
Japanese-Portuguese Bell

Short term goals:

Alicia – Do an extensive research on the different type of artefacts found in the period where Christianity was hidden in Japan. Filter objects that we can use for our game. Come up with different ways or methods we can show the artefact. In paper form, a model, or digitally.

Joanne – Read up on the rise and fall of Christianity in Japan, from the start to the end to gain a complete understanding on its evolution.

Vivian – Research on designs of traditional Japanese rooms. Come up with potential design for game room.

Zemin – Share with group basic knowledge on gaming structures and techniques. Do extra research on game structure within a space, possible places in a room where objects can be hidden. To closely discuss with Vivian on room structure.

Long term goals:

Alicia – Come up with 4 or 5 confirmed artefacts that we can use in the game room and share with group mates. To understand how various objects link to the history of hidden Christianity in Japan during that time period – why was there a need for hybrid art? what other ways did the Japanese hide their religion? is there a possible solution to the conflict between Japan and Christianity? Learn how to build 3D model objects or make them in such a way that can be hidden in the Japanese game room.

Joanne – To encompass as precisely as possible the theme of ancient Japan and its hidden Christianity into both the final game product and the artefact that I’ve chosen. I want to get to understand clearly the feeling and situation back at that time period through the researches so that the final group product would be able to reflect a sense of genuineness.

Vivian – Draw up a main floor plan of the house model in which the game is going to take place, including details of the hiding places of the artifacts and their descriptions, and how the mechanisms of hiding the items work. Plan on what materials could be used to construct the model, and figure out the rationale of why certain artifacts are placed where they are plus why they can be expected to be hidden. Work closely with the rest of the team to come up with the story and scenario behind the game and integrate it into the model. I will be responsible for planning construction of actual model.

Zemin – Create a game plan for people to learn about both the artefacts and the time period of Christianity in Japan so that they can have a fun time learning and experiencing what is it like to be living in that era. Will do more research of how escape room and detective games such as cluedo works and also plan game flow with the team in order to match with the time period. Additional research on ninja house will also be done in order to plan the hiding of the artefacts. With the research collected, the difficulty of the game will be balanced out so that it will be easy to find the hidden artefact. Will be in charge of the game flow happening within the space.

Method of discussion:

We will be keeping up with each other’s progress on whatsapp or skype should we have any immediate questions. And with regards to sharing of information, research and pictures, we will be using google docs. After the approval of each other’s proposal of objects for exhibition, we will then upload research on OSS. We will also discuss the plan for the next week in person after class every week.

Bibliography:

http://www.bc.edu/publications/chronicle/FeaturesNewsTopstories/2013/features/mcmullen021414.html

DESTROYING JAPANESE CHRISTIANITY

MACHIYA (町屋): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiya

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/町屋_(商家)
http://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=60&pid=28195#top_display_media – Ninja house attractions in japan