The Kamakura period lasted from 1185 to 1333 AD and was led by the Kamakura shogunate. This period is famously known for the rise of samurais, feudalism and the warrior caste. Buddhism was still a strong influence on Japanese culture and the two more prominent sects during this period were Zen Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism.[23]
Sculpture
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Miroku, Unkei [25]
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Amida Triad, Kaikei[26]
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The Kei School was a Japanese school for Buddhist sculpture which ran from the late Heian period through the Edo period.[24] During the Kamakura period, a famous sculptist from this school, Busshi Unkei, introduced a highly realistic art style through his Buddhist figures.[25] His work featured fleshed out bodies, expressive and plump faces, masculine overtones and often the use of crystals for eyes. Busshi Kaikei, Unkei's successor is credited with one of the most famous sculptures of this period, Amitabha Triad in Jodo-ji in Ono.[26]
Painting
Painting
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Portrait of Minamoto no Yoritomo,
Fujiwara no Takanobu [27]
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The Kamakura period continued the painting traditions of the Heian period. However, a key feature of the Kamakura period paintings was the realistic character portraits. Some of these portraits are known as Nise-e which were sketch-like portraits of nobility.[27] Most of the paintings were inspired by religion and their principal styles included soft landscape elements and a "blue-green style." Decorative painted sliding doors (fusuma) were popular, as well as long scrolls called emaki. These scrolls typically depicted historical events, religious rituals or legends from novels.[23]
References:
[23] Boundless (2016) Japanese painting and sculpture in the Kamakura period. Available at: https://www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-textbook/japan-before-1333-ce-15/the-kamakura-period-107/japanese-painting-and-sculpture-in-the-kamakura-period-483-1914/ (Accessed: 23 February 2017).
[24] JAANUS and Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System (2001) Keiha 慶派. Available at: http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/k/keiha.htm (Accessed: 23 February 2017).
[25] Schumacher, M. (2008) Unkei Busshi, Kamakura era, One of Japan’s most acclaimed sculptors of Buddha statues. Available at: http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/busshi-buddha-sculptor-unkei-japan.html (Accessed: 23 February 2017).
[26] Schumacher, M. (2012) Kaikei Busshi, Kamakura era, One of Japan’s most acclaimed sculptors of Buddha statues. Available at: http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/busshi-buddha-sculptor-kaikei-japan.html (Accessed: 23 February 2017).
[27] The Virtual Museum of Traditional Japanese Arts (no date) Overview of Painting of The Kamakura Period (1185-1333). Available at: http://web-japan.org/museum/painthist/phkamaj/phkamaj.html (Accessed: 23 February 2017).