This is an introduction to old Japanese history and culture.

1. Japan through the Ashikaga
Period (16th c.)

2. Jomon Period
c. 14,000-300 BCE

3. Vessel, 3rd millennium BCE

4. Vessel, 3rd millennium BCE

5. Dogu Figurine, c. 1000-400 BCE

6. Dogu Figurine, c. 1,000-400 BCE

7. Kofun Period
c. 300-552 CE

8. Burial Mounds

11. Chieftain Haniwa, c. 500

12. Horse Haniwa, 6th c.

13. Shinto

14. Female Shinto Spirit, 12th c.

15. Usa Shrine, Usa, est. 8th c.

16. Ujigami Shrine, Uji, est. 11th c.

18. Asuka Period
552-646

20. Asuka Temple, Asuka (Nara), est. 588

21. Prince Shotoku, ruled 593-622
Kogan Zenji, 1800

22. Prince Shotoku and His Children
Portrait from the Nara Period

23. Prince Shotoku Deified, early 14th c.

24. Shitenno-ji Temple, Osaka, est. 593

26. Horyu-ji Temple
Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, est. 607

35. Buddha of Healing, Horyu-ji Temple, 7th c.

36. Nara Period
646-794

37. Rinno-ji Buddhist Shrine
Nikko, est. 766

38. Heian Period
794-1185

39. Enryaku-ji Temple
Kyoto, est. 794

43. Daigo-Ji Temple
Kyoto, est. 874

48. The Heian Court

49. Fujiwara Michinaga (ruled de facto 997-1027)
Kikuchi Yosai, 1878

52. Formal

53. Semi-formal

54. Informal

55. Courtesan

56. Heian Court Woman
Utagawa Kunisada, 19th c.

57. Cherry Blossoms

58. Cherry Blossom Viewing, 17th c.

59. Murasaki Shikibu
The Tale of Genji, c. 1010

62. Lady Murasaki Writing at Ishiyama Temple, 1767

63. Murasaki Shikibu
Kikuchi Yosai, 1878

64. Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama Temple
Hiroshige III, c. 1880

65. Murasaki at Ishiyama Temple
Kyosen Kawasaki, 20th c.

66. Murasaki Shikibu
Sumi-e Azusa, 21st c.

67. Tendai Buddhism

68. Tendai Daishi, 14th c. Portrait

69. Lotus Sutra, 12th c.

70. Lotus Sutra, Heian Period

71. Fugen Riding Elephant, Heian Period

72. Fugen Riding Elephant, 1225-50

73. Monju Atop Shishi Lion, 10th c.

74. Monju Riding Lion, 1324

75. Buddha with Fugen and Monju, 17th c.

76. Pure Land Buddhism

77. Paradise of Amida Buddha
Kasuga Kaishi, Late Heian Period

78. Bodhisattvas Descending from
Paradise, c. 1300

79. Byodo-in (Phoenix Hall)
Kyoto, 1053

84. Byodo-in Amida Buddha

85. Kamakura Period
1185-1392

86. The Minamoto (Genji) Clan
Fights the Taira (Heike) Clan
Late 17th c. Illustrations of
The Heike Tale (12th-13th c.)

91. The Battle at Uji Bridge, 1180
Late 17th c. Illustrations of
The Heike Tale (12th-13th c.)

97. Samurai of the Kamakura Period

98. Seppuku, 19th-c. Illustration

99. Yoroi Armor, Early 14th c.

104. Zen Buddhism

105. Ryoan-ji Temple Garden, Kyoto, late 15th c.

106. The Tea Ceremony

107. Tea-Grinding Stone Mill
Hukuin Ekaku, 1740s-50s

108. Zen Landscape
Tani Bucho, 18th-19th c.

109. Ashikaga Period
1392-1523

110. The Golden Pavilion
Kyoto, 1397