By the time of the Kamakura period, the Imperial court had very little, if any, rule. Power had shifted from the aristocracy to the warrior class.
Themes in the Kamakura Period
SculptureIf the period had to be characterized by one thing, it would be its sculpture. A seasoned, yet stylistic, sense of realism came into play.
Kamakura sculpture is particularly important when considering its relation to past and future eras. It was the last to focus on sculptural art, and really innovate in that era. Future sculpture brought little new to the table after Kamakura. |
Spirituality
At the end of the Heian period, Buddhism was just picking up steam, but the Kamakura period was its peak in Japan. Newfound spirituality was oozed into every aspect of art - from painting, to sculpture, to poetry and literature, and even ceramics.
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PaintingPainting was still on the rise. Cultural aspiration was running high, and new styles were constantly being sought out.
The one that absolutely characterizes Kamakura is an almost monochrome style. Color is faint, if there is any. Picked up from China, monochrome painters blended their spirituality into their paintings. |
The Tea CeremonyOne of the biggest artistic forms that came out of the Kamakura period was the Tea Ceremony. It was a blend of art, aesthetics, and spirituality - something entirely new to the Japanese art world. It heightened religious sensibility, and was a testament to how much influence Buddhism had.
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