Japans Art, all thought sometimes over looked has evolved through many Its simplest forms in the Archaic period and last on its more complex period the Ego Period. Even though some skeptics believe that Japanese art can not compare to the art of the Greeks or Romans. Japanese Art yet simple is refreshing and has left Japan with wonderful shrines, paintings and traditions. The periods of Japanese art are the Archaic, Ask, Heian, Kamakura, Askikaga and the Ego periods. Each Period has taken Japan to a new level of art.Starting with the Archaic period, Japan was a prehistoric society where its art consisted of well crafted vessels, vases, and tools. Most vessels and vases were constructed to look like they were surrounded in rope but in reality it was part of the ceramic and clay pieces. They lived in pit dwellings with thatched roofs on bamboo stilts. The Japanese did however build shrines in this period. These shrines were consisted of many buildings and were concentrated around a central axis. The symmetrical system was off set by a gate and a building were only the deity could dwell. The most famous of these Shrines is the Ise Shrine. This shrine is 55 yards by 127 yards and is completely fenced in. The Shrine is also made entirely out of wood! With the building of shrines the Japanese moved into a new period, the Asuka period. The religion of the people changed to Buddhism which also changed the focus of art. Bronze sculptures of religious figures (Buddha) sprang up. This period was very short lived.Still changing though Japan moves into the Heian Period. The Heian period began at the beginning of the ninth century. The Japanese werent just practicing Buddhism, they were practicing Esoteric Buddhism. Japan also stopped communication with China, so the Japanese art wasnt influenced by China. Paintings began to take over the frames, the scenes were viewed from elevation and dull colors and flat surfaces where used. Thi...
