| The history of Japanese art through the ages. | | | | Ukiyo-e was developed at the same time that |
| How Japanese art was influenced by Chinese | | | | seemed almost a throwback to ancient art |
| and western influences over time. Japanese | | | | forms, since it used woodblock to create |
| art would not be Japanese art without its | | | | works of art. The next important period of |
| incredibly beautiful paintings. Japanese | | | | Japanese are is considered the Meiji period. |
| paintings took their inspiration from the | | | | During the years from 1868 to 1912, the |
| Chinese style of painting of the fourteenth | | | | western influence became more pronounced. |
| through sixteenth centuries. This is called | | | | Different schools of painting popped up, each |
| the Muromachi period during which the Chinese | | | | with its own unique style. For example, the |
| were trading extensively with Japan, and | | | | Suibokuga school used only black ink for |
| introducing its art to this island nation. | | | | their paintings, a reflection of Chinese |
| The intricate and exquisite style of the | | | | influence and also very strongly influenced |
| Chinese paintings of this time were very well | | | | by Zen. Originally, there was a protest |
| received by Japanese noblemen, who vied with | | | | against the Chinese methods of painting using |
| one another to create beautiful homes full of | | | | black ink. The Kano school of painting, |
| art and culture. Once this style of painting | | | | founded by Kano Masanobu and his son Kano |
| was firmly established among the nobility, | | | | Motonobu was actually a protest against this |
| the Japanese themselves started to emulate | | | | Chinese influence. As as stark contrast, |
| this style and soon Japanese masterpieces in | | | | Kano paintings use bright colors and unusual |
| this same still were being created. The | | | | compositions when compared to the simplistic |
| special qualities of the painters in Japan | | | | dark Suibokuga style. The Kano school is said |
| who followed the Muromachi style was the | | | | to be the influence for the Ukiyo-e school of |
| sense of space that was created, and the the | | | | design. Another prominent style is the nanga |
| telling of a story. Later, during the period | | | | style, popular during the eras called Bunka |
| known as the Momoyama, which occurred between | | | | and Bunsai. The deft use of space and the |
| 1573 and 1603, the now traditional landscape | | | | simple beauty have long attracted people to |
| painting of Japan was developed. These | | | | Japanese paintings. There is no one medium |
| beautiful landscape paintings were created on | | | | that a Japanese painter feels compelled to |
| big screens, so all of the vastness of nature | | | | use and they also choose a wide range of |
| could be seen. It was only during the Edo | | | | subjects such as buildings, landscapes and |
| period form 1603 to 1867 that the now | | | | women. |
| familiar style of adding gold leaf and a | | | | |
| mosaic look to the paintings was added. This | | | | Adam Peters is the journalist of consumer |
| clearly reflected the western influence that | | | | websites, who has written more articles on |
| was now being introduced to the orient. | | | | japanese interior design for . |
| Still, a traditional form of art called | | | | |