In the mid-nineteenth century an exotic array of pictures, crafts and curios came flooding out of Japan as this virtually unknown country re-established trade with the outside world. Western collectors eagerly snapped up exquisite ink-painted landscapes, boldly colourful ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world), samurai swords, porcelain, inlaid lacquerware, bamboo utensils and ivory carvings - even artists such as van Gogh and Whistler were influenced by the contemporary vogue for things Japanese. From these collections came our first detailed knowledge of the diversity of Japanese arts, ranging from expressions of the most refined spiritual sensibilities to the bric-a-brac of ordinary life.
This enormous wealth of artistic expression reflects the wide variety of sources of
inspiration
and
patronage
over the centuries. Periods of aristocratic rule, military supremacy and merchant wealth all left their mark on Japanese arts, building on a rich legacy of religious art, folk traditions and the assimilated cultural influences of China and Korea. More recently, the West became a model for artists seeking to join the ranks of the avant-garde. Today it's difficult to speak of prevailing tendencies, as Japanese artists both draw on traditional sources and take their place amongst international trends.
What does span the centuries, however, is a love of nature, respect for the highest standards of craftsmanship and the potential for finding beauty in the simplest of things. These qualities pervade the visual arts of Japan but are also reflected in aspects of the performing arts where the actor's craft, costume and make-up combine with the stage setting to unique dramatic effect. The official designation of valued objects and individuals as "National Treasures" and "Living National Treasures" acknowledges the extent to which the arts and artists of Japan are revered.
One of the joys of visiting Japan, however, is in experiencing the ordinary ways in which the Japanese aesthetic enters into everyday life. The presentation of food, a window display or the simplest flower arrangement can convey, beyond the walls of any museum, the essential nature of Japanese art.
Marie Conte-Helm
The beginnings
The earliest artefacts excavated in Japan date back to 10,000 BC when the
Jomon culture
(10,000-300 BC), a society of hunters, fishers and gatherers, inhabited small settlements throughout the country. The name Jomon, meaning "cord...
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The religious influence
Shinto and Buddhism, Japan's two core religions, have both made vital contributions to the art and architecture of Japan. In the case of
Shinto
, the influence is extremely subtle and difficult to define, but is apparent in the Japanese love of...
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The Heian era 794-1185
In 794 the Japanese capital was moved from Nara to Heian-kyo (present-day Kyoto), heralding the start of the
Heian era
. A more significant transitional date, however, is 898 when the Japanese stopped sending embassies to the Chinese T'ang...
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Samurai culture
Japan's medieval age began in 1185 with the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate. While Kyoto remained the imperial capital and the cultural heartland of Japan, the rise to power of a
military elite
generated an alternative artistic taste....
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The arts of Zen
With the spread of
Zen Buddhism
in the thirteenth century, the arts of Japan took on a new focus. Here was a religion which cultivated self-discipline and austerity as the path to enlightenment. Not surprisingly, it was taken up with...
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Feudal arts and architecture
Zen arts flourished during the
Muromachi era
(1333-1573) and close links with China once again dominated cultural life. The Ashikaga shoguns, now headquartered in Kyoto alongside the imperial court, indulged their love of the arts and...
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The Edo era 1600-1868
After 1603, the Tokugawa Shogunate was established at
Edo
(modern-day Tokyo) where it remained in power for the next 250 years. These were years of peace and stability in Japan, marked by isolation from the outside world, the growth of cities,...
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Western influences
Episodes of
Western contact
prior to the Edo era resulted in some specific examples of artistic exchange. The
Namban
(southern barbarian) golden-screen paintings of the Momoyama era show Portuguese merchants and missionaries at...
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Mingei: The folk craft tradition
It is in the area of the
folk crafts
that Japan has maintained a distinctive tradition and one that delights in the simplicity and utilitarian aspects of ordinary everyday objects.
Mingei
really is "people's art", the...
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The performing arts
The traditional theatre arts evolved in the context of broader cultural developments during different periods of Japan's history.
No
(or Noh) is the classic theatre of Japan, a form of masked drama which has its roots in sacred Shinto dances,...
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