The Eastern Land

Japanese art is a classic in Asian art. It is simple and perfect. But like all art from different countries, all Japanese art is not created the same way. Why would it be? Art would be boring if it was all the same and people wouldn’t get to same the work in its true beauty. Difference adds to the beauty in Japanese. Hokusai’s paintings Great Wave off Kanagawa and The Inlet of Nobuto are examples of the beauty of Japanese art.

Like most Japanese paintings, Great Wave off Kanagawa and The Inlet of Nobuto both deal with nature. Water is the subject of the painting. Both paintings have water and people co-existing peacefully. While Great Wave off Kanagawa shows water at its violent peak in a wave, The Inlet of Nobuto shows water at its peaceful time. Great Wave off Kanagawa depicts a huge wave about to devour a boat of defenseless sailors. The sailors can be assumed that feel fear from this mighty wave. The wave itself demonstrates that nature is stronger than human beings. But yet, The Inlet of Nobuto shows water being tame. People are working and playing in it calmly. Humankind is in control of nature in this painting. In both paintings, Mt. Fuji is in the background. Hokusai, like most Japanese painters of his time, put the mountain in the painting to symbolize Japan’s heritage and culture.

On the subject of Mt. Fuji, this symbol of Japan’s pride and culture is used in different ways. In Great Wave off Kanagawa, Mt. Fuji is a symbol of strength as well as culture. The wave may wash out those poor sailors, but Mt. Fuji will still be standing strong. That is saying to the Japanese that no matter how the times change and what they bring with them, their culture and pride will never die or get swept away. In The Inlet of Nobuto however, it says a slightly different message. Even though the mountain is small in the background, the viewer can still see it clearly. That is saying that the Japanese heritage is the background of every Japanese person. The mountain may be small, but it is there and the people know it. Both paintings use Mt. Fuji as a symbol of Japanese culture and heritage.

The theme of water and nature is fundamental to Japanese art. Water is one of the many power sources of the world. People use water to cook, wash, drink, and as a source of energy. Throughout history, water has been celebrated in many ways. The Japanese are no exception to the rule. Most of wood block paintings feature water in them. Nature in Japanese art seems to be one with the human soul. That is even the basis of Zen and art. Nature and art for the Japanese are like yin and yang. It is the theme in paintings, Zen, martial arts, and all other forms of Japanese art and living. Nature is the unifying theme in all of Japanese art. Without nature, there is not much to expose the world to the Eastern world.

Japanese art is beautiful in its simplicity and themes of nature. Without these elements in all of art and life, everything would be disrupted. Nature and art are the buffers in life.