Growth of Japanese Culture
Distinctive Japanese Arts By: Steven Baptiste
Calligraphy and Painting
Just like the chinese, the Japanese wrote with only brushes and ink on paper. They considered writing a way to express beauty. Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. Each character is painted a set order of brush strokes. But calligraphers vary the shapes and sizes of characters to suggest different meanings.
What do paintings describe?
Brush painting with ink on paper scrolls and silk began in the 600's. typical Japanese designs are very detailed. They depict landscapes, historical events, and daily life. Sometimes a short description is written on the art itself. Japanese art shows love and beauty.
Fancy Writing - Calligraphy
Flower Arranging and Gardening
The art of flower arranging was another tradition that buddhists brought to Japan. People emphasized simple arrangments. They tried to highlight the natural beauty of flowers. Bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees or shrubs in small pots or trays.
Japanese Garden