Final answer:
Zen Buddhism and Shinto are significant spiritual systems in Japan that have notably influenced Japanese art. Zen Buddhism focuses on mindfulness and impermanence, which are reflected in aspects of Japanese aesthetics. Shinto, being the indigenous religion, venerates nature, which is evident in the common, representation of natural elements in Japanese art.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zen Buddhism and Shinto are two spiritual belief systems that have significantly influenced Japanese art. Zen Buddhism encourages mindful attention to the beauty around us, often focusing on the small and impermanent. This principle has been incorporated into Japanese aesthetics, with aspects of daily life such as tea ceremonies being framed as acts of beauty worthy of mindful attention.
Shinto, on the other hand, is the indigenous religion of Japan, venerating a variety of gods and spirits such as those of trees, rocks, mountains, and streams. This reverence for nature has profoundly influenced Japanese art, resulting in a distinctive aesthetic focused on natural elements.
Over the centuries, both Zen Buddhism and Shinto have enriched the cultural tapestry of Japan. For instance, during the Kofun period, the rule of the Yamato clan aligning with Buddhism and the Nakatomi clan aligning with Shintoism led to a fusion of the two in various cultural expressions. This influence permeated deeply into artistic fields, significantly moulding the evolution of Japanese aesthetics that focused on both the grandeur of Nature from Shinto and the impermanence and minimalism from Zen Buddhism.
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