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The Influence of Japanese Philosophy on Aesthetics and Culture
A plain-language survey of the Buddhist, Shinto, Confucian and native currents of thought that feed Japanese ideas about beauty, nature and everyday life.
Ideas and Beliefs
Belief and Thought
Philosophy, religion and symbols that shaped Japanese taste.
The Influence of Shintoism on Japanese Aesthetics and Culture
How Shinto ideas of kami, purity and reverence for nature shaped shrine architecture, seasonal festivals and a preference for natural materials in Japan.
The Influence of Zen Buddhism on Japanese Aesthetics
How Zen ideas of simplicity and direct experience became linked with ink painting, tea and dry gardens, and why that link is often overstated.
The Role of Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Culture and Tradition
Cherry blossoms in Japanese poetry, viewing customs and symbolism, and how the meaning of the flower has shifted from the court to the modern era.
The Role of the Samurai in Shaping Japanese Aesthetics and Culture
A historical look at the warrior class and its patronage and values, and how they touched tea, Noh theatre and Zen, without glamorizing violence.
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