Tokyo National Museum

 

The objects at the Tokyo National Museum were as dazzling as one would expect.

The decorations on formal kimono for women of the samurai class became standardized in the late 1700s. They consisted of geometric patterns and floral bouquets rendered in embroidery and stencil dyeing. This fabric is silk damask with a subtle pattern woven into the surface.

Screens are so varied and appealing.  One popular subject matter for landscape painting was the Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers, which is based on a scenic area in China.

Buddhism originated in India. It spread to surrounding regions like China and Korea before its introduction to Japan in the 6th century.  The first sculptures of Buddhist deities were metal.  In the 8th century the technique of making sculptures with lacquer -- like this figure -- was also introduced.