Studio: international art (51.1911)

Japanese Temples and their Treasures

when simple native Shinto architecture prevailed,
suffered changes under the overwhelming Buddhist
influence which began in the reign of the Emperor
Kimmei. Further, we learn how in the Middle
Ages the subdued and reticent Zen sect of Buddhism
predominated throughout the land, and how the
national mind with its art was moulded by this
philosophic control. We have also a lucid account
of the European influence, which came into Japan
in the later Ashikaga period, and began to prevail
with the decline of the power of Buddhism. This
influence, which was not stylistic, affected the rise
of lay architecture in the form of palaces and castles.
And finally we are shown how the modern Euro-
pean styles of architecture were brought into
harmony with the older forms, a striking example
of which can be found in the first National Bank
building in Tokyo.

With the second part of the work we leave archi-
tecture and arrive at the consideration of sculpture,
paintings and allied arts. Here is given a very
clear outline of the influence of China. As the

text has it, “Japan is no exception to the rule that
Island nations draw from the adjacent continents
for inspiration and for actual teaching. It would be
as impossible to study Japanese art without refer-
ence to China as it would be to study British art
without reference to the continent of Europe.” The
wars and disruptions of China made Japan a sanc-
tuary for her exiles and a repository for her art
works, thus bringing to bear an influence wholly
additional to the continental teaching which the
Japanese deliberately sought. Here we may trace
the manner and means by which three great periods
of Chinese history are found reflected in the art of
Japan, and we are made to understand how two
of them at least have left stronger traces upon the
Japanese than in the land of their origin.

Looking through the volumes carefully one is
probably surprised to find so many works of art
representative of the products of Korea, China,
India and other countries of the East, the like of
which are not to be found in these days in the
countries of their origin. Standing before the

THE SANCTUARY OF AMIDA, HOKAIJI TEMPLE, SHOWING BEAUTY OF ROOF LINES

3OI