作为概念，日本画具有与外来画种和画风相区别的意义。但其外延不很确定，一般存在 3种情况：①专指明治维新以来，在西方绘画的冲击和影响下复兴的民族绘画，亦称新日本画；②除中国画风和西方画风以外的日本绘画；③除洋画之外的日本绘画。本文取其第3义。

日本画的形成和发展过程，漫长而复杂。它有两大特点：具备2000年以上延续不断的历史；在古代和近代先后受到中国绘画和西方绘画的强烈影响。日本画起源于原始社会，在古坟壁画中得到发展。飞鸟时代，中日绘画交流，尤其是来自中国的画工传播了先进的中国绘画。奈良时代起，因唐朝绘画的影响而产生了唐绘。平安中期以后，出现了日本画的第1阶段──大和绘。大和绘采用唐绘的材料，开始确立植根于日本风土人情的画法和风格，产生了绘卷物、绘草纸等门类。镰仓至室町时代，南宋水墨画传入日本，雪舟将其发展为民族化的汉画。安土桃山时代，狩野派吸收大和绘与汉画的长处，创出金碧辉煌的障屏画，形成日本画的第2阶段。江户时代，受明清水墨画影响而产生的日本文人画家池大雅、与谢芜村，丰富了日本画的表现形式和内容。表屋宗达、尾形光琳发展装饰画，使日本画与工艺更紧密地联结在一起。以铃木春信、喜多川歌麿、葛饰北斋、安藤广重为代表的一批画家，创造出表现丰富变幻的现实生活的浮世绘，并对印象主义和后印象主义产生了影响。京都的圆山四条派则立足传统，兼用西法。日本文人画、宗达光琳派、浮世绘、圆山四条派，共同汇成日本画的第3阶段。此时，西方绘画的透视法、明暗法已被日本画家采用。

奈良时代
因为6世纪及7世纪的佛教传播关系，日本的宗教画像在由统治阶层所建立的庙宇中发展。现存最早的画像为斑鸠町法隆寺的壁画，其主题为佛祖、菩萨及其他次等神的故事场景。它们的形式采用了在当时为怀旧的隋朝或十六国时期的中国画风格，直到奈良时代中期唐朝的画风才变得普遍。著名例子有在约700年的高松冢古坟。以上形式发展成为在平安时代早期风行的绘画。由于奈良时代的画作主要是宗教画的关系，它们的作者多数是匿名的。现在有很多奈良时代的画作收藏在正仓院中，它们之前为东大寺所有，现在则由宫内厅所管理。
平安时代及镰仓时代
因为日本佛教真言宗及天台宗在8世纪及9世纪的发展，宗教画中特别是以曼荼罗为主题的画作成为主流。不同样式的曼荼罗中以金刚界曼荼罗及胎蔵界曼荼罗为主题的最为普遍，并主要以挂轴或庙宇壁画的形式表达。当中早期的著名例子有京都南部醍醐寺的五重塔壁画。
平安时代中期，唐绘的地位开始被原本用作屏风及纸门上的画的大和绘所取代。而大和绘亦在平安时代后期变化出包括绘卷在内的一个新风格。绘卷的主题包含小说，如源氏物语、历史作品如伴大纳言绘词、与及宗教作品。绘卷画家发明出一套图像惯例的系统，用作表达不同场景的情感内容。源氏物语被分割为几个个别事件，而伴大纳言绘词则使用连贯叙事式表达，并以淡但鲜明的颜色及画笔速绘表现生动图像。“奔驰物语绘词”的“三条殿夜讨巻”亦是以上手法的著名例子。
室町时代
到了14世纪的室町时代，禅宗的发展对日本视觉艺术产生了重大影响。由中国宋元时期引进的水墨画取代了彩绘的地位。只有以禅宗顶相形式的彩绘才继续有画
作出现。由画僧如拙所绘，现藏于京都妙心寺的《瓢鲇图》，成为了室町时代绘画的一个转折点。瓢鲇图当中以马远的方式去表现山水远近及以梁楷的减笔体去表现人物的方式，均显示其受到南宋院体画的影响。到了14世纪后期，在足利氏的支持下，禅宗画家不断改进日本画，令其渐渐脱离中国画的影子。在此期间，著名的画家有雪舟及周文。京都相国寺画僧周文的代表作《竹斋读书图》，为典型的诗画，并表现出幽远的意境。而期后的雪舟则更随遣明使到达中国学习水墨画，其代表作《四季山水图卷》表现出大胆构图及独特的画风。室町时代后期，水墨画脱离了禅宗而进入普罗大众，当中狩野派及阿弥派承继了前人的风格，并加入了装饰性的浓彩手法，其影响在现代依然持续。
安土桃山时代
到了安土桃山时代，日本画画风变得华丽多彩，并大量运用了金片及银片作大规模的作品。受到织田信长、豊臣秀吉、德川家康及他们的下属支持的狩野派的声望大为提高。狩野永德发展出一套作为制作围绕房间的搪门上的大型风景画的准则。这些庞大的屏风画及壁画被应用作装饰大名的城堡及宫殿。而因为江戸幕府在日本皇室、征夷大将军及大名之间继续推广狩野派作为国家正式认可的艺术的关系，华丽多彩的情况仍然持续至江户时代。与此同时，非狩野派的画派们在安土桃山时代依然在发展着，它们利用日本的材料及美学去表现中国主题。土佐派为以上其中一间重要的画派，它从传统的大和绘发展出来，著名的主要为小型作品与及文学经典或绘卷中的场景。
江户时代
江户时代继承了安土桃山时代的画风后，开创了新的领域。琳派是在江户时代初期冒起的一门画派，它利用大胆及华丽的手法表现出传统主题。琳派画家表屋宗达演变出一种装饰风格，利用鲜艳颜色的人物及自然世界图案对比金叶的背景，重新创造出经典文学主题。琳派画家尾形光琳在一个世纪后重塑表屋宗达的风格而自成一格。
与此同时，南蛮美术在安土桃山时代开始培育，直到江户时代发展成熟。它使用了外来的风格去描绘外国人。它在徳川幕府实行了日本锁国后唯一开放的长崎港周边发展。亦因此而引入中国及西方的艺术影响。它的画派如长崎派及圆山四条派，均在日本元素中融入了中国及西方的影响。
此外，日本南画画派在江户时代亦得以发展。它是以模仿在18世纪由中国元朝传入的南宗文人画开始的。期后文人画画家对其技巧及主题作大幅的变更，形成了中国及日本画法的混合品。当中著名画家有池大雅、浦上玉堂、与谢芜村、田能村竹田、谷文晁及山本梅逸等。
因为江户幕府紧缩的财政及社会政策，奢侈的画风只在上流社会间流传，与此相对的民间社会则发展出风俗画。它的题材包含普通市民、歌舞伎、妓女及风景等。在16世纪的风俗画发展出使用木板印刷技术作大量生产的浮世绘，亦成为江户时代中后期的一个关键性媒体。
现代日本
1868年“明治维新”归政天皇，结束幕府统治，日本进入现代社会，并且还加入了国际社会。日本积极吸收欧美现代文化，与此同时，日本并没有丢弃自己的传统文化，而是将西方现代文化与日本传统文化相结合，立足传统，适应现代，从而创造出新的现代的日本文化。日本的屏风画也不例外，其现代感，民族性，装饰性都很强。

日本画的材料一般包括：纸（或绢）、笔、颜料、墨。
纸的种类很多，有的质地细密，适于工笔；有的柔软而吸水，宜于渲染；有的坚韧，适宜重彩。绢是弹性强的丝织品。无论纸和绢，常常刷上一层明矾胶水混合液以降低吸水性，有时贴上金箔或银箔以取得装饰效果。时而也用木板、画布作画。笔分墨笔和彩笔，有眉笔、描笔、染笔、排笔、扁平笔、刷笔等，大小、粗细、刚柔、长短不一。墨分和墨（日本造）与唐墨（中国造），原料为油烟、松烟等。颜料有胡粉、黄、土黄、代赭、朱、辰砂、红、群青、绿青、群绿、紫、金粉、银粉等，一般为矿物质或植物质，用胶水调制而成。其他用具还有砚、笔洗、画架、画毡、调色碟等。日本画分单色与彩色两种。单色主要用墨，有白描、水墨等技法；近现代日本画主要用彩色，有重彩与淡彩两种，还有没骨、金地彩色、金箔、银箔等技法，战后日本画多用厚涂法。
日本画的种类有绘卷物、册页、袄绘、屏风绘、壁绘、扇面。以绘卷物、袄绘、屏风绘最多而最有代表性。

As a concept, has the distinction with the foreign painting style and the meaning of Japanese painting. But its extension is not very sure, there are 3 cases: since 1 refers to the Meiji Restoration, Renaissance in Western painting under the influence of the national painting, also known as the Japanese painting; in addition to the Chinese style and Western style of Japanese painting; in addition to Western painting outside the Japanese painting. In this paper, we take the third meaning.
The formation and development of Japanese painting is a long and complicated process. It has two characteristics: it has more than 2000 years of continuous history; in ancient times and modern times has been the strong influence of Chinese painting and Western painting. Japanese painting originated in primitive society, and was developed in the ancient tomb murals. The bird era, Sino Japanese painting exchanges, especially from the China painter spread advanced China painting. The Nara times, the Tang Dynasty painting influenced by Tang Dynasty painting and. After the middle period of peace, the first phase of Japanese painting, the big picture. Yamatoe by Tang painting materials, began to establish local customs and practices rooted in Japanese painting and the painting style, painting, and other categories of toilet paper roll. Kamakura and Muromachi period, the Southern Song Dynasty painting was introduced into Japan, sesshu its development for the nationalization of the Han dynasty. Momoyama, Kano school and the Han Dynasty painted with absorption strengths, the screen painting a beautiful decoration, the formation of second stages of Japanese painting. The Edo period, influenced by the Japanese literati painting in Ming and Qing Dynasty painter Chi Daya, yuxiewucun, enrich the content and form of Japanese painting. Biaowuzongda, tail light Lynn development of decorative painting, Japanese painting and make the process more closely linked together. Suzuki Harunobu, Utamaro, Hokusai, Ando Hiroshige as the representative of a group of artists, to create a variety of real life performance of Ukiyo-e, and the influence of Impressionism and post impressionism. Kyoto round hill four school is based on the tradition, and ziphah. Japanese literati painting, Muneda Hikaruri pie, ukiyoe, round hill four, formed in third stages of Japanese painting. At this point, Western painting perspective, light and shade method has been adopted by Japanese painters.Nara Period
Because of the spread of Buddhism in sixth Century and in the year of seventh Century, the religious images of Japan developed in the temples established by the ruling class. The earliest extant portrait of ikaruga Horyu temple murals, the theme of the Buddha, Bodhisattva and other lesser god story scene. They are using a form at the time Chinese painting style nostalgia of the Sui Dynasty or sixteen period of the Tang Dynasty style, until Nara age became commonplace. A famous example in about 700 years of Takamatsu tumulus. The above forms became popular in the early days of peace. The Nara times is mainly religious paintings paintings, most of them are anonymous author. There are a lot of Nara era painting collection in the shosoin, before they all now by the Todaiji Temple, the Imperial Household Agency management.
The era of peace and the Kamakura period
Because the Japanese Shingon Buddhism and Tiantai Sect in eighth Century and ninth Century, especially in the religious paintings themed paintings become mainstream. Different styles of Mandala to mandala and the Tibetan mandala and fetal circles as the theme of the most common, and mainly in the form of expression or temple murals. Among the famous early example of five heavy tower south of the Kyoto daigoji temple murals.
In the middle of the middle of the Tang Dynasty, the painting of Tang Dynasty was replaced by the painting and painting on the screen and paper door. The painting and the great changes in the late Qing Dynasty, including the volume of painting, including a new style. Vol painting theme includes novels, such as the tale of Genji, historical works such as with words, and had painted religious works. A system of image conventions that is used to express the emotional content of different scenes. The tale of Genji is divided into several individual events, and with large Nagon painting a word using a coherent narrative expression, and to light but distinct colors and brush painting vivid image speed. "Benz story painted" three words "please get the house night" is also a famous example above technique.
Muromachi period
By fourteenth Century the Muromachi period, the development of Zen has exerted a great influence on Japanese visual art. By the introduction of Chinese ink painting in the song and Yuan Dynasties replaced the status of painting. It is only in the form of Zen Buddhism that painting is continued
Make appear. The monk painting as a painting, is now in the possession of the Kyoto myoshin the "gourd catfish map" has become a turning point, the Muromachi era painting. Figure to Ma Yuan gourd catfish way landscape distance and to show people the way to reduce the pen of Liang Kai, the show is influenced by the Southern Song Dynasty painting. By the end of the fourteenth Century, with the support of his own, the Zen painter constantly improved the Japanese painting, so that it gradually out of the shadow of Chinese painting. During this period, the famous painter has snow boat and Zhou wen. On behalf of the Kyoto temple monk painter Zhou Wen as "Zhu Zhai map" is a typical reading, poetry and painting, and showed a distant mood. And after the period of sesshu is more with the arrival China learning task Ming ink painting, his masterpiece "the seasons landscapes" showed a bold composition and unique style. The Muromachi period, and the general public to enter the ink painting out of Zen, which Kano school and Amy school inherited the previous style, and add decorative strong color techniques, its impact on modern continues.
Azuchi-Momoyama period
The Momoyama Japanese painting, the wind became colorful, and the use of a large number of gold and silver as large-scale works. By Oda Nobunaga, Leyasu Tokugawa, Chen Feng Hideyoshi and their subordinates to support the Kano school reputation is greatly improved. Kano Yongde developed a production as the lining around the room door on the large landscape standards. These huge screen paintings and murals were used to decorate the famous castles and palaces. But because of the relationship between Japan's Edo shogunate, Shogun and daimyo continue to promote Kano school as a national official art, colorful still continued until the Edo period. At the same time, the non Kano School of painting in the Momoyama era are still in development, they use the materials and aesthetics to the performance of Japan Chinese theme. As one of the above important Tosa School of painting, it developed from the traditional large and famous painting, mainly for the classic or painted volume small works and literary scene.
Edo Period
The Edo period inherited the Momoyama style, to create a new field. Lynn school is a school in the early Edo period emerge, it uses bold and gorgeous techniques show a traditional theme. Lynn painter Biaowuzongda evolved a style of decoration, the use of bright colors of characters and natural world pattern contrast gold background, to re create the classic literary theme. Lynn painter Ogata Hikaruri in a century Biaowuzongda style and distinctive remodeling.
At the same time, Guangdong art began to breed in Momoyama Edo period, until the development of mature. It uses a foreign style to portray a foreigner. It carried out around Nagasaki port development after only sakoku opening in the Tokugawa shogunate. Therefore, the influence of Chinese and Western art. It is the school such as the Nagasaki school and round hill four, are integrated into the influence of China and Western elements in japan.
In addition, southern Japan during the Edo period will be painting painting development. It is to imitate in eighteenth Century by China yuan incoming Nanzong literati painting began. In the later period, the literati painters made a great change in their skills and themes, and formed a mixture of Chinese and Japanese painting. Among the famous painter taiga, uragami gyokudo, yuxiewucun, tanomura chikuden, Gu Wenchao Yamamoto and Mei yi.Because of financial and social policy tightening of the Edo shogunate, luxury style only spread in the society, and the civil society developed custom painting. It is the subject of ordinary citizens, including Kabuki, prostitutes and landscape etc.. In sixteenth Century the development of a mass production of custom painting ukiyoe printing technology using wood, has also become a key media in the late Edo period.
Modern Japan
In 1868 the "Meiji Restoration" government owned the emperor, the end of the shogunate, Japan entered the modern society, and also joined the international community. At the same time, Japan actively absorb the western modern culture, Japan did not abandon their traditional culture, but the modern western culture and Japanese traditional culture together, based on the tradition, modern, to create a new modern Japanese culture. Japanese screen painting is no exception, its modern sense, national, decorative are very strong.Japanese painting materials generally include: paper (or silk), pen, paint, ink.
Many kinds of paper, some fine texture, suitable for fine brushwork; some soft and absorbent, for some tough, suitable for color rendering. Silk is elastic silk. Both paper and silk, often brush a layer of glue alum mixture to reduce water absorption, sometimes with gold foil or silver foil to obtain decorative effect. Sometimes also with wood, canvas painting. Pen and ink is divided brush, eyebrow pencil, pen, pen, pen, pen with flat, brush, size, thickness, hardness and length. Ink and ink (made in Japan) and Tang (China ink made) as raw material, smoke, soot etc.. Pigment powder, yellow, brown, Hu OCHRA, Zhu, cinnabar, red, ultramarine, green, green, purple, gold and silver powders, usually mineral or vegetable matter, glue blend. Other instruments and inkstone, wash, easel, painting felt, palette etc.. Japan's "monochrome and color two. The main color ink, ink and other techniques, a line drawing; modern Japanese painting the main color, with color and light color two, golden color, and no bone, gold foil, silver foil, Japanese painting techniques, with thick coating method.
Types of Japanese painting painted rolls, album, coat painted, painted, painted, screen wall fan. To draw roll, painted, painted screen coat the largest and most representative.