A Japanese Art and Culture History Timeline

A Japanese Art and Culture History Timeline

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Noh drama
Picture: Wikipedia
A look at Japan's art and culture from prehistoric times to the present - from earthenware and calligraphy on up to manga and anime.

There are so many things in our modern world that have been influenced by Japanese art and culture: cartoons, games, design, and more. But how far back does the history of Japanese art go? Let’s look back, period by period, at some of the most influential art and cultural movements of the Japanese art timeline.

Thanks to Japanese historian Mark Ericson for feedback and corrections on this piece.

Art Timeline: Prehistoric Period

Way before there were games and anime, Japan had ceramics. Japan’s Prehistoric Period includes the Jomon (14,000-1000 BCE), Yayoi (1000BCE-300CE), and Kofun (300-538CE) Periods.

Pottery, Ceramics, and Lacquerware

Jomon refers to the type of handmade pottery from the period of the same name. Before the pottery wheel, people crafted each piece by hand. Each was completely unique. There were over 70 different styles of Jomon pottery.

The Yayoi Period brought new innovations to ceramic crafts thanks to trade with other Asian countries. For example, bronze and metal crafting for tools and artifacts, and new pottery styles and techniques. This new contact and cultural exchange also introduced the pottery wheel and ceramic kiln.

Japanese art timeline: Jomon era pottery
An earthenware pot from the Jomon period. (Picture: Wikipedia)

Other crafts were dogu figures, haniwa figures, and urushi lacquer wares. In fact, lacquer most likely originated in Japan. Many ceremonial tools and decorations used lacquer from the sap of the Urushi tree. Dogu figurines were small sculptures in the shape of people and animals and were predominant during the Jomon era.

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The earliest etched drawings decorated many of these artifacts, predating the importation of ink and paper from China. Common illustrations were human figures, plants, flowers, and geometric patterns. These early illustrations would later lead to the development of painting.

Art Timeline: Classical Period

Classical Japan includes three periods: Asuka (538-710), Nara (710-794), and Heian (794-1185) Periods.

Buddhist Influence

In these periods, spirituality and art went hand-in-hand. When Buddhism entered Japan in year 552, it brought not only new religious concepts, but new literature and art. Amongst these new art forms were calligraphy, painting, and bronze casting. You could see Chinese influence in just about any of these art forms.

Writing and Literature

Written Japanese: Kanbun and Kana

Japanese was a spoken language before it was a written one. Because of this, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when writing first began. However, scholars point to the early Classical Period, according to early historical texts such as the Kojiki. Japanese writing at the time was adopted from the Chinese writing system. As literacy become more widespread and important, the birth of kana, Japan’s own alphabet, consisting of hiragana, katakana, and furigana, came about.

Shodo (Calligraphy)

The introduction of a writing system also brought with it manufacturing methods for the required tools: ink, paper, and all kinds of brushes. Shodo (書道), or Japanese calligraphy, developed alongside Japanese writing as a literary art form of the aristocracy. Practitioners of shodo were mostly nobles, samurai, and priests. 

Woodblock Printing

Woodblock printing, or mokuhanga, developed as a way to compose lengthy texts. Most woodblock print texts were religious and governmental scripts. Carvers sculpted Chinese characters into wooden blocks. Using sumi ink, they printed the text onto the paper. This early style also formed the foundations of what would later become Japan’s famous ukiyo-e movement.

Yamato-e and Emakimono Scrolls

Yamato-e emerged as a painting style depicting traditional aspects of Japan. The focus was on seasons and landscapes. One of the purposes of Yamato-e was to distinguish traditional Japanese painting from another popular art form, kara-e, which was Chinese in Origin. Many features of Yamato-e would become the foundations for the later popular style, Ukiyo-e. The most popular format was to paint on sliding doors and folding screens.

This style expanded to include long hand-painted scrolls, or emaki-mono. Emaki-mono were painted scrolls to illustrate written works, such as novels, historical and religious texts. They would also form the foundations for what would later become the internationally popular manga, or comic book, style. 

One of the most famous emaki-mono is the Genji Monogatari Scroll. This scrolls illustrates the famous novel by Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji.

Classical Japanese Literature

Novels

The Tale of Genji is possibly the most famous and well-known literature from Japan. Many believe it was the first novel in the history of literature. The author was a Japanese noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu.

Another notable literary work was The Tale of the Heike. This historical romance-fiction work  tells of the struggles between then-warring clans, the Taira and the Minamoto. The original work was a compilation of stories verbally handed down through the years. The original author of the first compiled work remains unknown.

Poetry

Waka poetry has the longest history, with earliest examples dating back to the 8th century in works such as the Kojiki and the Man’yoshu. It set the stage for new forms to evolve throughout the Classical Period.

Poetry was an essential part of literacy, especially amongst the higher classes, in this period. Renga (linked verses) was another poetic style, formed by exchanging verses between two people. Each verse adhered to a specific syllabic count of 5-7-5, and 7-7. This would be the foundation for haiku, which would come about in the Edo Period.

Classical Performing Arts

Noh, Sarugaku, Gagaku and More

Sarugaku was a new form of performance entertainment. It was very circus-like, and included acrobatics, juggling, and mime acts, and lots of music. Sarugaku developed from sangaku, a similar style brought to Japan from China. Gagaku was on the opposite end of the spectrum, and was a more solemn, elegant form of court music and dance. Gagaku also has its origins in China and Korea,

All these styles would undergo several changes, eventually leading to the popularization of Noh, Kyogen, and Kagura Dance in the Muromachi period. 

Classical Japanese Architecture

Horyuji (法隆寺) in Nara. (Picture: 小野真志 / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

Artistic inspiration from China also resulted in new innovations in sculpture and architecture. Most of the earliest and most famous Buddhist sculptures, temples, and pagodas, are from this time. The Ryukyu Kingdom (now Okinawa) gained especially strong influence from China, as they had the most direct connection with China for the longest period of time in Japan.

The most notable temples and castles of this time are Byodoin (Heian Period), Todaiji (Nara Period). and Horyuji (Asuka Period)

Clothing, Kimono, and Armor

Since the prehistoric Yayoi Period, people wore simple garments called kosode. But by the Heian Period, clothing became more complex, developing into the layered kimono as we know them.

Choukin, the art of metal engraving, also developed as the process used to manufacture and adorn samurai armor. Designs could be intricate, using overlays of precious metals such as silver and gold. 

Art Timeline: Medieval Period

Japan’s Medieval Periods include the Kamakura (1185-1333), Muromachi (1336-1573), and Azuchi-Momoyama (1573-1603) Periods.

The biggest movement in medieval Japan was the shift of power from the aristocrats to the warrior classes. Artistically, Japan experienced a continuation of Heian traditions. Though there were developments in painting and calligraphy, the most important innovations of this time were in the realm of sculpture and architecture.

Most religious artwork of this time was anonymous. However there is one particularly famous sculptor of this time who even went on to establish his own school. He was Unkei, the famous sculptor and founder of the Kei School.

Unkei and Sculpture

Unkei was responsible for the construction of many Buddhist sculptures to adorn the temples. Some of his finest works include the Nio Guardians and Kongo-Rikishi statues in Nara’s Todaiji Temple. Other important sculptors took on the task of restoring older temples, using newer methods and techniques.

One remarkable note here is that most of Unkei’s statues were not made of bronze or stone, but of wood. It’s actually amazing that so many have survived into the modern era.

Chado: The Art of Tea

Japanese art timeline: Chado (tea ceremony)
Picture: Fast&Slow / PIXTA(ピクスタ)

Tea had been a part of Japan since the early 600s, but tea ceremonies grew in importance as a part of Buddhist and warrior traditions in this period. This birthed chado, the art of the tea ceremony. Buddhist Monk Eisai brought in new methods of preparing powdered matcha tea from China in 1191. Sen no Rikyu, an expert in Japanese tea, set the foundations of the tea ceremony and the way of tea. His teachings even lead to the foundation of three Chado schools, the Urasenke, Omotesenke, and Mushakojisenke Schools.

Painting and Calligraphy

In the painting and calligraphy scene, Zen Buddhism continued to be a huge influence. Refined calligraphy techniques appeared, such as sosho calligraphy. Painting the Enso, a circle symbolizing enlightenment, was an important practice of meditation and creative discipline. The concept of wabi-sabi, or perfection in imperfection, was another important concept to Zen Buddhism.

Painting continued to evolve as well, in the above styles of landscape painting and emaki scrolls. However, by the end of the Muromachi Period, painting had expanded into the public realms. In the hands of the general people, art could evolve more than ever before.

Noh

Noh theater became popular in the Medieval Period, when Zeiami Mitokiyo, a successful Noh actor, attracted the attention of the Imperial Courts around 1374. Several hundred years later, the Tokugawa Shogunate established noh as its official ceremonial art form.

Early Modern Period

The Edo Period (1603-1868) was Japan’s Early Modern Period. The Edo Period was practically an artistic renaissance for Japan in many ways. It began with peace and ended in turmoil.

With the Tokugawa’s new closed-door policies, Japan largely isolated itself from the world. Despite the lack of incoming influences, traditional art flourished in other ways. Middle classes now had easier access to previously aristocrat-only art. From here, great creativity sprang.

However, the period of peace and prosperity declined, art was used to protest injustices, for political propaganda, and the beginning of satirical art. Because of this, the shogunate established many reforms. But this didn’t stop art. It only took on new and more creative mediums.

Early-Modern Japanese Printing

Ukiyo-e began as a form of “art of the common people.” These advanced woodblock paintings depicted great scenes of nature, as well as of celebrities (wrestlers and even “idols”) of the time. These paintings also underwent several evolutions, from monochromatic prints to the first polychromatic prints in 1765 by famous painter Harunobu.

One of the most successful Ukiyo-e painters was Hokusai. He created many famous works, including a set of works called the Hokusai Manga. (This would also influence the creation of modern manga later down the line.) Other notable artists were Sharaku, Hiroshige, Utagawa, and Utamaro, amongst others. (This previous Unseen Japan essay details the Ukiyo-e movement in more detail).

Early Modern Performing Arts

Kabuki Theater

Kabuki started later in 1603 by a popular miko dancer, Izumo no Okuni. Kabuki was originally a women’s dance, and females played all roles. However, the shogunate eventually banned the performance for being ‘too erotic.’ This lead to the development of ‘yaro-kabuki,’ in which men took on the original women’s roles. Kabuki would continue to keep this style until modern times.

Maiko and Geisha

Performance was also an important part of the traditional maiko and geisha culture. Maiko and geisha were notable not only for their elegant beauty and sophistication in performance in the arts, they were also fashion trendsetters. Dress was an extremely important part of a geisha’s success, and so kimono styles also greatly flourished at this time. 

Early-Modern Poetry

By the Edo Period, literacy expanded to included the general public. As it did, it evolved further into a fashion more suited to the lifestyle of the common people. This lead to styles such as haikai no renga (comical linked verse), kasen (poetry about flowers and the moon), and eventually, haiku.

Matsuo Basho is probably the most famous poet of the Edo Period, specializing in haikai. Haiku came about in the Meiji Period, when famed Japanese poet Masaoka Shiki shortened the phrase “haikai no ku” (meaning “haikai verse”) into the word, haiku, and pioneered it as the new literary trend.

Modern and Contemporary Period

Japan’s Modern Period began with the Meiji Period (1867-1912). It continued into the Pre-War Period, which consists of the Taisho (1912-1926) and Pre-war Showa (1945-1945) Period. 

Once Japan opened its doors again, new art forms flooded in. The Meiji government began to promote Western art and even sent many officials abroad to study it. It was then that Japan decided to follow along the European way and separate art into genres, if for nothing more than to distinguish their own traditional art from the new incoming styles. This is also the first time Japan established art as a part of the public school curriculum.

Contemporary Japan continued with the Post-war Showa Period (1945-1989), into the Heisei Period (1989-2019) and today’s current Reiwa Period (2020-present).

Modern Music and Performance

Many performance and musical art forms arose from the voice of the people protesting the new changes that came with the Meiji Period. Enka music was actually in response to bans on political speech. The first enka actually included no music at all, as it only focused on singing. Enka developed to include instruments in the Taisho Period, as Western influence began to shape the artistic sphere even more.

In the 1970s and 80s, jazz, disco, and pop became more popular, and led to the development of Japanese pop, or J-pop, as we know it… and also as we don’t know it. Several less-popular sub genres that also stemmed from the musical movement, such as City Pop. (Marika Takeuchi released her hit song Plastic Love in 1984). This period also saw the foundations of Japanese idol groups, such as Morning Musume.

Visual Kei was another music genre that formed in the 80s, establishing a fashion following alongside it. Visual Kei included alternative music motifs from Western music of the same periods, including glam rock and gothic music.

Anime and Manga

Akihabara
Picture: Shutterstock

Anime and Manga became especially popular in the post-war period. Manga originated with the picture scrolls of the Heian period, and evolved with the influence of Western media. The word manga had already been popularized thanks to Hokusai’s work as mentioned above. Modern comics started with political cartoons as seen in newspapers and evolved to manga as we know it today. 

Manga comics flourished after WWII, when small publishing companies were able to grow. These companies published cheap comics, then called “red books.” One of these red book artists was none other than a student by the name of Tezuka Osamu. Osaki would go on to write the famous Astro Boy series in 1952. The famous Weekly Shonen Jump also began in 1968, and continues running to this day.

The roots of anime can be traced to as early as 1906. In 1956, Hiroshi Okawa established the famous Toei Animation,   wanting to create a Japanese animated work comparable to Disney. Their first animation was The Tale of the White Serpent in 1958. A bit later, Tezuka Osamu also established an animation company and released the first television anime: Atom (a.k.a. Astro Boy). 

Anime became mainstream in the 1980s, with more popular works appearing such as the Dragonball and Gundam series. Popular series Sazae-san began a bit earlier, in 1969, but boasts the title of longest-running anime in the world, with nearly 7,000 episodes to this day.

The Future of Art

As we can see, the arts have come a long way. Beginning with simple pottery crafts of the prehistoric era, leading to visual arts, animation, and fantastic performance with laser light-shows and 2.5-D anime singers, it’s fascinating to imagine where art will go in the next several hundred years.

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Krys Suzuki

Krys is a Japanese-fluent, English native speaker currently based in the US. A former Tokyo English teacher, Krys now works full time as a J-to-E translator, writer, and artist, with a focus on subjects related to Japanese language and culture. JLPT Level N1. Shares info about Japanese language, culture, and the JLPT on Twitter (SunDogGen).

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