Hakuhō period

The Hakuhō period (白鳳時代, Hakuhō jidai, lit. "white phoenix period") was an unofficial Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") of Emperor Temmu after Hakuchi and before Suchō. The duration of this discrete non-nengō timespan lasted from 673 through 686.

The Hakuhō period is more often used as a general term which describes a wider range of years.

History of art

Hakuhō is conventionally used to identify a broad historical and artistic period of the late seventh century and early eighth century. The term is primarily used in art history and is thought to have been introduced at the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition.

In general historical contexts, the Asuka period is understood as overlapping the Hakuhō period; and the Hakuhō can be construed as having been followed by a Tempyō period in art history.

The Hakuhō period was marked by the rapid expansion of Buddhism and its dissemination throughout Japan. Artistically the period was influenced directly by the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and influenced indirectly by Gupta art from India.