6. Schools for the study of painting

 In this week, I explain schools for the study of Japanese painting.
 Japanese painting has long history. (Details were explained on week 2.) We could see that modern Japanese paintings are professional paintings, especially in from Muromach period to Edo period. Artists in these period followed painting as a profession. Schools for the study of painting were generated and came down. So I introduce three schools in those period.

Muromach period

 Tosa school
 In this period, Japanese original paintings took root.
Artist in this period succeeded tradition of Yamato-e and developed it. For example, motifs are Japanese four seasons and events that is seen in Yamato-e. And they developed it. 
Above all, Artists of Tosa shool are attached to the Imperial Court and shogunate. 

(Hamamatsu-zu byobu)

 This was painted by artist of Tosa school. Motif that expressed each season are painted on this painting.
 Tosa school lasted for 150 years. they not only adopted Yamato-e but also Kan-ga(Chinese painting). So their painting went well with each period.

Edo period

Kano school
 They attended the Edo Shogunate and Japanese feudal lord. So a lot of wall painting that decorated inside of castle painted.
Their school lasted by succession. Kano school had a lot of pupils. Their education is to copy old Japanese painting. So paintings of Kano had little character. But some artists of Kano had talent and exercised it. And artists of other school studied at Kano school at first. So meaning that Kano school carried out is great.

(ryotei-zu byobu / Tanyu Kano)

 This is the painting that was painted situation preach wisdom of Confucianism. Confucianism was preferred on the Edo Shogunate. This is just artist of shoggunate.



Kano artists who educated regular technique were given licenses. Like this, Kano schools established hereditary system, and spread on the whole Japan. And they lasted for 400 years.


Rimpa school
 Rimpa school is not hereditary system as Tosa school and Kano school is it. It is succeeded by artists who didn’t have student relationship. They succeeded it independently. Characteristic of Rimpa school is the point that deal with not only paintings but also handwork. For example, fan and kimono was.
 Korin Ogata is derivation name of “Rimpa.”He studied technique of Sotatsu Tawaraya and created original touch. His works are graceful and he was particular about composition of room of painting.

Kakitsubata-zu byobu / Korin Ogata

This is his work. His painting style is called “pattern of Korin” and this is used on kimono now.








 I chose three schools to represent the school of Japanese painting. There are lot of schools any others. And I think we can say that modern Japanese painting is integration of these schools. Japanese adopted a lot of other culture and studied it, besides developed it. This characteristic of Japanese support modern Japanese painting. I think possibility of Japanese painting is unlimited.

 Did you understand about schools for the study of Japanese painting? Each schools are very interesting. So see a lot of works of each schools.

 Next week, I’m going to introduce painting circles. This is modern Japanese painting.
See you (^^)