Japanese Painting technique - Yamato-e

The primary style developed during the Heian period was the "Yamato-e" or 'Japanese Pictures" style of painting, commonly used for byudo (folding doors) or handscrolls, with horizontal handscrolls being the most popular medium for narratives. The term 'Yamato-e,' originating from the Yamato area of Japan between Kyoto and Nara despite the fact that the technique itself couldn't be traced there, was coined to differentiate it from 'kara-e' which was the Chinese style of painting used previously. Yamato-e often had stories involved with its complex brush techniques. The technique of yamato-e involved using black outlines filled with flat, bright colors and no shading, which gave it a unique feel. Perspective was based on placement in the picture plane; objects closer to the viewer were towards the bottom, while the objects that were further away were placed higher on the plane.

Common subjects for Yamato-e style paintings were scenes from literary classics such as "The Tale of Genji," well-known places, the four seasons, festivals, ceremonies and monthly activities. Seasonal subjects became a focus in the art, decorating not just their scrolls or paintings but also textiles and other 3-dimentional objects. Paintins were often accompanied by text, including 31 syllable poems, called waka, produced by the court. Hanging scrolls were focused mostly on Buddhist subjects. Clouds linked scenes within a work, and gold was often used with brilliant pigments to create an even more delicate tone.