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History of Art in Japan is a fully illustrated overview of Japanese art, written by one of Japan’s most distinguished art historians. This masterful account of the country’s exceptional cultural heritage sheds light on how Japan has nurtured distinctive aesthetics, prominent artists, and movements that have achieved global influence and popularity.
A leading authority on Japanese art history, Tsuji Nobuo discusses works ranging from the Jōmon period to contemporary art, from earthenware figurines in 13,000 BCE to manga, anime, and modern subcultures. He explains crucial aspects of Japan’s many artistic mediums and styles—including paintings, ukiyo-e, ceramics, sculpture, armor, gardens, and architecture—covering thousands of years. Drawing on newly discovered archaeological findings and the latest research, the book examines Japanese art in various contexts, including Buddhist and religious influences, aristocratic and popular aesthetics, and interactions with the world. Generously illustrated with hundreds of full-color images, maps, and figures, History of Art in Japan is an indispensable resource for all those interested in this multifaceted history, illuminating countless aspects of Japanese art for scholars and general readers alike.
Tsuji Nobuo is professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Tama Art University and former director of Chiba City Museum and the Miho Museum. His works in English include Lineage of Eccentrics: Matabei to Kuniyoshi (2012).
Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere is director of research at the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, professor of Japanese art and culture at the University of East Anglia, and IFAC Hand Curator of Japanese Arts at the British Museum.
Preface to the English Edition
Translator’s Preface
Nengō Era Chart
Map of Archaeological Sites
Timelines
Introduction
1. Jōmon: The Force of Primal Imagination
2. Yayoi and Kofun: Influences from the Continent
3. Asuka and Hakuhō: The Sphere of East Asian Buddhist Arts
4. Nara: The Spread of the Tang International Style
5. Heian: Jōgan, Fujiwara, and Insei Art
6. Kamakura Period: Aristocratic Aesthetics in Flux
7. Nanbokuchō and Muromachi: Zen Buddhism and Chinese Art
8. Azuchi-Momoyama: The Flowering of Kazari
9. Edo: Townspeople and the Rise of Urban Culture
10. Meiji to Heisei: Modern and Contemporary Art
Notes
Recommended Reading for Further Study
Image Credits
Index