Heian

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Scope note
Refers to the Japanese period and style that developed from 794 CE to 1185 CE, coinciding with the move of the capital to Heian (now Kyoto) and the rise of Tantric Buddhism imported from China. The style is characterized by the prominence of mandalas in imagery and the introduction of new types of figures, such as buddhas wearing a crown and jewels, and multiple-limbed deities with fierce expressions to indicate supernatural powers. The architecture of the period is characterized by large mansions built on a rectangular plot of land, consisting of pavilions and halls connected by roofed corridors and surrounded by earthen walls.
Heian
Accepted term: 18-Nov-2024