The Art of Japanese Architecture

The Art of Japanese Architecture

The Chinese influenced Buddhist art in Japan during the Asuka and Nara period.  Buddhism played a curial role in the development of art in Japan during the Asuka and Nara period.  Buddhist art and religion were introduced in Japan from China.  Various sculptures were introduced to Japan from China.   The first sculpture to arrive was Bronze Buddhist sculpture and Sutras.  Seong of Baekje sent the statue to emperor Kimmei. The Chinese influence on Japan art and architecture grew during the Asuka period.  The Chinese influence on Japanese art grew during the Nara period. The Japanese court started to model itself in a Chinese way. Also, Buddhism continued to spread in the country.  The Buddhism religion integrated the Shinto religion practiced by the Japanese[1].

During the Nara era, clay figures and statutes developed in the dry lacquer process became common. Artists and sculptors started representing Buddhist deities and saint in bronze and wood.  The styles used to represent the deities in wood and bronze evolved from the thinness of Tori art work to huge figures produced in the 8^th and 9th century.  The art works showed the later T’ang Dynasty in China.  During this period, the traditional technical techniques of Japanese paintings were created. The art work was conducted upon thin soft paper using Chinese water colors and ink.  The painters mounted the paintings on silk brocade.  The hanging roll known as Kakemono, and the emakimono unrolled in the hands showing a narrative with various scenes[2].

The sculptures produced during the Nara period, and Asuka period show the influence of continental art.  Some of the Chinese immigrants established schools to teach Chinese art especially sculptures. For instance, Tori Busshi established the Tori school of sculpture, and he followed the style Northern Wei sculpture.  Tori produced different art works including the Sakyamuni Triad. The sakyamuni triad is the key feature of the kannon Boddhisatva of Yumedono Hall and Golden Hall of Hōryū-ji temple. Prince Shōtoku, Hōryū-ji developed in the 7th century as private temple, and comprises of 41 separate buildings.

The most crucial ones include the worship hall and the Gojū-no-tō. Inside the main worship hall, there are sculptures developed during this period such as Sakyamuni triad.   Tori used Chinese style to develop the Shakyamuni Triad. The Triad shows the Buddha Shakyamuni during the 6^th century Chinese style.  The triad has an elongated head.  The Buddha at the center served by the Baisajyaguru and amitabha on the right and left respectively.  The Triad is two dimensional and Tori included a repetitive pattern to show the cloth the triad sits upon[3].

Artists, painters and sculptors in Japan used more natural styles from China to produce sculptures and paintings.  The Triad of Yakushi depicts the healing Buddha.  The Buddha chairs the Eastern land which attended by Nikko and Gakko.  The triad found in the Yakushiji temple shows the Chinese influence on Japanese Buddhist art.  In addition, the sculpture shows the roots of art in Japan from the 1^st century to the 3rd century.

Several leaders contributed to the growth of Buddhist art in Japan.  The introduction of Buddhist art from China was met with resistance by some leaders. However, other leaders helped in the development of art including Shōtoku Taishi. Taishi travelled around the nation creating Buddhist temples.  He also selected painters to paint images and decorate the temples.  Thus, Buddhist art could not have flourished without Taishi efforts[4].

Additionally, Chinese influenced architecture in Japan during this period especially temples.  The introduction of Buddhism in Japan led to the development of Buddhist temples. Temples were needed to practice the new religion, and hence several temples were developed around the country.  The temples consisted of kondo, pagoda and a five story tower. The hall contained sacred images of Buddha saints.  The temples had Buddhist images including Chinese scrolls showing the life of Buddha.

At first, the Chinese priests painted the images and then the Japanese started to paint the images later. Some of the temples constructed using Chinese style includes the Horyu-ji temple established near Nara.  The temple is the oldest building made of wood globally.  The temple has a kondo which consists of Buddha statues and Buddhist saints.  Also, the temple has carved wooden guardian kings and Tamamushi shrines. Lastly, emperor Shomu helped in the growth of Buddhist art in the 8^th century.  Shomu developed the sculpture of today-ji.

The sculpture is 6 meters high and made of copper.  The leaders in Japan wanted to develop the ideal land of Buddha and hence developed various temples. Shomu used gold to develop the sculpture to show the marvelous teaching of Buddha.  In addition, Shomu used gold to construct the sculpture to show that Japan was capable of developing sculptures without Chinese influence.  This made the subsequent Japanese art developed unique as painters and sculptors did not use Chinese style[5].

Reference

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