Japanese Applied Art

255
Japanese Applied Art
(12th-19th c.)

The culture and art of Japan have been determined by the relative isolation of the islands. During its long history it several times opened up to foreign influence only to shut itself off hermetically once again. Under Chinese influence Buddhism came to it in the 6th c. but in one of the periods of isolation Buddhism became fused with the Shinto belief in Zen which in the 14th c. became identified with the warrior caste of Samurai. From that time onwards Zen penetrated all pores of life, from the tea-ceremony, use of sword and bow, flower arrangement, garden architecture, poetry, theatre, art of painting and the applied arts.