Edo Japan Meiji Period

Culture during the Edo Period The Edo period began in 1615 and was the period of the Shogun. During this period there was a large amount of military living in the city of Edo (known as Tokyo today). This was able to sustain the jobs of artisans like carpenters, tailors, tatami makers, shopkeepers, draftsmen and also construction workers and scholars, and legislators.  With the thriving urban lifestyle quickly developing, this gave a new appreciation to more natural and artistic idea with it. With the construction of large bridges across the Sumida River people living in the city would take the opportunity to do more outdoor activities like taking strolls along the river's edge, spring cherry blossom viewings and viewing of the moon in the fall and viewing snowfall in the winter. Men and women of all classes were able to enjoy and practice the traditional arts of painting and music as well as calligraphy, and strategy games like Shogi and Sugoroku. https://www...

Nihonga "Yoroboshi"  Shimomura Kanzan "Part of the Dragon"  Hashimoto Gaho "Dragon and Tiger"  Hashimoto Gaho "Waterfall"  Yokoyama Taikan "Black Cat"  Hishida Shunso Yoga "Peasants Going Home"  Asai Chu "Veiled Figure"  Yorozu Tetsugoro "Garage"  Yuzo Saeki

Visual Arts Before the reformation of Japan into the Meiji Period, Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, a dynasty that enforced peace and prosperity among the Japanese people. The Tokugawa dynasty was a long lasting rule. However, they held strict policies against external influence, closing their society off from western influence and the spread of Christianity. As the dynasty drew to a close and the shogunate became weaker, Japan was overtaken by a seemingly bloodless coup as new clans rose to power. This shift into the Meiji Period brought with it rapid social change. It's leaders were very progressive, inviting change and encouraging the exploration of new ideas as Japan quickly entered into international commerce. With the rapid change, artists were thrown into crisis. Some artists wished to stick to tradition, while others embraced the new western methods of art. From this crisis, two major schools of Japanese art emerged: Yoga and Nihonga. Yoga came fir...