Kofun Social Structure

The social and political structure of an era greatly influences the arts and cultural products of the time. The relationship a government has with the governed, its interactions with neighboring states and people, as well as the social and economic values of the time, shapes and molds the way the people in that area artistically express themselves. This holds true for the artistic products of ancient Japan, specifically from the Kofun period to the end of the Muromachi period, spanning from about 300 to 1600. Japan's interactions with China and Korea, it's neighbors to the west, both directly and indirectly shaped the evolution of its artistic expressions. The exchange of culture, religion, and ideas, as well as sharing of specific forms of …show more content…
The Kofun and haniwa served the purposes of the ancient Shinto religion, as well as the nobles who followed it, but disappeared as the Korean-imported Buddhism spread throughout the area. As the Kofun period came to an end, the religion of Buddhism officially entered Japan by way of neighboring Korea. Historians mark the introduction of Buddhism from Korea as the transition from the Kofun to the Asuka period (despite others believing China introduced Buddhism many years earlier). With the increasing popularity of Buddhism, the arts of Japan changed to suit the new values and traditions it brought with it. Even the realm of Shinto art was affected by the introduction of Buddhist artistic tradition, with artists starting to depict the Shinto deities. However, the nobles of Japan changed affiliation from Shintoism to Buddhism, and focus shifted from adorning tombs to building Buddhist statues and temples. This caused an influx of immigrants from China and Korea into Japan, who were needed to help create the Buddhist objects of worship (The Art of Asia, Asuka Period). With this came a greater influence on Japanese art and architecture from