What Makes Japanese Buddhist Art Special
Buddhist art really originated in the Indian subcontinent. With the passage of years and contact with other cultures throughout Asia the religion and the art form expanded to other places including Japan.
The growth of the Buddhist religion and art was very rapid in Asia. It entered all parts of the continent including northern, central, eastern and south-east Asia.
The art field in Japan prior to the arrival of Buddhism had been influenced by various art movements and cultures. The Yayoi and Kofun periods had just come to pass leaving their mark on the Japanese art culture.
In the 6th century, Buddhism settled in Japan. As it was fading away from India, Japan was becoming its capital. The Buddhist priests succeeded in attracting the ordinary people with their art works and sculptures. Eventually, Japan became the largest country of Buddhism in the world.
Several temples and monasteries were established in every parts of the country. The five storey pagoda, the Golden Hall of Horyule and the Kofuku-ji temple in the Nara city were the evidences for the Buddhist influence on the Japanese architecture.
Buddhist art also improved in the form of paintings and statues. The government was engaged in sponsoring a host of artists in order to create numerous paintings and sculptures. The art of the time revolved around realism and had a very graceful attraction. This was the result of Korean, Chinese and Hellenistic impacts that had come together to form a unique style.
The Buddhist art had a greater development between the 8th and 13th century. In the times of Nara and Heian, it became supreme in Japan. Hindu and Shintoist influences also were found in the Buddhist art forms. Most of the art works were portraying Buddhist deities and were exceptional because of their diversity and individuality.
After the 13th century, the traditional Buddhist art took the form of Zen art. This philosophy was brought to Japan by Dogen and Eisai. Apart from painting and pottery, the art of flower arrangement named Ikebana and the martial arts found their way to development in this time. These art works reveal their eagerness to unveil the real meaning of life.
Today Japan is home to around 80,000 Buddhist temples. Most of these temples have been made from wood and have undergone massive restoration for the purpose of preservation.
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