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Zen, Japanese Arts and Culture

Posted on October 6, 2017October 6, 2017 by Dharma Documentaries
A look at the influence of Zen on all aspects of Japanese art and culture.

Zen, Japanese Arts and Culture

A film made by NHK, and seemingly a companion piece to last week’s film about training in a Zen monastery, this documentary looks at how Zen has affected the arts and culture in Japan.

The film looks at many aspects of the arts and culture, including No Theatre, the tea ceremony, simplicity in architecture, and the fine arts: painting, black ink line painting, and other modes of expression, all of which have been influenced by Zen principals.

Near the end of the film we are given a set of seven aesthetics of Zen art, which I enumerate here:

1. Fukinsei, Asymmetry

2. Daisuzoku, Non attachment

3. Shizen, Naturalness

4. Kanso, Silence

5. Koko, Reasoned Austerity

6. Yugen, Profound Subtlety

7. Sei-Jaku, Tranquility

The film has a wonderful soundtrack by Toru Takemitsu which also incoporates these qualities. The film was directed by Toshimaro Ama.

 

if the video does not appear on the page, try reloading the page; and if that doesn’t work, leave a comment so I can update the page (the comment is not published)

 

to see an album of screenshots click here

 

TAGS:
Culture, Dharma, Arts, Japan, Paintings, Zen

3 thoughts on “Zen, Japanese Arts and Culture”

  1. Paul Stevenson says:
    August 19, 2018 at 6:52 am

    Funny yet perhaps perfect closed captioning error: In this video, the monk “iqueue” (sic) was “probably the most free-est mind Japanese Zen ever reduced (emphasis mine). Indeed, that might be the most perfect “error” a CC service ever produced. I still don’t know the monk’s name. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Dharma Documentaries says:
      June 10, 2022 at 10:00 am

      This is a long after you wrote, but I just now saw it, the poet was Ikkyu.

      Reply
  2. Jim Veteto says:
    December 19, 2023 at 11:33 pm

    This documentary itself is a work of art. The camerawork, narration, music–exquisite. Everything is well timed and appropriately arranged. I find it to be an excellent expression of Zen mind. Nine bows for posting.

    Reply

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