About Zen Art

Around AD 502, during the period of the Southern Dynasties and during the reign of Emperor Liang. India’s Bodhi Bodhidharma came to China and Zen Buddhism began in China. The Chinese people integrated their own culture and thought with Buddhism. The ideas of Chinese Zen culture, have had a profound impact on Chinese culture and art. Zen became popular, the most famous Zen masters were Master Hakuin and Master Suzuki Zen. From their schools and training Zen art spread to the West. With this movement, Buddhism has become better understood around the world and Zen Art has become a world art.  Zen art is the work of art both in a Buddhist monastery by a monk painter and by a painter, works of art produced in the meditative state. The realm of these general works includes the empty static of innocence; simplicity, straightforwardness; fun days, impressionistic feelings; inspiration and thought. Other characteristics of the art may be annoyance in original life and pressure which produces abandon or frank thinking; people physically and mentally clean and pleasant showing no trouble in facing life.

After Zen was introduced into Japan in the year of 1192, it developed and grew into Japanese Zen. Japanese Zen quickly penetrated into various aspects of the Japanese culture and produced the formation of a nation of Zen Buddhism worship. Gradually, Japanese Zen painting began and became popular, the most famous Zen masters were Master Hakuin and Master Suzuki Zen. From their schools and training Zen art spread to the World. With this movement, Buddhism has become better understood around the world and Zen Art has become a world art.

World Zen Art Center is a non-profit organization set up for the study of Zen Tao and art in the United States. We mainly research the occult Chinese culture of Zen Tao and Art. Our ambition and life goal is to establish an international Zen Tao and Art development to ensure Zen Tao Art’s prosperity and appreciation for generations to come.

                                                                          Andrew Yi-Xiong Gu

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注：《洛陽伽藍記》，約書成於東魏永定五年（547），此文所引述的菩提達摩到洛陽見到永寧寺的情景，永寧寺約建在熙平元年（516），不過，文中僅提供達摩的家鄉波斯國，和到中國已經高齡一百五十歲的信息，至於何時從何地入華則均未提及。其次，如曇林的〈略辨大乘入道四行及序〉曰：法師者，西域南天竺國，是大婆羅門國王第三之子。