Articles related to Zen arts and culture
The origins of Zen arts and culture, such as ikebana (flower arrangement), kare-sansui (Zen rock garden) and Nou (Japanese traditional theatre) are found in the Middle Ages. More than 500 years since its foundation, the beauty of Zen arts are still powerful and uniquely inspirational. There are various contemporary arts that are deeply influenced by Zen philosophy and aesthetics.

Shoji screen design ideas
Shoji screen design ideas Shoji screen is a unique feature of Japanese architecture for which walls played substantially reduced role ...
Read More
Read More

The Many Faces of Noh Masks (Noh-men): Men (otoko) Part 2
The Many Faces of Noh Masks (Noh-men) for Men (otoko) Men ...
Read More
Read More

Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement): no-cost therapeutic hobby
Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement): no-cost hobby to find your inner Zen Subject to stay-at-home order due to coronavirus? It's not ...
Read More
Read More

The Many Faces of Noh Masks (Noh-men): Men (otoko) Part 1
The Many Faces of Noh Masks (Noh-men) for Men (otoko) Men ...
Read More
Read More

History of Japanese aesthetics: Wabi-sabi and more
History of Japanese aesthetics Japanese aesthetics are known for its simple and minimalist design details and unique appreciation of natural ...
Read More
Read More

History of Japanese aesthetics 3: Muromachi and wabi-sabi
History of Japanese aesthetics (3): Muromachi and wabi-sabi Japanese aesthetics are known for simple and minimalist design details and a ...
Read More
Read More

History of Japanese aesthetics 2: the Kamakura period and mujo
History of Japanese aesthetics (2): Kamakura and mujo Japanese aesthetics are known for simple and minimalist design details and a ...
Read More
Read More

The many faces of “shoji”
The Many Faces of shoji - traditional Japanese screen door Shoji is traditional Japanese screen/sliding door/partition made of wooden frame ...
Read More
Read More

Tea ceremony and chashitsu: the ultimate example of Zen design
Tea ceremony and chashitsu: the ultimate example of Zen design What is 茶道 (sado - a traditional Japanese tea ceremony)? ...
Read More
Read More

The Many Faces of traditional Japanese tea house – chashitsu
The Many Faces of traditional Japanese tea house (chashitsu) ...
Read More
Read More

The what and how of Zen design
The what and how of Zen design What does "Zen" + "design" really mean? What is “Zen design” and how ...
Read More
Read More

Yuhisai Koudoukan, Kyoto: What it means to practice sado in the 21st century
Yuhisai Koudoukan, Kyoto: What it means to practice sado in 21th century What is the beauty of sado? The traditional ...
Read More
Read More

Experience the sukiya-zukuri: Setouchi Minato no Yado
Japanese residential architecture has changed significantly over a couple of centuries, reflecting the drastic social transformation in Japan (modernization and ...
Read More
Read More

Chapter 3-2: Bonsai – the art of condensation
Bonsai, the art of condensation Bonsai is the Japanese traditional art of growing plants in pots which is often dubbed ...
Read More
Read More

Chapter 3-4: Tai’an – Rikyu’s microcosmic teahouse
Images above Left: Tai-an at Myoki-an, Kyoto Right: Bamboo vase "Onkyoku" believed to have been made by Rikyu In the ...
Read More
Read More

Chapter 4: Abundance by absence
In Chapter 1-3, we discussed the "power of zero" and its manifestation through the act of "subtraction (Chapter 2)" and ...
Read More
Read More

Chapter 4-2: Absence on senses
The almost empty kare-sansui garden at Ryoan-ji was so mysteriously abstract and beautiful that it inspired many artists from various ...
Read More
Read More