As the primary patrons of the arts in premodern Japan, aristocratsâboth the imperial court nobility and the military eliteâsignificantly shaped their countryâs art history. A wealth of fine materials that were used in daily life give a sense of the noble classâs lifestyle. Showcased in this gallery are paintings that illustrate the aristocratsâ activities, ceramics commissioned by feudal lords for personal use or as gifts, and masterfully produced metalwork crafted with lavish materials and exquisite decorations.
Prince Shotoku, for example, is often credited with founding Buddhism in Japan, which generated a great deal of Buddhist art. On view are statues of the prince and portraits of Shinto deities, the indigenous gods of Japan, which were sometimes portrayed as manifestations of Buddhist deities.
During the Heian period (794â1185), literature blossomed under aristocratic patronage. Poems and novelsânotably The Tale of Genji, written by a court lady in the 11th centuryâprovided ample inspiration for paintings and the decorative arts, as the screens, hanging scroll, and lacquer writing box here demonstrate.