Team 3 – Arte:Historia

Reflection

Upon having this assignment, we were deciding between Christian art in Asia and Japonaiserie. Due to our interest, we were drawn towards “Hidden Christianity in Japan” as my group mates came up with an interesting idea of having the objects being hidden within a space. This idea intrigue me to come up with activities such as “escape room” and board games like “Cluedo” which has a relation to having things being hidden and players have to find to win the game. I feel that if we could implant this idea into the exhibition it might be interesting experience to have.

Thus as we discuss about our ideas one by one, we realize that the overall concept seem really interesting. However, we had a problem of executing the idea out as we didn’t want to make it too overwhelming, neither too simplistic. We came to a point that maybe a model of the exhibition site and a set of game rules might work out nicely. At this point, we assign each other roles on what to do for this project base on our interest. Alicia and Joanne were the researchers for the history behind hidden Christianity in Japan and they did up the wall text and object label. They really impressed me in this part of the project. Even though it may seem very simple to do to many, personally for me, in terms of theory, it is not my forte. Thus I chose the job of making the activity since I had an idea of how it look like and Vivian got the role of designing the exhibition layout as she is well versed with Japanese culture than any of us.

As we did our research, we find that it is really interesting that even though Christianity is being banned during 1600s in Japan, there were still some secretly practicing and the way they do it is amazing. They had all kinds of methods to practice Christianity. It is interesting that every single daily life object can be made into a form of practice. In addition to the way the hide it within the object is very intriguing too. It was really fun knowing all these facts and how people think at that time.

I’m glad that despite our difference, we manage to do this project smoothly and in the process I learn a lot from my group mates. I learnt of how different types of glue can affect the making of the model. For instance, having too much UV glue on the foam board, the board would actually melt overtime. Therefore when using materials to build the model, we had to handle it wisely and carefully.

Through this project, we may have done it pretty smoothly, but there are times where we did face some issues along the way. The most challenging part of this project to me was time. All 4 of us had problems of meeting up due to the difference in our major, thus many times due to our timetable we had a hard time meeting up to discuss or build the model. In the end we had to do individually during our free time and consolidate everything near the week of submission. And also when doing this project, we didn’t notice about how different age group would react to the activity. It was a refreshing and eye opener to know how people think about our idea. Thus I would like to thank everyone for the contribution to the discussion. Other than that I think everything worked out smoothly.

Overall, it was a fun experience and great job everyone for all the effort put into the project. Glad that we manage to get through another busy semester again 🙂

Process:

12268895_10153742344718094_802943124_o — Base making

12250598_10153742344738094_2034781839_o — Created the secret basement

12282052_10153742359768094_1504912561_o — Wall up for one side

11984557_10153742359933094_1457126294_o — Shoji making- it’s a nightmare cutting up the square perfectly.

12268731_10153742392843094_103471460_o — Done up furnitures and layout

12271252_10153742392903094_1566014635_o — Gallery walls up

Finalize Look:

12281579_10153742342958094_849646308_o — Room part 1

12271542_10153742342888094_1408704390_o — Room part 2

12282024_10153742343113094_2070265990_o — Garden area

12255267_10153742342853094_494068121_o — Final layout

Team 3: Individual Object Label – Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon (FINAL UPDATED)　

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon　マリア観音

(c. 17 Century)

Porcelain Statue

This statue was seized in Uragami, Nagasaki Prefecture,in 1856, Ming-Qing dynasty, 17^th century. It was then preserved by the Nagasaki Magistrate’s Office. Currently the statue is kept safely in Tokyo National Museum.

It depict the feminine form of Koyasu Kannon (子安観音), the god that represent birth and child rearing. Despite bearing the resemblance of “Byakue Kannon”, she holds a child in her hand. To the Christians the statue resembles Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. The white robe, according to Christianity, represents purity and righteousness. It also symbolizes salvation.

During the mid-17^th century, outlawed Christians created statues of Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) disguised as the Buddhist deity Kannon (Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin). These statues are known as Maria Kannon. Maria Kannon was made or altered to look like Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), however they were not worshipped as Kannon. This act of concealment allowed the Christian to practice their faith in secret, minimizing the chance of being exposed. Since their faith were forced to go underground, the follower usual practice their faith in a hidden room, a cave or in a forest.

There are a number of Maria Kannon statues, which includes “Byakue Kannon”, “Jibo Kannon”, Guanyin (Kannon) and Child of many different sizes. Some of which even include hidden image of the “cross” within them and some have it at the back of the statue. With the presence of the cross within the statue it indirectly imply that the statue is in fact constructed for Christian and not Buddhist despite it resembling Buddhist deity Kannon. The Christians would honor this statue by silently praying to Mother Mary. With such “trick” it creates a sense of relief for the follower. To the outsider it appears as a Buddhist statue but to the outlawed Christian, it appears as an object of Christ faith. Which successfully also fooled the government and help them to keep their faith hidden and alive.

Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Maria_Kannon.jpg

Catalog Entry for Artefact (FINAL UPDATED)

Buddhist_statue_with_hidden_cross_on_back — Maria Kannon with hidden cross on back.

Maria_Kannon

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon　マリア観音

(c. 17 Century)

Porcelain Statue

In 1549, missionaries brought Christianity to Japan. As Christianity gain its popularity among the population, Tokugawa Ieyasu began to fear that the Christian will be more loyal to their faith as compared to his shogunate.

In 1612, Christianity was banned in the country and whoever practiced it were persecuted, often with violence, and as the days pass the methods got fiercer. Eventually, Christianity was banned for over two centuries during the Tokugawa Era, also known as Edo Period (1603-1868). Authorities were eager to eradicate this foreign religion that they execute and imprisoned thousands of Christians, and even to the extent of ordering all families to register with local Buddhist parishes.

To deal with the situation, the Christian had to practice their faith in secret to avoid being punished. Therefore, in order to conceal their faith, Christian were forced to keep a low profile and practice their faith in private. These Christians were eventually known as Kakure Kirishitan, or Hidden Christian. Since then their faith were forced to go underground, and follower had to practice it in secret.

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon, the feminine form of Koyasu Kannon (子安観音), is the god that represents birth and child rearing. Despite bearing the resemblance of “Byakue Kannon”, she carry a child in her hand. To the Christians the statue resemble Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. The white robe, according to Christianity, represents purity and righteousness. It also symbolize salvation.

The statue is made from Dehua White Porcelain, known as “hakugorai” or “Korean White Ware” in Japanese. It is the porcelain that give the statue its colour. As the name of the material suggests, the statue is being produced not in Japan but in Dehua Kilns, located in Fujian Province. In other words, the Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon is being illegally imported from China.

One of the main reasons of the use of Dehua Kilns porcelain is that the white is the colour commonly used during rituals observance. To add on, white to the Chinese, the manufacturing country, symbolizes filial piety, death and mourning, which is why it is the common colour for statues and incense burners.

At the back of the statue, a hidden Christian cross can be found. With the presence of the cross within the statue it indirectly imply that the statue is in fact constructed for Christian and not Buddhist despite it resembling Buddhist deity Kannon. The Christians would honor this statue by silently praying to Mother Mary. With such “trick” it creates a sense of relief for the follower. To the outsider it appears as a Buddhist statue but to the outlawed Christian, it appears as an object of Christ faith. Which successfully also fooled the government and help them to keep their faith hidden and alive.

References & Further Reading:

Mark Schumacher. Virgin Mary & Kannon, Two Merciful Mothers (1995 – 2014), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/maria-kannon.html

R.W.Smith. Dehua Kilns, “Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon,” The Christian Kannon, The Buddhist Madonna, Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

http://rwsmith.omeka.net/items/show/44

Dunoucou. Chinese Porcelain (October 3, 2008), Retrived from November 3, 2015, from

http://oblogdourbano.blogspot.sg/2008/10/dehua-white-porcelain-in-japan.html

Chris Morrison. John Dougill: In Search of Japan’s Hidden Christians, (June 8, 2012), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

https://32minutes.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/john-dougill-in-search-of-japans-hidden-christians/

Chelsea Foxwell. Merciful Mother Kannon and Its Audiences (2010), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1524561.files//Foxwell_Merciful_Mother_Kannon.pdf

Team 3: Activity Area [Late post]

[Late Post] Activity Area for our Exhibition

This is a delay post, as initially my group members and I didn’t want to reveal everything about our exhibition before the day we showcase it. My concept for the activity area was derived from board games such as Cluedo and Escape Room. Collectively, as a group, our concept was to create a memorable learning experience for our visitors at the same time unveil the history of “Hidden Christianity in Japan”, a culture known to many but understand by few. The setting of the area will bring our visitor back to 1600s, this will allow them to have a 4-dimension experience.

How will the activity be carried out?

The whole activity, which is being held within the exhibition premise, will last for 10 minutes. Due to space constraint, every 10 minutes interval, a maximum number of 5 visitors will be allowed into the premise.

Visitors will be given the roles of government officers and they will be tasked to search items relating to Christianity within the premise. These “Government officers” will be “armed” with UV lights and a scroll like “search list” which will contain clues on the hidden items.

A total of 10 items will be hidden within the premise, of which only 4 are related, the rest are just to confuse our “officers”. In order to complete their task, the “officers” will need to recover all 4 hidden items that are related to Christianity. The 4 hidden items will have a sticker that has a cross using UV ink, therefore, our “officers” will need to utilize their UV light to identify the “real items”

To ensure that all visitor, regardless of whether they have prior knowledge to Christianity or not, are able to find the 4 hidden items, the clues will be given in a descriptive style. For an example;

Item 1:
- In a form of Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus
- Made of Dehua white porcelain…etc.

Upon completing their task, visitors may proceed over to the next section of the exhibition. A film, which depicts the execution of Christianity, will be shown to them. Besides gaining more insights to “Hidden Christianity in Japan” visitor will be gifted with the scrolls, as a souvenir. If they did not complete the task, they will be able to view the artifact at the gallery. Explanation of the artifacts will also be provided within the gallery.

IMG-20151111-WA0005

For visitors who do not wish to participate in the activity, they can make a detour to the gallery, which they can roam freely on their own.

Here is the first draft of the scroll content:

Kirishitan (Hidden Christian) Belongings

There are rumours that there are Kirishitan within this house. Please find the 4 evidence to prove that the rumours are true. There is only 10 minutes to find the evidences before the residence of this house find out about our plan to expose them. Every evidence would have a sticker hidden somewhere on it. Please note that the evidence must have this image of a cross on when you use your UV light on the sticker as there may be a fake version of it where there is no cross on it. There are a total of 4 evidences to prove their identity and they are listed below. Each number represents the evidence, so please make sure that the evidence’s number is similar to this scroll’s numbering.

If you have found all of the evidences, please report back to us with all the evidence layout on the table and you will be rewarded greatly.

– Keihōkyoku

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon
Clues:
- Made of Dehua white porcelain
- In a form of Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus
- Depicted as Kannon feminine form Koyasu Kannon (子安観音) that means child giving and child rearing, which resemble “Byakue Kannon” in appearance but she is holding a child.
- A Christian cross is often hidden behind the statue
- It disguised as the Buddhist deity Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) in order to conceal the Christian faith while pretending to be Buddhist
MAKKYO(魔鏡), The Magic Mirror
Clues:
- Made of bronze
- Used as an Christian identity
- One side brightly polished, other side bronzed surface
- Your reflected image can be seen on it when viewing
- Shining light directly onto the shiny panel, angled in such a way that by reflecting it on a flat surface, an image of either a crucifix, a figure of Jesus Christ or Virgin Mary would appear
Hidden Wall Scroll of Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus
Clues:
- In a form of Kakejiku
- Use as a form of worship to deities and also as a decorative adds on to their interior design.
- Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus depicted in the artwork
- Painted in the Shinto style – pale spotless skin, dark raven hair, narrow eyes and minimalistic noses, eyebrows.
- Littered with Japanese Motifs: Mary with exposed breasts, sat with the cloudsà depiction of immortality
Kirishitan Doro
Clues:
- A form of an Oribe lantern with a figure of Virgin Mary, that resemble Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), carved near the base
- A Greek monogram “IHS” (iota-eta-sigma, the initials of the Greek form of the name Jesus) which is inscripted below the central platform
- Made by Furuta Oribe, famed designer, tea ceremony master and warlord of the Momoyama period (15686 – 1693)
- Function as lighting devices and secret sign of being a Christian
- Usually found in household gardens as to light the way from main residence to the teahouse.

————————————————————————————————————————————

This is the remake version after discussion:

SCROLL2 — Please click on the image to zoom in for reading

Catalog Entry for Artefact (UPDATED)

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon

Dehua Kilns

Porcelain Statue

17^th century

Tokyo National Museum

In 1549, missionaries brought Christianity to Japan. It soon became popular that Tokugawa Ieyasu began to fear that Christians were more loyal to their faith than his shogunate. In 1612, Christianity was banned in the country and whoever practiced it were persecuted, often with violence, and in the coming years was even fiercer. It was banned for over two centuries during the Tokugawa Era known as the Edo Period. Authorites were eager to eradicate this foreign religion that they excuted and imprisioned thousands of Christians and ordered all families to register with local Buddhist parishes.

Thus to conceal their faith, Christian had to stay low profile and their faith had to be private. They were known as the Kakure Kirishitan, or Hidden Christians. Since then their faith was forced to go underground, and follower had to find private ways to practice it. In the mid-17^th century, outlawed Christians created statues of Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) disguised as the Buddhist deity Kannon (Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin). These statues are known as Maria Kannon. Maria Kannon was made or altered to look like Kannon (Goddess of Mercy), however they were not worshipped as Kannon. This is for safety purposes for the Christian who practices their faith in secret. Part of their creation of the statues, they had many version of Maria Kannon that looks like Kannon ranging from “Byakue Kannon”, “Jibo Kannon”, to Guanyin(Kannon) and Child of many different sizes. There are some that have a cross-hidden within the image or had a Christian icon hidden inside the body of the camouflaged artwork.

For instance, Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon is depicted as one of Kannon feminine form Koyasu Kannon (子安観音) that means child giving and child rearing, which resemble “Byakue Kannon” in appearance but she is holding a child. If you look at it with a Christian point of view, doesn’t it feels like it is depicting Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. In addition to its white robe, according to Christianity, it represents purity and righteousness and served as a symbol of salvation. This statue is made white with Dehua white porcelain, which can be known as “hakugorai” or “Korean White Ware” in traditional Japanese. Based on the material used to make for this statue, it tells that instead of it being made in japan, it is produced in Dehua Kilns, known for their porcelain that is located in Fujian Province opposite the island of Taiwan. Therefore it shows that Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon is imported to Japan for the hidden Christian’s underground use. The reason partly that Japanese uses such material is due to the fact that they associate very plain white with object for Japanese religious and ritual observance. Another reason for the use of such material is that it can produce a pure white colouring for the object. Since it is made in China, Chinese believe that white is the colour of filial piety and , death and mourning. Therefore they are usually used to make devotional characters such as statues and incense burners.

At the back of the statue, a hidden Christian cross can be found. This icon serve to conceal the Christian’s faith while they pretended to be Buddhist. The Christians would honor this statue by silently praying to Mother Mary. Due to having such method it create a sense of relief for the follower as to the outsider it appeared Buddhist, whereas to the outlawed Christian, it appeared as an object of Christ faith. These secretive methods fool the government and help them to keep their faith hidden and alive.

References & Further Reading:

Mark Schumacher. Virgin Mary & Kannon, Two Merciful Mothers (1995 – 2014), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/maria-kannon.html

R.W.Smith. Dehua Kilns, “Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon,” The Christian Kannon, The Buddhist Madonna, Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from http://rwsmith.omeka.net/items/show/44

Dunoucou. Chinese Porcelain (October 3, 2008), Retrived from November 3, 2015, from

http://oblogdourbano.blogspot.sg/2008/10/dehua-white-porcelain-in-japan.html

Chris Morrison. John Dougill: In Search of Japan’s Hidden Christians, (June 8, 2012), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

https://32minutes.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/john-dougill-in-search-of-japans-hidden-christians/

Chelsea Foxwell. Merciful Mother Kannon and Its Audiences (2010), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from

http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1524561.files//Foxwell_Merciful_Mother_Kannon.pdf

Catalog Entry for Artefact

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon　

Dehua Kilns

Porcelain Statue

Height 14’/i in. (36.7 cm)

17^th century

Tokyo National Museum

In 1549, missionaries brought Christianity to Japan. It soon became popular that Tokugawa Ieyasu began to fear that Christians were more loyal to their faith than his shogunate. In 1612, Christianity was banned in the country and whoever practiced it were persecuted, often with violence, and in the coming years was even fiercer. It was banned for over two centuries during the Tokugawa Era known as the Edo Period. Authorities were eager to eradicate this foreign religion that they executed and imprisioned thousands of Christians and ordered all families to register with local Buddhist parishes.

References & Further Reading:

Mark Schumacher. Virgin Mary & Kannon, Two Merciful Mothers (1995 – 2014), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/maria-kannon.html
R.W.Smith. Dehua Kilns, “Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon,” The Christian Kannon, The Buddhist Madonna, Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from http://rwsmith.omeka.net/items/show/44
Dunoucou. Chinese Porcelain (October 3, 2008), Retrived from November 3, 2015, from http://oblogdourbano.blogspot.sg/2008/10/dehua-white-porcelain-in-japan.html
Chris Morrison. John Dougill: In Search of Japan’s Hidden Christians, (June 8, 2012), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from https://32minutes.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/john-dougill-in-search-of-japans-hidden-christians/
Chelsea Foxwell. Merciful Mother Kannon and Its Audiences (2010), Retrieved from November 3, 2015, from http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1524561.files//Foxwell_Merciful_Mother_Kannon.pdf

Team 3: Individual Object Label – Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon (UPDATED)　

I had to change my object due to the lack of information that I can find for Maria Kannon with a cross on the chest. Thus I did another research that is also on Maria Kannon, but it focus towards Virigin Mary and Child. Here is the Updated Object Label:

Dehua Kilns Maria Kannon　マリア観音

(c. 17 Century)

Porcelain Statue

In the mid-17^th century, outlawed Christians created statues of Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) disguised as the Buddhist deity Kannon (Goddess of Mercy). It was made for safety to look like Kannon, however it is not worshipped as Kannon. They had many version of Maria Kannon that looks like Kannon ranging from “Byakue Kannon”, “Jibo Kannon”, to Guanyin(Kannon) and Child of many different sizes.

Maria Kannon statues are usually place in a hidden room within their house, or in a cave or in the hidden woods that served as an altar for the Hidden Christians to pray. During this period of time, they had to live a double life—Buddhist in name, Christian in Belief.

For this statue it is depicted as one of Kannon feminine form Koyasu Kannon (子安観音) that means child giving and child rearing, which resemble “Byakue Kannon” in appearance but she is holding a child. By having her holding a child is to represent Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. In addition, its white robe it represents purity and righteousness and served as a symbol of salvation. A Christian cross is often hidden behind the statue to conceal the Christian’s faith while they pretended to be Buddhist.

This depiction gave the Hidden Christian a sense of relief as to the outsider it appeared Buddhist, while to the outlawed Christians; it doubled as an object of Christian faith. Thus this statue is used to fool the government and keeping their faith at the same time.

This statue is seized in Uragami, Nagasaki Prefecture,in 1856, Ming-Qing dynasty, 17^th century. It was then preserved by the Nagasaki Magistrate’s Office. Currently the statue is kept safely in Tokyo National Museum.

Team 3: Individual Object Label – Maria Kannon

Unknown

Maria Kannon　マリア観音

(c. 17 Century)

Metallic Statue

It is a statue of the Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) disguised as the Buddhist deity Kannon (Goddess of Mercy). It was made to look like Kannon, however it is not worshipped as Kannon. A Christian cross over the statue neck is often hidden within the statue to conceal the Christian’s faith while they pretended to be Buddhist.