Editing Culture of Japan (section)

==Visual arts ==
[[File:Tigres et dragons par Kanō Sanraku.jpg|thumb|upright=1.85|Pair of {{transliteration|ja|[[byōbu]]}} with a leopard, tiger and dragon by [[Kanō Sanraku]]]]
[[File:Kunimasa - taikan, The actor Ichikawa Ebizo in a shibaraku role, 1796.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ukiyo-e]] based on [[kabuki]] actor [[Ichikawa Danjūrō V]], by [[Utagawa Kunimasa]]]]
{{Main|Japanese art}}

[[Japanese calligraphy]], rendered using flowing, brush-drawn strokes, is considered to be a traditional art form, as well as a means of conveying written information. Typical calligraphic works can consist of phrases, poems, stories, or even characters represented by themselves; the style and format of the calligraphy can mimic the subject matter through aspects such as the texture of the writing and the speed of the brush strokes. Several different styles of Japanese calligraphy exist, with considerable effort put into the outcome; in some cases, it can take over one hundred attempts to produce the desired result of a single character. This form of calligraphy is known as {{nihongo||書道|shodō}}, literally meaning 'the way of writing or calligraphy', or more commonly, {{nihongo||習字|shūji}}, 'learning how to write characters'. Commonly confused with calligraphy is the art form of {{nihongo||墨絵|[[sumi-e]]}}, literally meaning 'ink painting', which is the art of painting a scene or object using diluted black ink.

[[Japanese painting|Painting has been an art]] in Japan for a very long time: the brush is a traditional writing and painting tool, and the extension of that to its use as an artist's tool was probably natural. Japanese painters are often categorized by what they painted, as most of them constrained themselves solely to subjects such as animals, landscapes, or figures. Chinese [[papermaking]] was introduced to Japan around the 7th century. Later, {{transliteration|ja|[[washi]]}} was developed from it. Native Japanese painting techniques are still in use today, as well as techniques adopted from continental Asia and from the West. Schools of painting such as the Kano school of the 16th century became known for their bold brush strokes and contrast between light and dark, especially after [[Oda Nobunaga]] and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] began to use this style. Famous Japanese painters include [[Kanō Sanraku]], [[Maruyama Ōkyo]], and [[Tani Bunchō]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = On the Laws of Japanese Painting|last = Bowie|first = Henry P.|publisher = Dover Publications, Inc.|year = 1952|pages = 4, 16–19}}</ref>

[[Ukiyo-e]], literally means 'pictures of the floating world', is a genre of [[Woodblock printing in Japan|woodblock prints]] that exemplifies the characteristics of pre-Meiji Japanese art. Because these prints could be mass-produced, they were available to a wide cross-section of the Japanese populace – those not wealthy enough to afford original paintings – during their heyday, from the 17th to 20th century.

[[Japanese lacquerware]] and [[Japanese ceramics|ceramics]] have historically gained international fame, and lacquerware has been actively exported since the [[Muromachi period]] and ceramics since the [[Edo period]]. Japanese crafts became known in Europe after [[Nanban trade]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Namban & Enconchado: Japan and Mexico Meet|url=https://japan-and-mexico-meet.tumblr.com/?og=1|access-date=2021-01-19|website=japan-and-mexico-meet.tumblr.com|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416014842/https://japan-and-mexico-meet.tumblr.com/?og=1|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191225065626/http://en.urushi-joboji.com:80/urushi Urushi once attracted the world] urushi-joboji.com</ref>

{{transliteration|ja|[[Ikebana]]}} is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It has gained widespread international fame for its focus on harmony, color use, rhythm, and elegantly simple design. It is an art centered greatly on expressing the seasons and is meant to act as a symbol to something greater than the flower itself.