The repertory of classical Japanese poetry—autumn leaves, falling snow, the moon, the rustle of leaves, the songs of cicadas, crickets, frogs, cuckoos, court ceremonies, the quiet of the monk's hermitage, the death of rulers, et al.—offers us a glimpse into the soul of Japanese art, wherein we discern a special kind of sensibility. A penchant for the simple, the pure and the romantic, combined with an all-inclusive sense of wonder and delight in the numinous—that in essence permeates this island nation's social constitution/order.

The oldest surviving examples of pottery in the world can be traced to prehistoric Japan's Jomon period. This unique and vital culture took the art of decorating their vessels to remarkable lengths producing pottery of incredible design. The name Jomon—literally meaning, `rope patterned'—was derived from impressions left by cord-covered paddles used in the manufacture of these pots. From coils of clay they made characteristic inverted conical grayish or reddish pottery jars and abstract figures, most often mysterious clay figurines, called dogu, which at times assume the shape of vessels. These are reminiscent of fertility figurines produced by other cultures, although their exact use is unknown. The creativity of these early potters is witnessed in the diversity of pottery styles—over 70 major types are now recognized by Japanese archeologists.

The Yayoi Period represents the foundation of a culture properly Japanese. The ceramics are heavy, pale buff earthenware and are often beautifully proportioned. The bell-shaped bronze forms called dotaku, decorated with domestic and hunting scenes portrayed in a geometric linear style, are uniquely Japanese in their design. The pottery and metal vases evidence elaborate and sophisticated designs, many of which were imported from China.

The Analyst Magazine, Asiatic Visions, Ancient Japanese Aesthetics, Japanese archeologists, Greek mythology, Japanese militarists, Professor Edward Morse, Japanese history, Chinese Buddhist aesthetic, Todaiji Temple, Japanese culture.