Formative period (c.7500 B.C.-mid-sixth century A.D.)

Japan's prehistoric culture is divided into three periods: the Jomon period (c. 7500 B.C.-c.300 B.C.), the Yayoi period (c.300 B.C.-c. 300 A.D.) and the Kofun, or Tumulus period (c. 300 A.D.).

The Jomon period is best known for its stone age earthenware which is typically pottery of simple shapes with primitive relief decoration. The most sophisticated artifacts from this period include very stylized clay figurines known as dogu.

The Yayoi period produced more sophisticated earthenware pottery with more refined shapes and basic geometric decoration. Also, dating from this period are bell-shaped bronzes known as dotaku, which were probably derived from Korean musical instruments and are thought to have been symbols of authority.

The Kofun, or Tumulus period is named for the mound-covered tombs of clan chieftains which emerged as the government became more centralized. Artifacts from these tombs, include armor and various ornamental objects and are similar to objects found on the Korean Peninsula of the same period. Haniwa or simple clay animal and human figurines were often mounted on the borders of the tombs.

Asuka and Hakubo periods (552-710 A.D.)

Buddhism was first introduced to Japan from the Korean Peninsula in 538 which greatly influenced the architectural style of these periods. Korean architects influenced by Chinese Buddhism, brought new techniques to Japan resulting in the design and construction of the Horyuji Temple in Nara as well as the creation of Buddhist images in sculpture. In 1993, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Committee placed the Buddhist architecture of Horyuji on the World Heritage List.

Nara period (710-794 A.D.)

Japanese culture of this period was influenced by the Tang Dynasty in China. Buddhist priests began to bring many cultural and religious developments from China and systematically introduced them to Japan. The architecture is characterized by simple, clean lines without ornamentation and is best seen in the Toshodaiji temple in Nara. Sculpture from this period, made of clay or dry lacquer, is on exhibit at the Toshodaiji Temple, as well.

Heian period (794-1195 A.D.)

Japan started to turn away from the cultural influences of China and Korea as an independent aristocratic culture emerged. In 794, the nation's capital was moved to Heiankyo (now Kyoto) where large-scale civil engineering and construction projects were launched to build the new metropolis. Art was greatly influenced by Buddhism and Yamato-e (secular Japanese-style painting) emerged. E-maki or illustrated scrolls became a popular art form featuring stories and poems matched with pictures of daily life.








Kamakura period (1185-1333 A.D.)

Early in this period, the Warrior class took control of the country from the aristocracy and moved the capital of Japan to Kamakura. The Zen sect of Buddhism (introduced from Sung-dynasty China) was embraced by the new ruling class and consequently Zen strongly influenced the culture of this period. Many Zen temples were built such as the Kenchoji and Engakuji in Kamakura and master sculptors of the day created realistic portraits and Buddhist sculpture.

Muromachi period (1333-1573)

The nation's political and cultural center moved back to Kyoto and the warrior class began adopting aspects of the aristocratic and Buddhist culture which had continued to flourish in Kyoto during the Kamakura period. The third shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, influenced by Zen Buddhism, built Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion). During this period, Japanese-style gardening flourished and many gardens designed by Zen priests still exist today. Ryoanji, one of the most famous of these gardens, is designed in the kare-sansui style or symbolic gardening style in which sand is used to portray water, and rocks, mountains. In 1974, UNESCO placed over 17 Kyoto temples and shrines on the World Heritage list including, Kinkakuji, Ryoanji and Byodoin.

Residential architecture also flourished during this period and the popular shonin-zukuri style of architecture was born. Shonin-zukuri means "made for regular people" specifically, architecture designed for the newly evolving middle class. With it came the use of the tatami mat as a residential floor covering, the emergence of the tea ceremony and Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement), as well.

First contact with the West was in 1549 when Francis Xavier established a Christian mission in Japan in the southern city of Kagoshima. Then, in 1571 the first Portuguese merchant ship arrived in Nagasaki to begin trade.

Momoyama period (1573-1603)

The Momoyama period marks the end of a long period of civil strife (as feudal clans fought for control during the latter half of the 15th century) and the beginning of a era of unification under Oda Nobunaga. After his death, Toyotomi Hideyoshi gained control of the government and did much to advance trade with Europe and introduce western culture to Japan. This period of prosperity enabled the warrior class to build lavish, highly decorated castles and the merchant class to participate in and further develop traditional Japanese culture - once the exclusive privilege of the aristocracy. In particular, the tea ceremony became very popular and with the introduction of new techniques from the Korean peninsula, the design of ceramic objects used in the tea ceremony thrived. At the same time, a unique form of architecture emerged called sukyoa-zukuri which is the design of tea houses which is still used today. The Himeji Castle in Hyogo was placed on the World Heritage List in December 1993.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Edo is the old name for Tokyo and is also the name of the period when the Tokugawa shogunate gained control of Japan and established a national policy of isolationism or sakkoku. As active city centers emerged in both Edo and Osaka the merchant class thrived, furthering the spread of popular Japanese culture. Many different art forms developed such as rinpa (heavily colored decorative painting), maki-e (objects decorated with gold ornamental lauder), Bunjinga (a Chinese influenced literary painting style) and most notably Ukiyo-e or woodblock prints of everyday life. At this time, Nagasaki was the only port open to the west and it was there that the western style of painting in perspective was first introduced to Japan. Japanese Ukiyo-e masters such as Katsushika Hokusai and Ando Hiroshige used perspective in their colorful woodblock prints depicting daily life and Japanese landscapes.

Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

The Meiji restoration opened Japan back up to the west enabling full scale contact with western art and traditions. Youga (western style painting) became popular as Japanese artists began painting in oil for the first time. In 1898 Okakura Kakuzo established the Japan Fine Arts Academy which through its many exhibitions, gave the public the opportunity to view both traditional Japanese and western art.





Taisho period (1912-1926)

With a weak emperor at its head, the Taisho period was not particularly fruitful or long-lived. During this period, Japan's political power shifted from the emperor to the democratically elected parliament. Japan joined the Allied Powers during the First World War, then entered a period of great economic depression. The most significant historical event during this period was the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 which leveled Tokyo, Yokohama and the surrounding area killing 140,000 people.



Showa period (1926-1989)

Emperor Hirohito reigned during the Showa period up until his death in 1989. The early part of the Showa period was a period of Japanese Imperialism during which Japan went to war with China, then, after bombing Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States and the Allied Forces. Following Japan's surrender to the U.S. in 1947, the country was occupied by the Allied Forces under the command of U.S. General Douglas Mac Arthur. In 1952, occupation was ended with the Treaty of San Francisco and Japan began its economic recovery. Over the past 50 years, Japan has become one of the world's leading economic powers and a cultural leader.



Heisei period to present (1989- present)

Today, the reigning emperor is Emperor Akihito who acceded to the throne on January 7, 1989 upon the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito. In April of 1959, then Crown Prince Akihito married a commoner, Michiko Shoda, the eldest daughter of the president of a large flour manufacturing company. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have three children: Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Fumihito and Princess Sayako. Crown Prince Naruhito studied at Oxford University and in June of 1993 married Masako Owada, the eldest daughter of an administrative vice-minister for foreign affairs and herself a member of the diplomatic corps from which she retired upon her engagement to the Crown Prince. On December 1st, Crown Princess Masako, gave birth to a baby girl who was named Aiko one week later in an official ceremony called, Meimei-no-Gi. Today there are more than 100 museums throughout Japan which feature a broad variety of art from around the world. While Western popular culture has greatly influenced the art and culture of Japan, Japanese traditional culture continues to flourish as new cultural trends develop and emerge.