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Japanese Sculptures

Japanese Sculptors through out the centuries have used an extensive media and techniques to create their sculptures, Such media they used are clay, bronze, stone, dry lacquer and wood. The Japanese were known for their sculpting capabilities and precision throughout the western world. The first pieces of Japanese sculpture date back to the Jomon Period in which they made little figurines (for religious use) and pottery for everyday essentials such as jugs for drinking water which were made out of clay. Through the centuries the Japanese had continued using clay as the body for their sculptures but 1700 years ago a new technique of sculpting had been developed which was called Haniwa. Haniwa were usually sculptures that had the form of animals, humans and houses. These type of sculptures were usually put in burial chambers of Emperors and officials.  

When Buddhism was introduced into Japan by the Chinese during the 6th century sculptures had changed and the Japanese started to use a wider variety of media such as wood, bronze and gold. Stone was not used as a sculpting material during this period or any other periods because of the lack of stone used in the Japanese's history. In 1180 civil war had broke out between two Japanese military clans which were named the Taira and the Minamoto. The Minamoto clan had won the civil war and in order to appease their new government Japanese artists had taken a more detailed realistic approach to their work. One prominent figure during the time was the sculptor Unkei who had created incredible realistic sculpture pieces. He also had created a sculpting school which was called the Kei school. 

The Art of Japan: sculpture: history. 2013.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://library.thinkquest.org/27458/nf/sculpture/history.html. [Accessed 20 May 2013].