Buddhism’s impact was fundamental to Japan, just like Christianity in the West, in terms of politics, culture, and society. Apart from bringing the Buddha’s teachings to Japan, Buddhism brought groundbreaking technologies to the country such as writing, architectural advancements, metal engineering, and art.
Buddhism artists were known to embody the religious teachings in mesmerizing works of art full of knowledge and meaning, the Great Eastern Temple and its magnificent sculptures being one of the many examples of such principle.
Could a contemporary person depict, discern, and understand the meaning and importance behind Buddhist art without the necessary tools and knowledge? If not, would the artwork lose its essence and value if it is contemplated uniquely through the lenses of a subjective approach rather than one that solely considers its original intent? If that were the case, would that be an erroneous assessment, and why?
Stay tuned in to listen to our opinions and conclusions on the matter.