The role that pottery has played in development of the Japanese aesthetic and culture has been substantial. Japanese pottery has evolved over the centuries into a high art form. Since the Kamakura period (1183-1333), wood-fired pottery from the six oldest historic Japanese pottery centers (Bizen, Echizen, Tanba, Seto, Shigaraki and Tokoname) helped to cultivate a unique artistic appreciation that represented subtle understated beauty. Zen monks were among the first to extol the virtue and beauty of simple austerity. Today, the Japanese ceramists in various pottery centers continue their heritage, producing timeless works of art using traditional materials and techniques refined through centuries of experience.