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Japanese Art Periods

Japanese Art is quite universal in terms of media and styles such as sculptures,origami, painting, tattoos, ancient pottery, ink painting, calligraphy and ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Japanese art dates back to 300 B.C. with the first only known people to inhabit of Japan the Jomon. 

The Jomon had used ceramics to make figurines and everyday utensils such as pots, bowls etc. The clay they had used during that time for their ceramics pieces was Earthenware and mixed it with different types of adhesive materials such as mica, lead, fibers and crushed shells. The Jomon Pots were made by hand without any help from a wheel since they used a coiling method to create their pieces and after they were done with their piece they had used tools to smooth-en out the inner and outer surface of the clay piece. Once the clay piece was finally dry the piece would be fired in an outdoor bonfire at the temperature of 900 degrees Celsius. 

In the 4th century the Jomon culture was coming to an end and was being replaced by the more advanced Yayoi culture. Yayoi pottery was slightly different to Jomon pottery as they used the same coiling technique yet the Yayoi's pottery have cleaner and more functional shapes with two slight technical differences the clay surfaces of the Yayoi's pottery were smoother and clay slip was added sometimes to the clay piece to make it less porous. The ceramics pieces clearly show that they are influenced by the Jomon. Metallurgy was also introduced, bronze and iron was used to make weapons, armour, tools and ritual objects such as bells (dotaku).

The Kofun Period (225-500 AD) is named after the tomb mounds that were built for members of the upper ruling classes of that time. The burial chambers and Sarcophagus's in the early tombs were not embellished with  art, money etc they were very simple. In the 6th century the tombs were painted with decorations and embellished with objects such as bronze mirrors, weapons, tools, personal objects of the person being buried etc. Also during the during the kofun period was Sueki ware that was originally from China and  is similar to modern stoneware and porcelain. Sueki pottery is made out of a blue grey clay and is thin-bodied and hard, it is fired at temperatures of around 1,100 to 1,200 degrees celsius. The potters wheel was used for the first time during this period and was fired in a korean style anagama kiln made of a single  tunnel-like chamber half buried in the ground along the slope of a hill. Green glaze which resulted from accidental effects inside the kiln was applied to ceremonial/religious objects in the beginning of the second half of the seventh century. 

The Asuka and Nara Period (538-794) was when Buddhism and other foreign concepts such as the Chinese written language was introduced into Japan. When Japan had made Buddhism its official religion new doors had been opened for politics and especially the arts. New technologies, new building techniques and more advanced methods of bronze casting and new techniques and media for painting had been introduced to the Japanese. 

 

The Heian Period (794-1185) was named after the new capital Heian-kyo (Kyoto). The Japanese had absorbed so many things from the cultures of the continent they started to appreciate their own land and culture. During this period important developments happened such as the kana script which is the written form of japanese, waka poetry and other literary forms such as monogatori (narrative tales), nikki ( diaries) and yamato-e which was an art that depicted Japanese scenes and illustrated Japanese literature. 

Kamakura Period (late 12th-14th century) Japan was governed by the military thus creating new classes and a new hierarchy which meant  paintings and sculptures depicting officials, warriors, priests and poets were in high demand. During this time a well known school of sculptors had created a new more realistic style of sculpture in which attention to detail was impeccable. Also other esteemed artists during that time esteemed portrait artists Takanobu and his son Nobuzane made fine scrolls depicting narrative forms. 

 

Muromachi Period (1338-1573) also called the Ashikaga period. It developed a renaissance of Chinese style ink painting. Ink painting was accepted as a religious means to teach what was called the Zen-Doctorine. Painters who were priests and revered for their landscape paintings are  Josetsu, Shubun, and Sesshu.  Another major development in this era was the tea ceremony and the place it was housed in. The purpose of the tea ceremony was to be joined by fellow friends and accomplices who enjoyed the arts and relax and forget their problems of everyday life. 

In the Edo Period (1615-1868) creativity came from the two lower classes such as the merchants and artisans. The tea ceremony had been adopted by all social classes and was  now a tradition amongst the Japanese people. In 1693 contact and trade was cut off from the world and no foreigners were to be allowed into Japan. This isolation had made the Japanese go back to old traditions/morals and had created urban societies in Kyoto and Edo. Trade was limited with Dutch and Chinese traders and was only allowed in Nagasaki. In the end of 17th century three types of creative arts had flowered. The renaissance of Heian culture had created an arts and crafts school that had been called Rinpa. Kabuki theatre and wood block prints had also developed during this age after a devastating fire in 1657. Also another style that was introduced by the Ming Chinese monks by the name of bunjin-ga (literati painting). 

Art of the Edo Period (1615–1868) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/edop/hd_edop.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Yayoi Culture (ca. 4th century B.C.–3rd century A.D.) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/yayo/hd_yayo.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Asuka and Nara Periods (538–794) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/asna/hd_asna.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Kofun Period (ca. 3rd century–538) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/kofu/hd_kofu.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Jomon Culture (ca. 10,500–ca. 300 B.C.) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013.  [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jomo/hd_jomo.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Heian Period (794–1185) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/heia/hd_heia.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

. 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/japanese-art-the-kamakura-period.html. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

WebMuseum: Kamakura Art. 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/japan/kamakura.html. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

. 2013. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/japanese-art-the-muromachi-period.html. [Accessed 19 May 2013].

Art of the Edo Period (1615–1868) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/edop/hd_edop.htm. [Accessed 19 May 2013].