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Yamato-e Painting


Unidentified artist: Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Shrine [Japan] Unidentified artist: Illustrated Sutra of The Miracles of Kannon [Japan] Fragment of A Long Tale for an Autumn Night [Japan]


The term yamato-e, which means "Japanese pictures," was first used in the Heian period to distinguish works painted in a Japanese style from those executed in the Chinese manner, or kara-e. Traditional yamato-e is characterized by native subject matter, often taken from literature, and themes associated with famous places or the four seasons. Stylistically it features striking compositions, the frequent use of flat planes of rich color, and a number of codified pictorial devices such as fukinuki yatai ("room with roof blown away").



Asia, Japan, Scroll, Paper, Religious Art, Shinto, Religious Art, Shinto, Scroll, Drawing, Ink, Drawing, Ink, East Asia, Literature and Literary Connections, Floral Motif, Painting, Painting, Ink on Paper, East Asia, Japan

Department of Asian Art

Heian Period, The Kano School of Painting, Rinpa Painting Style, Woodblock Prints in the Ukiyo-e Style, Painting Formats in East Asian Art, Abridged List of Rulers: Japan,

Japan, 500-1000 A.D., Japan, 1000-1400 A.D., Japan, 1400-1600 A.D., Japan, 1600-1800 A.D.,

East Asia, 500-1000 A.D., East Asia, 1000-1400 A.D., East Asia, 1400-1600 A.D., East Asia, 1600-1800 A.D.