The Religious Arts of Japan

The Religious Arts of Japan

In Japan, two major belief systems have existed harmoniously for centuries – the native Shinto and the imported Buddhism. The ancient, indigenous tradition known as Shinto (“Way of the Gods”) is based on a profound respect for nature and for the higher beings, or kami, who are said to inhabit the natural world. Buddhism, introduced around 6th century AD, emphasizes self cultivation and compassion towards others as ways of attaining spiritual enlightenment. Within both of these traditions, works of great artistry and spirituality have been created to provide inspiration and instruction to believers.

In early Shinto, the kami were not represented in painting or sculpture. Their presence was indicated by markers such as straw ropes, folded paper strips or small shrines. For centuries, prayers to kami have also been written on decorative plaques known as ema, and hung at the larger Shinto shrines for the kami to read. Under the influence of Buddhism, Shinto kami were given physical form in sculptures and paintings, and figures of kami were often housed in personal shrines.

Buddhism, by the time it arrived in Japan, was equipped with a rich array of imagery, texts and ritual objects. Sculptures and paintings of the Buddha, bodhisattvas and other deities have long provided a spiritual focus for devotees, while written and printed sacred texts have helped spread the Buddha’s teachings. Priests have worn fine brocade silk robes at important ceremonies and ritual objects such as rosaries, scepters and incense burners have been used in both home and temple ceremonies.

3 May 2007 to 6 January 2008