Art of the Edo period in Japan is well known and very popular all over the world.This period in the history of the country is considered to be the time of relative peace.Combining Japan centralized feudal state of the Tokugawa shogunate had undisputed control of the government of the Mikado (from 1603) to the commitments to preserve peace, economic and political stability.
Board shogunate lasted until 1867, after which it was forced to surrender because of the inability to cope with pressure from Western countries to open Japan to foreign trade.During the period of isolation that lasted 250 years, the country has revived and perfected the ancient Japanese tradition.In the absence of war and, therefore, use their combat abilities daimyo (feudal military) and samurai focused their interests in the arts.Basically, it was a condition of the policy - the emphasis on the development of a culture that has become synonymous with power to divert people's attention from the issues related to the war.
daimyo competed with each other in painting and calligraphy, poetry and drama, ikebana and tea ceremony.Art of Japan in each of his form has been brought to perfection, and, perhaps, difficult to name another society in the history of the world, where it has become such an important part of everyday life.Trade with Chinese and Dutch merchants, limited only to the port of Nagasaki, stimulated the development of a unique Japanese pottery.Initially, all the utensils imported from China and Korea.In fact, it was a Japanese custom.Even when opened the first workshop for the production of ceramics in 1616, it works exclusively Korean craftsmen.
By the end of the seventeenth century Japanese art developed in three different ways.Among the aristocrats and intellectuals Kyoto was revived culture of the Heian period, immortalized in paintings and decorative crafts school Rimpi classical music drama, but (Nogaku).
In the eighteenth century in the artistic and intellectual circles of Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo) was rediscovered culture of Chinese literary Ming Empire, introduced by Chinese monks in Manpuku-ji, a Buddhist temple, located to the south of Kyoto.The result is a new style of Nan-ha ("Southern painting") or budzin-ha ("literary images").
In Edo, especially after the devastating fire in 1657, is born an entirely new art of Japan, the so-called culture of citizens, as reflected in the literature, the so-called bourgeois drama for the theater and the Kabuki jōruri (traditional puppet theater), and the ukiyo-e.
However, one of the greatest cultural achievements of the Edo period still were not works of art, and arts and crafts.Art objects created by Japanese artisans, include ceramics and lacquer ware, textiles, masks made of wood for the Noh theater, fans for artists female roles, dolls, netsuke, samurai swords and armor, leather saddles and stirrups, decorated with gold and lacquer utikake (luxuryceremonial kimono samurai wives of high-end embroidered with symbolic images).
Modern Art of Japan presented a wide range of artists and craftsmen, but it must be said that many of them continue to work in the traditional style of the Edo period.
