The influence of Zen Buddhism and ink wash painting on Japanese gardens during the medieval Japan

This paper explores the impact of Chinese landscape painting on the evolution of Japanese gardening styles, which is seldom mentioned in the development of ancient Japanese gardening. China and Japan have had a cultural exchange dating back to around 600 AD. The development of Zen Buddhism in China, accompanied by the emergence of landscape painting, played a crucial role in the perfect combination of philosophy and aesthetics that characterizes Chinese landscape painting. With the introduction and prevalence of Chinese Zen thought and landscape painting, Japanese classical gardening practices underwent significant transformation. The introduction of Zen Buddhism facilitated the formation and development of traditional Japanese gardens, while gardens became an integral part of Zen culture. Japanese gardens evolved from the Pure Land gardens of the Heian period to the Zen-style pond gardens of the Kamakura period, culminating in the mature form of dry landscape gardens under the influence of Zen thought. Against the backdrop of Zen monks gradually taking the initiative in garden making, Japanese garden forms were imbued with a distinct landscape painting character.