Japanese style mirrors. Wakyō were developed as part of toilet sets in the Heian period. Previously large and heavy Chinese style mirrors were used as ritual objects at temples and shrines and as burial accessories. Wakyō, although based on the technique and shape of continental models, are distinguished from Chinese mirrors by such Japanese style patterns and motifs as pines, cherry blossoms, wisteria, maples, pampas grass, chrysanthemums, cranes, geese, and sparrows. The matsukuizurumonkyō 松喰鶴文鏡 (mirror with a pattern of crane eating pine) is a typical Japanese style mirror of this period.
In the Kamakura period, wakyō became thicker and often featured patterns of peonies, butterflies and birds, or *Hōraisan 蓬莱山 in high relief. Song dynasty handled mirrors, ekagami 柄鏡, with decoration around the reflective surface were introduced by the Muromachi period. At first, they had a long handle and knob chū 鈕 in the center of the rear side. Later ekagami became larger and the handle shorter and thicker, with the knob disappearing. In the Momoyama and Edo periods, mirrors were decorated freely with patterns of landscapes and birds-and-flowers, often including the signature of mirror maker or the words "tenka-ichi 天下一" (best in the world).