This exhibition room divides Japanese art into two parts: from the ancient time to the period before the opening of port and modern times to see the evolution of Japanese art.
As an island country, Japanese art faced a major shift every time a new culture was introduced. First,
the ancient Japanese culture succeeded from Jyomon (繩文), Yayoi (彌生), and Kofun (古墳) periods were completely transformed with the advent of Buddhist painting introduced with Buddhism in the mid 6th century. After that, throughout the Asuka (飛鳥) and Nara (奈良)
period, Buddhist art affected by China and Korea thrived while the Heian period was marked by the development of flamboyant arts influenced by Esoteric Buddhism and pure land Buddhism. Owing to the cultures of Song Dynasty transmitted to the country in the 13th
century, the Japanese Art came to a turning point. Zen Buddhism introduced this time greatly contributed to develop their unique aesthetic, completing tea ceremony and Noh (能) institutions. Through contact with the west from the 16th century, free-spirited Edo merchants
encouraged new popular cultures such as Ukiyo-e (woodblock print) and Kabuki (歌舞伎), etc. In the late 19th century, the modern west civilization poured into the country with the opening of port, Japan followed the path for modernization. In this process, it re-recognized its
culture from the perspective of western cultures, it formed the concept of ‘Japanization’ against ‘Westernization’. While the Japanese painters of the time stuck to traditional culture for materials, techniques, not to mention themes, they also paid great recognition in merging
western elements. Such a move was the same in the field of craft so we can see a lot of works by traditional masters who attempted to apply new techniques and elements.
