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Year
|
Period
|
|
|
Before 300 B.C.
|
JOMON
|
|
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300 B.C.
to 300 A.D.
|
YAYOI
|
|
Introduction of iron/bronze; development of coil-built pottery known as Yayoi (see photos from Kyoto National Museum); use of finer alluvial clays to produce thinner-walled shapes; techniques may have come from Korea or China; rice cultivation; Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms Period in China
|
|
|
300 A.D.
to 710 A.D.
(552 to 645 AD)
|
Kofun
or Yamato
(Asuka Period)
|
|
Introduction of anagama (sloping tunnel kiln) from Korea; introduction of the potter's wheel; introduction from Korea of Sueki ware (see below); introduction from Korea of three-color ware (green, brown, white); introduction of Buddhism 552 A.D.; Sui and Tang Dynastys in China
|
|
|
710 A.D.
to 794 A.D.
|
Nara
or Tenpyo
|
|
Nara Sansai style (three-color glaze); Japanese fully start using glaze to decorate their wares with colors; flowering of Buddhism
|
|
|
794 A.D.
to 1192 A.D.
|
Heian
|
|
Major period of creativity; introduction of Tokoname (9th century); spread of China's celadon and green glaze (ryokuyuto) to Japan during China's Sung Dynasty (960-1270); introduction of Bizen; Shiki-style pottery introduced (see below); Korea's Korai jawan style (slip inlay, or zogan) appears (see Mishima); green glaze and ash glaze become more popular than three-color glaze; Sanage ware (green glaze) becomes widespread
|
|
|
1192 A.D.
to 1333 A.D.
|
Kamakura
|
|
Introduction of Shigaraki style and Seto style; further development of Bizen; new Buddhist sects introduced, including Zen and Lotus Sutra sect of Nichiren; Yuan Dynasty China; Magna Carta signed in England
|
|
|
The Sueki Tradition (or Sue Tradition), from the 5th to 12th centuries, plays a major role in the styles and aesthetics of Japanese pottery up to this point. Sueki ware was typically gray and vitreous. It was introduced to Japan from Korean in the middle of the 5th century. Sueki was fired to yellow heat, between 1100 - 1200 degrees centigrade, in a reduction atmosphere, and generally made on the wheel. The Bizen, Shigaraki, and Tamba styles (all from western Japan, each considered to be one of Japan's six old potting centers) stem from the Sueki Tradition. For more, please see Shiho Kanzaki's review.
The Hajiki and Shiki Traditions
Two other major traditional influences on Japanese pottery up to this point were the Hajiki and Shiki traditions. Hajiki-style pottery began in the Kofun period (around 300 A.D.). Hajiki was typically reddish bisque ware fired at lower temperatures (from 600 to 800 centigrade). Shiki-style pottery is the oldest glazed bisque ware in Japan, often using a three-color lead glaze (sansai-enyu), and fired at around 800 centigrade. Again, see Shiho Kanzaki's web site.
|
|
|
1333 - 1573
Medieval
Period
|
Muromachi
North/South Courts
Warring States
|
|
Seto ware reaches its golden age in early 14th century; Bizen enters golden age in late Muromachi Period; Mishima-style chawan first mentioned in Japanese records; Japanese tea ceremony becomes major conduit of cultural taste, and together with Zen, causes great interest in Bizen, Tanba, Shigaraki and Echizen tea ware; Columbus discovers America
|
|
|
1573-1603
|
Momoyama
Azuchi Periods
|
|
|
1603 - 1867
(1688 - 1703)
|
Edo
(Genroku period)
|
|
|
1868 to 1912
|
Meiji
|
|
Japan undergoes industrialization
|
|
|
1912 to 1926
|
Taisho
|
|
World War I; representative potters include Kusube Yaichi (1897-1984), Kawai Kanjiro (1890-1966) and Hamada Shoji (1894-1978)
|
|
|
1926 to 1988
|
Showa
|
|
|
1989 to Present
|
Heisei
|
|
