Special Exhibitions
Unfolding Beauty
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Special Exhibitions |
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Unfolding Beauty |
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Glossary of Terms and Chronology Byõbu Freestanding folding screens consisting of from two to eight panels, but most often of pairs of six-paneled screens. Made of wooden frames hinged together, with paper glued over the surface. Used as decorative furniture and as movable dividers for large rooms, byõbu represent an important painting format used by master artists since the 8th century.Edo The name given to the historical period (1615-1868) when a strong merchant class gradually replaced the military class as the principal source for artistic patronage. Also the name of the Japanese capital, today known as Tokyo. Color woodblock prints and the Rinpa school of painting developed during this era. Kano school The most influential group of painters from the 15th-18th centuries, whose academic training prepared them to use both Chinese and Japanese painting styles and subjects. Kara-e (Chinese-style painting) Painting executed largely in monochromatic (single-color) ink tones based upon Chinese techniques and featuring Chinese-inspired subject matter. Meiji Historical period (1868-1912) that marked the beginning of the modern era in Japan. Feudalism was abolished and Western institutions were adopted as Japan became a modern industrialized state. Momoyama Historical period (1573-1615) when Japan's newly powerful military class lavishly commissioned painters to furnish and decorate their castles, residences, and favored temples. Muromachi Historical period (1392-1573) that coincided with the military government of the Ashikaga Shogunate. The shoguns supported Zen Buddhism, which had a tremendous impact on Japanese culture. They also patronized art forms such as ink painting, poetry, and the tea ceremony. Nanban ("Southern Barbarians" or "Foreigners" ) A term used to identify the Europeans who came to Japan in the 16th century, thereby introducing new subject matter into Japanese art. Rinpa (School of Kõrin) An Edo period reinterpretation of classical Heian (10th-12th centuries) literary themes and artistic conventions, named after its most famous practitioner. Shinto The native, pre-Buddhist religion whose ritual practices focus on worship of local deities. Tarashikomi A painting technique of the Rinpa artists in which ink or pigments are allowed to flow across a painting surface with minimal brush control, producing a mottled or rippling effect. Tosa School A native painting tradition within yamato-e that emerged from 15th-century court painting and evolved to more public contexts. Xiao and Xiang Rivers A popular Zen subject in medieval Japan based upon 12th-century Chinese poetry and paintings. The landscape of this region in southern China inspired this imagery. Yamato-e (Japanese-style painting) Colorful paintings depicting native themes (the seasons, famous places, poetry), most of which derive from classical Japanese literature. Chronology Jomon period 11,000-300 BC Yayoi period 300 BC-AD 300 Kofun period 300-552 Asuka period 552-645 Early Nara period 645-710 Nara period 710-794 Heian period 794-1185 Kamakura period 1185-1333 Nambokucho period 1333-1392 Muromachi period 1392-1573 Momoyama period 1573-1615 Edo period 1615-1868 Meiji period 1868-1912 Page 4 of 5 | On the next page: Select Bibliography |
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