Question

Many Japanese cultural traits include ancient Chinese influences. Please discuss examples of Chinese influence that you have discovered in Japanese religious activities, theater, traditional music and instruments.

Answer 1

There have been relations between Chinese and Japanese cultures for nearly 2,000 years, and the influences of that connection are still seen today. As the older and more sophisticated of the two civilizations, Chinese culture had an enormous impact on nearly all aspects.

1. The Arts and Theater

As new artistic styles came with the import of Buddhist monks and temples, the overall art world in Japan took on many Chinese elements over the eras. Painting and sculpture was developed to display Buddhist concepts, and that impacted the overall art scene. Paintings done on fine paper in Chinese ink were very popular during the Nara period, including many forms of decorative scrolls. The practice of calligraphy as an art medium also came to Japan. Bugaku is still performed in some temples. It slow-moving, symmetrical court dances associated with ancient religious ceremonies and originally brought from China and Korea in the 6th century. It is now more associated with dance than drama.

2. Religion

Without an organized religion of their own, there was a strong appeal for both Buddhism and Confucianism when the two cultures met. Though many people in Japan still follow their older Shinto beliefs, there is a large Buddhist following still in Japan today. Even within the native Shinto practice, the art of building permanent shrines and temples came from the Chinese approach to Buddhism.

3. Architecture

As Buddhism came to Japan, so did the practice of building elaborate temples. And with that development, other building began to take on more complex forms with larger rooms and inner courtyards. The classic curved roof style definitely came from Chinese influence, and it is still seen throughout Japan today.

4. Music

The world of music was heavily influenced by China, partly by the introduction of new styles of music but also by the import of new musical instruments. Different forms of bells, gongs and rattles came to Japan as part of Buddhist ceremonies, and these new sounds soon made their way into the popular music of the time. This is most evident in the Kabuki style of music.