As in any other country, Japanese culture is based on its language and writing. The Old Japanese language was formed by borrowing the system of hieroglyphs and writing in Ancient China. Gradually transforming, however, it has always remained extremely difficult to learn.
Shintoism and Zen Buddhism, which for many centuries have been the main religions in this country, It settled a certain attitude towards life and art. Shinto is a kind of ancient mythology that describes the life of gods and spirits, which were unconditionally worshiped by ancient Japanese. Under the influence of religion in the country are established very strict relationships within social groups, formed the cult of leaders and the cult of the dead.
The arrival of Buddhism in Japan and its rapid spread are still a mystery to scientists, but nevertheless, from the 5th-6th centuries it began to have a serious impact on the minds and psychology of the population.
Nature occupies one of the main places in almost all the works of ancient painting in Japan, which is considered the embodiment of divine origin in terms of religion.
Japanese literature is considered surprisingly early. While Japanese men were writing using Chinese characters, women who were forbidden to learn foreign languages were writing in Japanese, creating amazingly beautiful works that realistically reflect the world and are performed with national color. The Tokyo National Museum provides an opportunity to see a rich collection of exhibits that allow us to trace the relationship between the different facets of Japanese culture and their development over many centuries.
The unique layer of culture of this country is connected with the traditions of the Samurai. Usually, samurai are called military feudal class of small noblemen. There was nothing similar in Europe, although it can be compared to medieval chivalry. Samurai originated in the 7th century, and in the 10-13th centuries it was finally formed. By that time the main clans were not just in the service of aristocratic families, but gained political weight. The samurai ideology was based on Zen Buddhism, which formed the basis of the Bushido doctrine, a code of honor that the samurai strictly followed.
Education was also welcomed in this environment: influential families sought to teach their children all existed arts, not just military. The appearance samurai also differed from the rest, a special hairstyle and two swords were obligatory. The image of a samurai, a bushi, was shaped in the 18th century. The history of the samurai class ended in the 19th century, but the spirit of bushido continues to live in the Japanese culture, which became quite obvious during the Second World War. To better understand samurai traditions, way of life and way of thinking, it is worth visiting the same Tokyo National Museum. In its halls there are many unique showpieces that give an idea of the life of Japanese military nobility and nowadays those artifacts have the status of a national treasure in Japan. In particular, the special interest is the collection of samurai swords, the oldest of which dates back to the 11th century.
Seeking for harmony in all aspects of life, generally accepted as the main direction that characterizes the Japanese art.
The desire to find the brightest strokes that best emphasize the individuality of the object depicted, regardless of the way the information is presented, makes the art of this country relevant always and everywhere. It is must say that many kinds of art came into the daily life of the world from Japan, like the art of folding a variety of figures out of paper called Origami becoming more popular.
The art of making bouquets - Ikebana - has long and firmly entrenched in the arsenal of all professional florists of the world, and the creation of bonsai, that is, the cultivation of dwarf trees and combining them into a composition, is becoming increasingly popular among the inhabitants of modern close metropolitan areas. In 30 km from Tokyo, in suburb of Omia, there is a bonsai park. Its collection of dwarf trees is unique. Here you can see bonsai from 10 cm to 120 cm high, all of them equally elegant, despite the very different appearance. It is in this park that it becomes clear that bonsai is, first of all, is an art, and then technology.
The art of organizing a tea ceremony is also of the old tradition that is becoming popular. Nowadays, this is not a strictly painted ritual, held under the guidance of a tea master in a special tea pavilion, but rather an occasion to see friends. But, as before, pedantic observance of all stages of this action leads its participants in a peaceful, contemplative mood, which is what modern human so often lack.
Precise balance of the finest color transitions combined with exquisite lines in the works of painting distinguishes the paintings of Japanese masters. All of them, including quite utilitarian works used in everyday life, are full of hidden meaning and force a new look at the surrounding reality. Inseparable from painting is the art of calligraphy, which consists not only of the ability to write hieroglyphs beautifully, but also to select precisely those of them that will best convey the mood of the author. In the Gallery of Applied Arts at Tokyo, 1-1 Kitanomaru-koen you can see a lot of products by Japanese craftsmen. There are works from glass, paper, metal, plastic, ceramics, and bamboo. The most outstanding samples are kept in the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art at 8-36 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo.
It is impossible not to mention the Japanese design. First of all, it is the design of household appliances and other industrial goods. Elegance, harmony and the highest degree of functionality distinguish almost all Japanese products from others. A lot of outstanding works of Japanese designers of the present and past centuries are presented in the halls of the National Museum of Modern Art, and ordinary samples can be found in stores that have Japanese goods in their assortment.
Despite the fact that world cinema is clearly influenced by Hollywood, Japanese cinema has given the world a lot of magnificent movies, awarded by the most prestigious festivals and triumphant screenings all over the world. Directors such as Akira Kurosawa (who, by the way, was born into a family of hereditary samurai) and Kaneto Shindo are among the most outstanding figures in world cinema.
Surprisingly, Oscar bearer Akira Kurosawa, who so subtly presented Japan to the world, was never fully understood in his native country, and one of his best films "Rasemon" (which does not leave the list of the world's best films) was not recognized as a masterpiece in Japan.
