The Art of Buddhism

There are some differences between China and Japan about how Buddhism arrived each countries and Buddhism arts. I researched their Buddhism arts and looked into their historical arts through the museum resource and other websites. I have found them very interesting that they have different characteristics of arts but also have similar aspects.

In China, dynasty was switching in various periods in history and there were many periods that scattered, therefore, Chinese Buddhism’s history also was how Buddhism changed with changing the dynasties. According to the museum resource, Buddhism arrived China in first century but did not flower until the Six Dynasties period, 220-589. Through I was researching Chinese Buddhism; I was curious how Chinese Buddhism implies Chinese arts. In the period of Tang dynasty (618-907), many arts were made including Buddha sculptures. There is a picture of a Chinese Buddha head in the museum website and it says that for that Buddha head, all traces of India and central Asian influence have been replaced by a native Chinese aesthetic. The Chinese Buddha head is made of limestone. There is also a picture of a historical Buddha sculpture made of bronze metal. This Buddha sculpture was made in Sui dynasty (581-618).

Buddhism reached to Japan from Baekje in Korean Peninsula in the middle of the sixth century. Japan adapted Buddhism by transforming their arts. Also Kamakura period was the time when Buddhism became the most prosperous in Japanese history. There is a Japanese picture of the mandala on the museum website and the picture is made of silk fabric. The mandala is representing the spiritual universe. Later the mandala was used for meditation and concentration. There are five elements within the mandala, earth, water, fire, air and space. When adding a person’s mind, the mandala becomes animated. There is also a picture called Bodhidharma on the website. This picture is painted by black ink and it is called Suibokuga. Suibokuga is...