Chinese Buddhist Cultural Art

Author: Wu Weishan, Wang Yueqing (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: After Buddhism was introduced to China, it gradually took the path of sinicization under the influence of traditional culture. From the Sui and Tang dynasties onwards, sinicized Buddhism in turn had a profound impact on traditional Chinese culture. Among these, the influence of Buddhist metaphysics on the thinking patterns of traditional Chinese philosophy and the impact of Chan Buddhism's emphasis on sudden enlightenment on traditional Chinese cultural arts are particularly prominent. In recent years, there has been an increase in Buddhist scholars in the cultural and art circles, and a number of works rich in philosophy and artistry have been published. Meanwhile, scholars who previously focused on studying Buddhism from an academic perspective have gradually begun to pay attention to the influence of Buddhism on traditional Chinese cultural arts and even secular culture, striving to explain the reasons for this influence from the perspective of thinking patterns and academic research. This book has taken a step in this direction. Poetry, calligraphy, and painting were once described by the ancients as the "crown of Chinese culture." Since the Han and Wei dynasties, whether poetry or calligraphy and painting, they have been closely linked with Buddhism, leading to the saying that "one cannot truly discuss poetry without understanding Chan" and "one cannot truly discuss calligraphy and painting without understanding Chan." The book "Chinese Buddhist Cultural Arts" has devoted significant effort to this topic and offers insightful perspectives. It not only systematically outlines the historical influence of Buddhism on poetry, calligraphy, and painting but also identifies the common ground between the two at the theoretical level and deeply reveals the influence of concepts such as "Chan insight" on the "artistic realm" of poetry, calligraphy, and painting. The book also discusses the influence of Buddhism on ancient Chinese sculpture, architecture, grottoes, and folk culture, both in historical narratives and through theoretical analysis of specific cases. It provides readers with a general understanding of Buddhist sculpture and architecture while also offering inspiration in terms of artistic thought.