Buddhist Architecture - first Century CE

A R T A N D C U L T U R E ·· A R C H I T E C T U R E

China and Japan

ORIGINS | CAVES | INDIA | STH. EAST ASIA | CHINA - JAPAN

China: Evidence suggests that Buddhism reached China via central Asia carried along the Silk Road by merchants, envoys, monks and other travelers. The earliest traces date from the beginning of the Han dynasty (25-220 CE) and although there was a stable, centralised government acceptance of the 'cult' was slow with Chinese xenophobia, the prevailing Confucianism and an already mature culture and indigenous religion, all creating a natural resistance. As well as this, for more than 350 years after the end fo the Han dynasty the country was violently divided. However, as this period drew to a close there was an outburst of temple building of various types. In 518 1/3 of the area of Lo-yang was occupied by more than 1,300 Buddhist buildings. The style of construction was traditional Chinese monumental wood architecture and records describe an enormous wealth and extravagance that would dwarf any medieval cathedral. The most famous pagoda at Lo-yang was almost 200 meters tall. Alas, nothing remains of this wooden splendour. What does remain of greatest significance are the enormous cave temples which were begun around 400 CE at Tun-huang in the north west and continued at dozens of sites all over northern China. [see: CAVES] The primary architectural influence was Indian but channeled through developments in Central Asia. The Xiangtan Shan caves of the late 6th century show Persian influences, incorporating the provincial classical foliage designs seen in earlier caves elsewhere. The Tang dynasty (618-907) reveals a new Chinese mastery of Indian styles with sinuous and flowing forms creating a softer, more natural form.
• There were two periods of persecution - 446 and 574 - when much was destroyed and monks were executed.
• Fine pagodas built under the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) have produced important archaeological finds but all Buddhist art and architecture after the 10th century was on a much reduced scale. As Buddhism declined philosophically in China from a living and developing system of thought aimed at liberation to one of popular devotion directed at salvation so this scale was even further reduced.
• Representation of much of China's architectural style can be found in Japan in the various temple complexes still being maintained.

Japan: Buddhism was introduced to various Korean courts and the king very quickly established the new doctrine as the official religion in 392 CE. In Korea, as somewhat later in Japan, Buddhism functioned not only as a religious movement but also as a great civilising force - a channel through which Chinese culture was introduced into a rather primitive tribal society. Both in Korea and Japan the greatest contribution was Chinese script [see: SCRIPTURES].
• Tradition has it that a political delegation arrived in Japan in 538 CE. Among the various gifts was a Buddha image and several scriptures. There was considerable debate about accepting these but eventually they were housed in a temple to be tentatively regarded as an object of worship. Unfortunately there was a severe epidemic of disease which was interpreted as a sign that the local deities (kami) were offended and the image was destroyed. Nevertheless, within half a century Buddhism was firmly established as an officially recognised religion with imperial support.
• Japan can claim the greatest surviving concentration of Buddhist art and architecture in its 80,000 temples many of which retain original features from as early as the Nara period (710-794). Three factors have contributed to this exceptional survival: 1) the highly institutional nature of Japanese Buddhism leading to both local and national continuity and pride; 2) the ancient tradition of maintaining and restoring the wooden buildings; 3) the overal respect for tradition - the past is preserved wherever possible.
• Before the Nara period architecture relied heavily on the Korean model. During the Nara period the initial Korean connection was bypassed and the influence was more directly Chinese with an increasing number of monastics and scholars visiting China. When the capital moved to Kyoto in 794 a more native style emerged using the new palace architecture with tatami mats and shoji screens. Gardens seen from raised verandahs became increasingly common from the 13th century on as Zen became a prominent force.

Japan