The recent recovery of the buried Urushi wares in China and Hokkaido are proved to be 5,000-9,000 years old. It is amazing to know that human being already knew how to get Urushi from Urushi trees and make it into red color Urushi with vermillion. Urushi was used to paint on various containers until about 1,400 years ago when people getting tired of solid color or plain look, and began to use decorative design on Urushi surface. So far nobody from China actually claimed that there was any methods of Maki-e found in her history, and we believe that Maki-e was created by Japanese about 1400 years ago.

Nara period (646-794)
Apparently, they have very little good record on Urushi and Maki-e with actual works in the history. We began to have visible record of Urushi works from Nara Period with a collection kept in Shosou-in temple where we see the oldest Togidashi Maki-e called Makkin-ru. The Japanese admired everything imported from China and learnt a lot about Urushi from them in this period. And they already knew how to make gold powders by filing and burnish the surface after Urushi was applied and gold powders were sprinkled. And this Makkinru is regarded as the origin of Maki-e.

Heian period (794-1185)
In this period there were a bit more fragmentary information to tell about Maki-e, Raden (filigree) or Ikakeji (heavy powder sprinkled surface) mentioned in literature such as Taketori-monogatari (The tales of bamboo cutters), Ise-monogatari (The tales of Ise) and some other literature mentioned Maki-e or Raden. The designs in the period were mostly symmetrical or sequence patterns. Some national treasures of Maki-e made in this period can be seen at Nara National Museum. At the late of this period, the designs became more Japanese from Chinese, and the designs were developed with more natural sceneries. One of the most famous Maki-e work is Katawaguruma (wheels in the water) displayed at National Tokyo Museum. The new techniques of Maki-e began to use in this period were the usage of Ao-kin (gold powder mixed with silver), the technique of gradation and Raden used the same time. Hira Maki-e was also started in this period, but the technique was completed in Kamakura period.

Kamakura period (1185-1333)
Heian period was a world of aristocrats. Aesthetic sense was valued and beautiful Maki-e was admired. Though the art form was succeeded by Kamakura age, the people became more realistic, the society became the world of Samurai, and the designs were slowly changed into that direction. Kamakura style has some characteristics on Maki-e. The designs were realistic and intellectual due to the fact that the making of gold powders and the techniques were improved. The designs also began to use Ashide (Painting some Kanji related to the theme of the design somewhere in the design, often camouflaged in the design itself.). In this period, Taka Maki-e was also completed.

Muromachi period (1332-1568)
Muromachi period was also occupied by Samurai, but they were more aristocratic, and interested in luxious and beautiful things. The famous Kinkakuji (gold plated temple) and Ginkakuji (silver plated temple) were separately built by The Third Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and The Eighth Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Muromachi culture was also heavily influenced by Zen sect. and Sung (960-1279) and Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) of China, and Maki-e designs with more colorful techniques became more complicated, and the expressions tended to be very exaggerated, while the techniques were extended to Shishiai Togidashi Maki-e and Taka Maki-e often used Sabi-age (use Sabi to raise the part of the design extremely high). They liked to use all possible Maki-e techniques for each design.

It is a very important point for Maki-e in this period is that they invented Nashiji (sprinkling gold powder to make the surface look like the skin of pears) for both of Heavy Nashiji and Thin Nashiji. And we also need to note that Kanagai or Kirigane (gold flakes cut and pasted on the designs) were used the first time. Muromachi period is an important period of Maki-e history since the Maki-e had more new techniques and better materials and Maki-e had become much popular encouraged by the regime which produced two great Maki-e shi hired by the Shogun. And they are Koami Family and Igarashi Family. That owing to these two Families, all Maki-e shi’s and craftsmen’s social status and financially independence were elevated should not be overlooked.