Buddhist Art Forms in Japan
Author: Pierre Fontaine
Indian sub-continent was the original birth place of Buddhist art forms. Contact with the other cultures and communities made positive influences on the Buddhist religion and helped it to spread all over Asia. Gradually, Buddhist art became well-known and Japan became one of the capitals of Buddhist art and culture.
Within a short period of time, Buddhism attained a wide acceptance in the South-East Asia. Buddhist art forms also reached out to the masses in line with the massive fame of the religion.
Japanese art had been influenced by a number of movements and cultures before the arrival of Buddhism. In the Yoyoi and Kofun periods, the face of the Japanese art changed a lot.
It was in the 6th century that Buddhism reached in Japan. Missionary monks made their way to the country with their scriptures and art work hoping to attract the uneducated masses. Today Japan stands as the largest Buddhist country in the world. When Buddhism was disappearing in India it was picking up in Japan.
Following the advent of the religion into the country Buddhist art started to flourish in a number of ways. The landscape was dotted with numerous monasteries and temples. Some of the most eminent buildings inspired by Buddhism are the Golden Hall of the Horyuki, the five story pagoda and the Kofuku-ji temple in the city of Nara.
Buddhist art forms were expressed in different sculptures and paintings and the government also sponsored a number of artists in order to nourish the Buddhist art. The art of that time was attractive and was based on realism because of the Korean, Chinese and Hellenistic impacts.
The 8th to 13th centuries were the golden era for the Buddhist art in Japan. Especially the Nara, Kamakura and Heian periods witnessed an unbelievable development of this art. Several metaphorical art forms were introduced to illustrate the Buddhist deities. Shintoism and the Hindu religion also had some apparent effects on the Buddhist art. Their art was uncommon, but at the same time it appeared to be very imaginative and expressive.
The time period after the thirteenth century witnessed a transition from the orthodox Buddhist art towards Zen art. This was the philosophy introduced into Japan through the Eisai and Dogen on their return trip from China. A host of original pottery and paintings expressing their desire to reveal the true meaning of life can be found belonging to this time period. Other art forms like Ikebana and martial arts also developed during these times.
An overwhelming amount of Buddhist temples, reaching up to 80,000, can be found in Japan today. Most of these temples had been modified a lot in order to conserve them.
Japanese symbols of the zodiac provide an interesting insight into the history and culture of Japan. To learn more about Japanese Buddhist art click on the preceding link.
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