在日本工艺美术悠远的历史长河中，平安时代是一个承上启下而又特色鲜明的时期，它上承奈良时代，下启镰仓时代，政治因素对于文化艺术的影响不可小觑。平安时代是指从794年（延历13年）恒武天皇迁都平安京（现京都）开始，直至1192年（建久3年）源赖朝设立镰仓幕府为止的398年间，即起始于中国唐朝中期的贞元（785-805）年间，直至南宋的绍熙年间（1189-1194）。这个时代的日本文化和艺术开始从“唐风”转向“和风”，工艺美术亦是处于向“和风化”过渡的时期，并逐渐确立和完善了其工艺美术的本土风格。从文化层面来讲，平安时代前期属于“弘仁—贞观文化”，中期为“国风文化”，后期即“院政期文化”。“弘仁—贞观文化”即指从弘仁年间（810-824）至贞观年间（859-877）的文化阶段，承袭了前朝奈良时代的文化风格，仍受到唐朝的绝对性影响。从文化史和美术史的角度来讲，平安时代的中后期亦被称之为“藤原时代”。平安时期的不同文化阶段，在工艺美术领域已呈现出明确的变化。其中，“国风文化”是平安时代最具标志性的文化类型，为平安时代中后期日本工艺美术的“和风化”转向厚植沃土。在陶瓷工艺方面，奈良时代便已引进唐三彩并仿制出以白绿色为主基调的奈良三彩，平安时代基于此发展出以绿釉为主的彩釉陶器，此外还有以植物灰为釉料的灰釉陶器，体现出日本陶工艺审美意识的转变。漆工艺在承袭前朝技法的基础上愈发精进，纹样及风格都转而追求洗练而高雅的自然意趣。就金属工艺而言，除铁制农具、兵器，以及著名的和镜之外，以最澄和空海为首的“入唐八家”从中国带回日本的佛器和法具中包括诸多金属工艺品，促进了铸造技法的发展。染织工艺从华丽的大型纹样，转向素朴拙雅的纤细纹样，更为紧密地与日本风土相结合。综上，笔者选择日本平安时代的工艺美术作为研究主题和研究对象，一方面通过梳理平安时代各门类的工艺美术，力求对其特征进行总结归纳；一方面着眼于研究平安时代工艺美术的“和风化”转向，这一点具有重要的学术研究价值，这种转向体现在其工体美术的各个领域并进一步发展成熟。平安时代开启了日本工艺美术史的新篇章。
In the long history of Japanese arts and crafts, the Heian Period is a connecting link and a distinctive period. It inherited the Nara Period, before the Kamakura Period, that’s why the influience of political factors on culture and art should not be underestimated. Heian Period is from 794 (the Yanli 13rd) when the Kannmu Emperor moved to the capital to Heian ( now Kyoto ), until 1192 (the Jianjiu 3rd) when Munamotono Yoriromo established Kamakura shogunate,lasted for about 398 years. The 398-years period began in the middle of the Tang Dynasty ( 785-805 ) until the Shao Xi Era of the Southern Song Dynasty ( 1189-1194 ) .In this period, Japanese culture and art began to shift from the " Tang Style " to the " Japanese Style ", at the same time, arts and crafts were also in a transition period to the " Japanese Style",and gradually developed and established the native style of arts and crafts. From a cultural perspective, the early era of Heian Period belongs to “Hongren-Zhenguan Culture”,the mid era belongs to “Native-Style Culture” (Kokufuu Culture),and the late era belongs to “Innsei-Era Culture”.From the perspective of cultural history and art history, the mid-late Heian Period is also called "Fujiwara Era". The “Hongren-Zhenguan Culture” refers to the cultural tape from the Hongren Era（810-824）to the Zhenguan Era（859-877），Inheriting the culture style of Nara Period，which is still under the absolute influence of the Tang Dynasty. But In the mid-ate period, they gradually got rid of the influence of the former dynasty and sought the individual development.The different cultural stages of the Heian Period have shown clear changes in the field of arts and crafts. The “Native-Style Culture”(Kokufuu Culture) is the most iconic cultural type in the Heian Period,and It laid the foundation for the transition of " Japanese Style"for the development of Japanese arts and crafts in the mid-late Heian period.In ceramics,the Tri - colored Glazed Pottery of Tang Dynasty(Tang Sancai) was introduced in Nara's time, and a white - green base color was imitated as the three - colored glazed pottery of Nara.In the Heian Period, Japanese pottery with green glaze was developed. In addition, the gray glaze pottery with plant ash as glaze was also developed, which reflects the change of aesthetic consciousness of Japanese pottery craft. The lacquer craft is more and more refined on the basis of inheriting the techniques of the former dynasty, and the patterns and styles are all turned to pursue the natural charm of cleanness and elegance. In terms of metal technology, besides iron farm tools, weapons, and the famous Japanese bronze mirror, Zui Cheng and Kong Hai took back to Japan a lot of metal crafts which were used as Buddhist sacred utensils, which promote the development of casting techniques. Dyeing and weaving processed from the magnificent large pattern, to simple and elegant fine pattern, more closely combined with the Japanese terroir.In a word, the author chooses Japanese arts and crafts in the Heian Period as the research subject and object. On one hand, the author tries to sum up the characteristics of arts and crafts in the Heian Period by sorting out the arts and crafts in different categories. On the other hand, it focuses on the study of the transition of " Japanese Style", which is reflected in all areas of its fine arts and further development of maturity.it has important academic value. The Heian Period opened a new chapter in the history of Japanese arts and crafts.
