Buddhist Art's Evolution In Japan
Japan's Adoption and Reformation of Buddhist Art Buddhism was introduced to Japan through the influences of China & Korea in aproximately the 6th century A.D., and was accompanied by the arrival of unnumerable artists, priests, and scholars from overseas. Buddhism's lavish artistic trend immediately caught the attention of Japan's ruling classes and aristocratic elite. Within the span of a few centuries, Buddhism became one of Japan's most prominent creeds. Buddhism brought new together new theories on government, writing, architecture, and also new concepts and materials for the aesthetics. The Japanese ruling classes also used Buddhism as a method to establish a sense of social order and political control, and also as a means to join a larger social sphere from the mainlands of Asia.
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Although the influences of Confucianism and secular life lessened the prevalence of Buddhism as a religion, the introduction of Zen Buddhism forever changed the outlook on Japanese religios and secular art as a whole. The virtues of simplicity, earthiness, directness, and irregular shapes became prominent traits of Japanese art. This panacea of simplicity began in the making of simpler scrolls and texts, and eventually bled into all forms of Japanese art. Also, Zen Buddhism was instrumental in bringing religious participation down from elitest levels to the common people, by expressing concern for the ordinary person's pursuit for enlightenment. Zen Buddhist art can frequently be interpreted as a kind of humanist aesthetic, subject to personalities and spiritualities of its own. Zen Buddhism not only changed the social atmosphere of the religion, but also altered the forms of art that were prevalent in Japan. A calm mindset and focus on the natural, irregular and spontaneous was a drastic change from the original calculated methods of Buddhist and secular Japanese arts. Zen had a heavy influence on calligraphy, landscape gardening, sculpture, painting, and even ceramics. Because Zen art and aesthetics was so different and bold in its own way, Japanese art would experience a universal change of inspiration. |
Calligraphy - 17th Century Zen:
Calligraphy writing excercises that focus on the motion of the relaxed hand are still practiced among Zen monks today.
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