Painting began to flourish in the sixth century, when the ruling class took great interest in Buddhism and Buddhist culture, which had arrived from Korea and China. Paintings preserved from the late 7th and early 8th centuries were executed in styles developed in China in the late period of the Six Dynasties. They illustrate the life of Buddha and depict other Buddhist deities. After the 10th century, painting became increasingly influenced by Jodo Shinko (Pure Land Buddhism).