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The Art of Asia
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Chinese Dynasty Guide
Japanese Historical Periods
Jomon Period
Yayoi Period
Kofun Period
Asuka Period
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Heian Period
Kamakura Period
Muromachi Period
Momoyama Period
Edo Period
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Guide To Japanese Historical Periods


Jomon Period
Japan Time Line Edo Period Muromachi Period Kamakura Period Heian Period Nara Period Asuka Period Kofun Period Yayoi Period Jomon Period

From This Period

Uji Bridge Screens
Uji Bridge Screens


Momoyama Period

1573-1615

After a period of civil strife, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi reunified the country and built a castle in Momoyama, literally "Peach Mountain," south of Kyoto. Firearms, introduced by the Portuguese in 1542, necessitated a new form of castle architecture. Decorating the walls and sliding doors of these vast interiors gave rise to innovative and bold styles. This taste for flamboyance carried over into textile and lacquerware designs. At the same time, tea masters promoted a counter aesthetic that prized the rough texture and imperfect forms of native wares.