Buddhism and Japan Art: The influence of the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Zen Buddhist priest Mokuan Reien was born in the thirteenth century in the land of the rising sun. Like many Japanese Buddhist holy men – artists and people of culture – the Middle Kingdom (China) was the…
Japanese art through the lens of familiarity but in a changed entangled state Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The flow of human life comes and goes at the drop of a hat but observance and familiarity can make yesteryear seem like now. In the art piece titled “The Blossoming of Life” by Sawako Utsumi,…
Sōami (1472-1525) and art of Japan: Aesthetics, Buddhism, and the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist, Sōami, is known for an array of areas linked to high culture in the land of the rising sun. Hence, he is strongly linked to Japanese aesthetics and the power of high culture that…
Art of Japan in the sixteenth century and the sword and the brushstroke Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) says much about the various dynamics of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period and the warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). This applies to the growth of Japanese art and culture despite the warring period…
Japanese art and power concentration: Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) belongs to a time of major change in Japanese society. Hence, he witnessed the power processes of centralization under several warlords. This culminated with the emergence of the Tokugawa Period that lasted from 1603 to 1868. Therefore,…
Art of Tokiwa Mitsunaga and the backdrop of political intrigues in twelfth-century Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The period 1156 to 1185 witnessed many important events in Japan that would ultimately lead to a new period in Japanese history. In simple terms, the clash between the clans of Taira and Minamoto would witness…
Kano Michinobu (1730-1790) and Japanese art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Kano school of art blessed Japan for many centuries after the founding fathers were born in the fifteenth century. However, like all traditional art forms, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and endless modernization would eclipse the longevity of Kano artists. Despite this,…
Matsumura Goshun and Japan art: The shadow of death and influence of Yosa Buson Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Matsumura Goshun was born in 1752 during the Edo Period in Japan and he provides an impressive glimpse into the rich heritage of high culture. In the early period of his art,…
Japan poetry and the female poet Komachi: Heartfelt passion from the distant past Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese female poet, Ono no Komachi, was born in the ninth century. It is widely reported that she was born in 825 and passed away from this cold earth in the year 900. However, the…
Ito Shinsui and Japanese art: Poverty to continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) leaves a lasting legacy because he produced many stunning pieces of art. His artwork came to the fore during the Taisho and Showa periods in Japan, whereby he became famous for stunning images of beautiful women.…
Japanese art and Sōami (1472-1525): Aesthetics, China, and Zen Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist, Sōami, is known for an array of areas linked to high culture in the land of the rising sun. Hence, he is strongly linked to Japanese aesthetics and the power of high culture that impacted greatly…
Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) and art of Japan: The world of power concentration Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) belongs to a time of major change in Japanese society. Hence, he witnessed the power processes of centralization under several warlords. This culminated with the emergence of the Tokugawa Period that lasted from…
Kanae Yamamoto and Japan art: Economic perils of his early life (Part One) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kanae Yamamoto (1882-1946) witnessed many momentous historical events throughout his lifetime. Yet, despite the waves of changeable times – irrespective if modernization or militarization, this famous artist remained passionate about art and depicted many…
Takeshiro Kanokogi and art of Japan: The influence of France Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Takeshiro Kanokogi was born in 1874 during the infancy of the Meiji Restoration that began in 1868. Yet, by the time of his death in 1941, much had changed about Japan. Therefore, one can only imagine…
Japan art and Confucianism: The Bleak reality of Seppuku for a thoughtful artist Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Watanabe Kazan (1793-1841) highlights the fact that social mobility could break the alleged stratification of old Japan. After all, he was born into a samurai family that was relatively poor. Despite this, Watanabe paid…
Zen Buddhism and Japanese Art: Taking Rinzai Buddhism to the rural poor Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The holy Buddhist monk Hakuin Ekaku revived the school of Rinzai Buddhism based on taking Zen Buddhism far and wide. Indeed, his upbringing meant that he never lost touch with people at the bottom of the ladder,…
Japanese art, Goshun, and the influence of Buson: The artistic heaven on earth Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811) created countless stunning art pieces that reflect nature and serenity. Indeed, some of his art pieces create a collective illusion of beauty, passivity, and a way of life that is based solely…
Buddhist art and the Japanese priest Mokuan Reien: The Middle Kingdom and Mu Qi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Zen Buddhist priest Mokuan Reien was born in the thirteenth century in the land of the rising sun. Like many Japanese Buddhist holy men – artists and people of culture – the Middle…
Art of Buddhism in China and Japan: The shadow of Liang K’ai (1140-1210) on Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The path of Buddhism in China and Japan knows many roads because of various sects. Equally important, the thought patterns of Buddhism and cultural impact are extremely diverse in China and Japan.…
The richness of Japanese art during the warring times: Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) says much about the various dynamics of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period and the warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). This applies to the growth of Japanese art and culture despite the warring period that…
Art of Japan and Kano Michinobu (1730-1790) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Kano school of art blessed Japan for many centuries after the founding fathers were born in the fifteenth century. However, like all traditional art forms, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and endless modernization would eclipse the longevity of Kano artists. Despite…
Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) and Japanese art: Centralization and continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) witnessed the power processes of the centralization of Japan that ultimately led to the unification of this nation under the Tokugawa Period of 1603-1868. Naturally, the art world of Japan also witnessed new art…
Art of Japan and the two paths of Buddhism and Shintoism: Faith in the snow without Abraham Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The latest art piece by Sawako Utsumi, a contemporary Japanese artist who hails from Northern Japan, utilizes the snowy landscape by highlighting the respective strengths of Buddhism and Shintoism despite terrible adversity.…
Art of Japan and Kiyoo: Social and political convulsions but artistic continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kawamura Kiyoo (1852-1934) created many amazing pieces of art during a period of rapid political change. He was born in the old world of the Edo Period (1603-1868) and he witnessed the modernization of…
Japan art of the twelfth century: Annual rites and ceremonies Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The twelfth-century Japanese artist, Tokiwa Mitsunaga, resided in a world of power politics related to blood and prestigious holy Buddhist temples. Sadly, the passages of time and the tragedy of fire means that originals perished. At the same…
Japanese art and Takeshiro Kanokogi: Influence of Jean-Paul Laurens and Emile-Rene Menard Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Takeshiro Kanokogi was born in 1874 during the infancy of the Meiji Restoration that began in 1868. Yet, by the time of his death in 1941, much had changed about Japan. Therefore, one can…
Art of Japan and Matsumura Goshun: Impact of high culture, Yosa Buson, and the shadow of death Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Matsumura Goshun was born in 1752 during the Edo Period in Japan and he provides an impressive glimpse into the rich heritage of high culture. In the early period…
Japanese Art and Ito Shinsui: the stunning art of his early golden period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) is a pivotal Japanese artist of the twentieth century. Hence he blessed the Taisho and Showa periods of Japanese history through the medium of art. Equally important, the Shin Hanga art movement meant…
Art of Zen Buddhism in Japan: Hakuin Ekaku Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The holy Buddhist monk Hakuin Ekaku revived the school of Rinzai Buddhism based on taking Zen Buddhism far and wide. Indeed, his upbringing meant that he never lost touch with people at the bottom of the ladder, in terms of wealth.…
Yokoyama Taikan and art of Japan: Creativity and the sentiments of the time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) was born in the prefecture of Ibaraki but he moved to Tokyo in 1878. This period of history in Japan would witness many events because time didn’t stand still during the Meiji, Taisho,…
Mountains of Japan in art: Spirituality of Buddhism and Shintoism in a natural landscape Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Mount Fuji in Japan is a national symbol that signifies many things to respective individuals. Yet, irrespective of the ideas generated, it is clear that national identity and spirituality predominate. Therefore, the mystery of mountains…
Art of Japan and a famous Buddhist Warrior of the twelfth century Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Saito no Musashibo Benkei (1155-1189) is a famous and highly esteemed Japanese warrior of the twelfth century. Not only is Benkei revered for his loyalty, prowess, and knowledge but also he is deeply admired for his Buddhist…
