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Timeline of Japanese History Part 3: Muromachi Period

The end of the Heian period marked the transition from Japan’s ancient era to its medieval age, with the reins of power also switching from the Emperor and the nobility to a rising warrior class. Kyoto remained Japan’s cultural hub in the ensuing Kamakura period, but the seat of government was relocated to Kamakura. The warrior Ashikaga clan then rose to prominence and it moved the capital back to Kyoto, with the warrior class, the nobility and the clergy all rubbing shoulders as Kyoto became Japan’s political, economic, cultural and religious center once more. The power and influence of the shogunal government increased during the reign of the third Ashikaga shogun Yoshimitsu as state coffers swelled through trade with Ming dynasty China. The shogunal family actively assembled cultural assets from China as a way to enhance its own prestige. This collection laid the groundwork for the subsequent development of Japanese art. This period also saw the perfection of tachibana (flower arrangement), nohgaku (a style of theater comprising both noh and kyōgen, a comic interlude staged between noh performances), and several other art forms that became the bedrock of Japanese culture. Political stability did not last long, though. A struggle broke out over who would succeed the 8th Ashikaga shogun Yoshimasa. This swept in competing factions of shugo daimyō (regional military governors appointed by the shogunate), with the ensuing Ōnin War lasting 11 long years. The central government’s power waned and this ushered in an age of strife as rival warlords battled to retain their own spheres of influence in regions across Japan.

The area around Lake Dongting in Hunan Province (the seat of China’s capital during the Southern Song dynasty) has long been famed for its magnificent scenery, with many artists moved to portray its beauty in works collectively titled “Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers” (so named after the two rivers that flow into Lake Dongting). This painting of “Returning Sails off a Distant Shore,” one of the eight views, is attributed to the Southern Song artist and Zen priest Mu Xi. It adeptly uses faint splashes of pale ink to depict sailing boats and their shadows on the lake’s surface. Mu Xi’s works were treasured in Japan, with this masterpiece a cherished early addition to the collection of the Ashikaga shogunal family. It was originally part of a handscroll featuring all eight scenes, but the individual scenes were separated and remounted as eight hanging scrolls, purportedly by the third Ashikaga shogun Yoshimitsu for display in a reception room, with this picture featuring Yoshimitsu’s “Doyu” seal in the bottom left corner. When the Ashikaga shogunate’s reign ended, the warlord Oda Nobunaga rose to power, with Nobunaga also taking possession of this painting.

* Please visit Kyoto National Museum’s website for information about when this work will be on display.
https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/kyohaku/A%E7%94%B2812?locale=en

National Noh Theatre

Noh was perfected during the Muromachi period and it was designated as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001. It was originally performed on stages erected outdoors. However, from the late 19th century onwards the stage and seating were moved indoors, with purpose-built noh theaters constructed in regions across Japan. Today, Japan has around 70-80 noh theaters with the capacity to stage public performances. The National Noh Theatre in Sendagaya, Tokyo was built in 1983. It provides English guide books and each seat also comes with a screen displaying subtitles. During host events, visitors are offered real-time English explanations about the speaking parts, the chorus and various noh rules and conventions, for example. Furthermore, the theater periodically stages “Showcase” performances* to introduce noh in a relaxed, enjoyable way. It also has a collection of around 600 items, including noh and kyogen masks, costumes, literature and paintings, with these presented through displays and at regular and special exhibitions held in the theater’s exhibition room. Together with the performances, these help visitors to deepen and enrich their understanding of noh.

* These are compact noh performances that can be enjoyed at a reasonable price. They also feature opening talks by noh performers, with the events serving as popular introductions to the world of noh appreciation.