Feudal Japan Collection

Scroll painting attributed to Taiko Josetsu
JAPAN: OLD MEN, c1425. Scroll painting attributed to Taiko Josetsu (c1425)

Ippen Shonen, a traveling Buddhist priest who popularized dancing-praying ceremonies
JAPAN: BUDDHIST PRIEST. Ippen Shonen, a traveling Buddhist priest who popularized dancing-praying ceremonies, arrives at a town in the countryside. Scroll painting, 1299

WILL ADAMS (c1575-1620). English navigator and the first Englishman to visit Japan. Wood engraving, English, 19th century

The Buddha is born out of the side of Queen Maya as she reaches up to a branch in her garden
BUDDHA: BIRTH. The Buddha is born out of the side of Queen Maya as she reaches up to a branch in her garden. Japanese silk painting, early 13th century

Mongol warriors sent by Kublai Khan, the emperor of China, to invade Japan, 1274
JAPAN: MONGOL INVASION. Mongol warriors sent by Kublai Khan, the emperor of China, to invade Japan, 1274. Detail from Japanese scroll painting on paper, c1293

Dark-clad, masked Ninja warrior moving forward, weapon behind back

SOLDIER: SAMURAI. A samurai field marshal. Japanese woodblock print, 1597

JAPAN: PORTUGUESE TRADERS. Portuguese merchants arriving in Japan. Detail from an early 17th century screen by Kano Naizen

MEXICAN MISSIONARIES. Mexican missionaries crossing the Pacific Ocean in order to bring Christianity to Japan during the 16th century

JAPAN: PORTUGUESE, c1600. Japanese priests and nobles watch a horse race of visiting Portuguese. Japanese namban screen, early 17th century

JAPAN: PORTUGUESE SHIP. Japanese namban screen, early-16th century

JAPAN: RICE FARMING. Farmers lay seeds of rice in paddies before they are flooded. Scroll painting, late-16th century

JAPAN: SHINTO RITUAL. Fertility offerings of boiled rice to Shinto gods during the spring; priests and assistants kneel before the altar. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century

JAPAN: FARMERS, c1575. Rice farmers ask for the blessing of their crop before planting it. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century

WILL ADAMS (c1575-1620). English navigator and the first Englishman to visit Japan. Adams before the Emperor of Japan. Wood engraving, English, 19th century

JAPAN: IMPERIAL BODYGUARD. Ink and color wash on paper, c1247, attributed to Fujiwara Nobuzane

JAPAN: IMPERIAL BODYGUARDS. Japanese imperial bodyguards. Ink and color wash on paper, c1247, attributed to Fujiwara Nobuzane

PORTUGUESE MERCHANTS awaiting the arrival of Japanese officials aboard their ship to discuss the trade of goods, such as silks from China

SOLDIER: SAMURAI. A samurai field marshal. Japanese woodblock print, 1597

TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI (1536-1598). Japanese general and statesman. Japanese portrait, 1599

Kinkaku-ji Temple (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), originally built in 1397, in Kyoto, Japan
KYOTO: ZEN BUDDHIST TEMPLE. Kinkaku-ji Temple (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), originally built in 1397, in Kyoto, Japan

Japanese feudal lord of Bungo. Sorin depicted as a Buddhist, prior to his conversion to Christianity
OTOMO SORIN (1530-1587). Japanese feudal lord of Bungo. Sorin depicted as a Buddhist, prior to his conversion to Christianity and baptism as Francisco in 1587. Silk painting, c1580

Ippen Shonen, a traveling priest who popularized dancing-praying ceremonies, arrives in Omi province
JAPAN: BUDDHIST PRIEST. Ippen Shonen, a traveling priest who popularized dancing-praying ceremonies, arrives in Omi province. Scroll painting, 1299

Ippen Shonen, a traveling Buddhist priest who popularized dancing-praying ceremonies, traveling in the countryside
JAPAN: BUDDHIST PRIEST. Ippen Shonen, a traveling Buddhist priest who popularized dancing-praying ceremonies, traveling in the countryside. Scroll painting, 1299

Armed Japanese monks, the protectors of the Buddhist monasteries, descend from their hilltop retreat to observe a
JAPAN: BUDDHIST MONKS. Armed Japanese monks, the protectors of the Buddhist monasteries, descend from their hilltop retreat to observe a ritual dance drama. Drawing, c1296

Seated with his father and mother, Prince Gautama is entertained by dancers. Japanese silk painting, early 13th century
LIFE OF BUDDHA. Seated with his father and mother, Prince Gautama is entertained by dancers. Japanese silk painting, early 13th century

Lacquered wood figure of a Zen priest, abbot of a monastery, Muromachi period, 1392-1573
JAPAN: ZEN PRIEST. Lacquered wood figure of a Zen priest, abbot of a monastery, Muromachi period, 1392-1573

(1536-1598). Japanese warrior and dictator. Color on silk, 1598, by an unknown artist
TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI (1536-1598). Japanese warrior and dictator. Color on silk, 1598, by an unknown artist

(1542-1616). Japanese general and statesman; founder of Tokugawa shogunate
IYEYASU TOKUGAWA (1542-1616). Japanese general and statesman; founder of Tokugawa shogunate. William Adams, English navigator in Dutch service, warning Iyeyasu against the Spaniards, the Portuguese

Frogs, snails, grasshoppers, beetles, wasps and dragonflies. Drawing, c1825
JAPAN: INSECTS, c1825. Frogs, snails, grasshoppers, beetles, wasps and dragonflies. Drawing, c1825

HEROES OF THE SUIKODEN. Yang Lin (or Kinhyoshi Yorin). Character from the 14th century Chinese epic tale of the Heroes of the Suikoden (also known as The Water Margin)

Yang Lin (or Kinhyoshi Yorin). Character from the 14th century Chinese epic tale of the Heroes of the Suikoden
HEROES OF THE SUIKODEN. Yang Lin (or Kinhyoshi Yorin). Character from the 14th century Chinese epic tale of the Heroes of the Suikoden (also known as The Water Margin)

Defending Japanese warriors board a Mongol ship and engage in hand-to-hand combat during Emperor Kublai Khans second
JAPAN: MONGOL INVASION. Defending Japanese warriors board a Mongol ship and engage in hand-to-hand combat during Emperor Kublai Khans second attempt to invade Japan in 1281

Farmers digging up the paddies before seeding the rice. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century
JAPAN: RICE FARMING. Farmers digging up the paddies before seeding the rice. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century

Samurai from around the time of the attempted Mongol invasion of the island, c1281. Contemporary watercolor
JAPAN: SAMURAI, 1281. Samurai from around the time of the attempted Mongol invasion of the island, c1281. Contemporary watercolor

Japanese general and statesman of the Taira clan. Silk painting, 1583
ODA NOBUNAGA (1534-1582). Japanese general and statesman of the Taira clan. Silk painting, 1583

Keman (altar pendant). Gilt bronze with painted decoration. Kamakura period, 1185-1334
JAPAN: ALTAR PENDANT. Keman (altar pendant). Gilt bronze with painted decoration. Kamakura period, 1185-1334

Samurai eat rice out of lacquer bowls while a woman serves sake. Japanese painted scroll, color on paper
JAPAN: EATING RICE. Samurai eat rice out of lacquer bowls while a woman serves sake. Japanese painted scroll, color on paper, late 14th century

Ships of the Mongol invasion fleet are sunk during a typhoon ( kamikaze ) off the coast of Japan, 1281
JAPAN: MONGOL INVASION. Ships of the Mongol invasion fleet are sunk during a typhoon ( kamikaze ) off the coast of Japan, 1281

Crown prince and regent of Japan, 593-622. At age two, attaining enlightenment
SHOTOKU TAISHI (574-622). Crown prince and regent of Japan, 593-622. At age two, attaining enlightenment. Hollow wood figure with lacquer, polychrome and gilt. Japanese, Kamakura period, 1185-1334

Farmers use a foot-pedal mechanism to irrigate rice paddies. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century
JAPAN: IRRIGATION, c1575. Farmers use a foot-pedal mechanism to irrigate rice paddies. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century

Military leader Takezaki Suenaga presents the severed heads of Mongol generals at Japanese headquarters following
JAPAN: MONGOL INVASION. Military leader Takezaki Suenaga presents the severed heads of Mongol generals at Japanese headquarters following the second unsuccessful invasion attempt (1281)

Mongol warriors stand behind thick bamboo screens used as mobile shields during a Japanese counterattack, c1274
JAPAN: MONGOL INVASION. Mongol warriors stand behind thick bamboo screens used as mobile shields during a Japanese counterattack, c1274

(1294-1336). Japanese samurai warrior. Masashige defending the fortress of Akasaka
KUSUNOKI MASASHIGE (1294-1336). Japanese samurai warrior. Masashige defending the fortress of Akasaka, in the mountains of the Kii peninsula in Japan

Japanese cavalry under Takezaki Suenaga advance through a forest in 1274. Detail from Japanese scroll painting
JAPAN: MONGOL INVASION. Japanese cavalry under Takezaki Suenaga advance through a forest in 1274. Detail from Japanese scroll painting on paper, c1293, attributed to Tosa Nagataka and Tosa Nagaaki

Peasants dance during a summer festival in front of a Shinto shrine. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century
JAPAN: PEASANTS, c1575. Peasants dance during a summer festival in front of a Shinto shrine. Japanese scroll painting, late-16th century

Portrait of a lady of the samurai class holding a Buddhist juzu while chanting prayers. Painting, late 16th century
JAPAN: PORTRAIT, c1575. Portrait of a lady of the samurai class holding a Buddhist juzu while chanting prayers. Painting, late 16th century

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER (1506-1552). Jesuit missionary. Painting, Japanese, late 16th century

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Feudal Japan, a captivating era of rich history and cultural exchange, comes to life through the intricate brushstrokes of Taiko Josetsu's scroll painting. As we delve into this mesmerizing world, we encounter Ippen Shonen, a wandering Buddhist priest whose dancing-praying ceremonies captivated townsfolk in the countryside. The year is 1299, and his arrival brings an air of spiritual enlightenment. In another silk painting from the early 13th century, Queen Maya reaches up to a branch in her garden as the Buddha emerges from her side – a symbol of divine birth and rebirth. This artwork transports us to an ethereal realm where spirituality intertwines with nature. But amidst these serene scenes lies intrigue and mystery - a dark-clad Ninja warrior stealthily moves forward with concealed weapons behind their back. Their masked face adds an aura of enigma that has fascinated many throughout history. Meanwhile, across distant seas, Will Adams becomes the first Englishman to set foot on Japanese soil in the late 16th century. A wood engraving from the 19th century immortalizes this momentous occasion when cultures collided and new chapters began. The arrival of Portuguese traders further transforms feudal Japan's landscape as they bring exotic goods and knowledge from faraway lands. Nobles and priests gather eagerly to witness horse races organized by these visitors – a testament to growing international connections during this time. Amidst all these external influences, daily life persists - farmers diligently lay seeds in paddies before flooding them for rice cultivation while Shinto rituals celebrate fertility with offerings of boiled rice to gods who bless their harvests. As we reflect on Feudal Japan through these glimpses into its past captured by various artworks and historical accounts, it becomes evident that this period was not just defined by samurai warriors or political strife but also marked by vibrant cultural exchanges between different civilizations spanning continents.