Asuka

Refers to the period and style that developed from 552 to 645 BCE, coinciding with the rise of Buddhism. In sculpture, figures of mostly deities appear in styles that range from an early use of flat planes, elongated proportions, and sharply contoured lines to later shift toward smaller, gentler, figures which emphasize verticality. In painting, the style is characterized by the use of red and black colors created by mixing lacquer with pigment, and yellow and green colors resulting from a mixture of lead oxide and vegetable oil. Painting from this period features light and graceful figures and landscape. In architecture, the style is characterized by the emphasis on symmetry and axial balance with the use of post and lintel construction, tile roofs, and elaborate bracketing to transmit weight and thrust.