Based largely on the ideals and aesthetics of Zen Buddhism and the concept of wabi-sabi, Higashiyama culture centered on the development of chadō, ikebana, Noh drama, and sumi-e ink painting. Much of what is commonly seen today as traditional Japanese culture originated or developed in this period. Higashiyama culture is often contrasted with Kitayama bunka, the "Kitayama Culture" from earlier in the Muromachi period. In this comparison Kinkaku-ji, representative of Kitayama culture is compared with Ginkaku-ji, representative of Higashiyama culture. which were stylized in the Higashiyama culture Yoshimasa's retirement villa was turned into the temple Ginkaku-ji after his death. It is situated in Kyoto'sSakyō-ku, and was the center of the Higashiyama cultural outgrowth in a number of ways. The Pavilion is revered for its simple beauty, the silver having never been added. The rockgarden next to it is likewise one of the most famous in Japan, and praised for its Zen and wabi-sabi aesthetics. It is a quintessential example of the idea that only the trained expert should be able to recognize the subtle beauty within art and architecture; the beauty of the object should not be underscored and emphasized, but gently hidden. The retired shogun also invited many artists, poets, and court nobles to his villa, encouraging the development of their arts. A vast and priceless collection of artifacts came together, which was known as the Higashiyama Treasure. The Tōgudō building includes a shoin-style room called the Dōjinsai. It originally had a fireplace built into the floor, and due to this, the Dōjinsai is considered the earliest extant example of a room designed for use as a tea room. There were many architectural innovations in this period, exhibited in the Ginkaku-ji in particular, which would later become core elements in the shoin style of 17th century architecture. One of these elements was the tokonoma, a small alcove in which scrolls are hung, and flowers or other small articles are placed to enhance the aesthetic feel of the room. The great ink-painter Sesshū Tōyō spent much time at the Ginkaku-ji, and this period also saw the birth of the Kanō school of Japanese painting as well as an early version of chanoyu'' tea ceremony. Tea ceremony would be further formalized by Sen no Rikyū in the 16th century.
Important dates
In the history of this period, a few specific dates are noteworthy:
January 27, 1490 : The former-Shogun Yoshimasa died at age 56 in his Higashiyama-dono estate, which marks the beginning of the end of Higashiyama bunka.
":File:Zhou Maoshu Appreciating Lotuses.jpg|Zhou Maoshu Appreciating Lotuses", a hanging scroll by Kanō Masanobu
":File:Tosa Mitsunobu 001.jpg|Seikōji engi emaki" by Tosa Mitsunobu
File:Sesshu - View of Ama-no-Hashidate.jpg|"View of Ama-no-Hashidate" by Sesshū File:Zhou Maoshu Appreciating Lotuses.jpg|"Zhou Maoshu Appreciating Lotuses", a hanging scroll by Kanō Masanobu File:Tosa Mitsunobu 001.jpg|"Seikōji engi emaki" by Tosa Mitsunobu
