Zenshū bijutsu 禅宗美術

The general term used for any art related to the practice of Zen 禅 Buddhism in Japan. Zen flourished in Japan in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods and is characterized by the ideals of simplicity, naturalness, precision, and harmony. The main centers of Zen influenced art have been the monasteries, and it is from them and particularly from their spiritual leaders that Zenshū bijutsu has come. This art often displays the influence of Chinese art of the Song and Yuan dynasties.
The earliest flowering of the style occurred at Tōfukuji 東福寺 in Kyoto where Shōitsu Kokushi 聖一国師 (1202-80) known as Ben'en Enni 弁円円爾 was the abbot, and who combined rigorous religious discipline with a rare sensitivity to the arts. At the beginning of the Muromachi period it was Musō Soseki 夢窓疎石 (1275-1351), founding abbot of Tenryūji 天龍寺 also in Kyoto who led the field, especially in the art of gardening but also in calligraphy.
Probably the greatest achievements of Zen art came from the huge temple complex of Daitokuji 大徳寺 which was founded by Shūhō Myōchō 宗峰妙超 (1282-1337); also called Daitō Kokushi 大燈国師 who was followed by the great patron and artist abbot *Ikkyū 一休 (1394-1481), one of whose intellectual descendants was Sen no Rikyū 千利休 (1522-91), the most celebrated tea ceremony *chanoyu 茶湯 master of all.
All the arts were included in this style, but representative examples are *chinsō chōkoku 頂相彫刻 or portrait statues of well-known priests, and *sumi 墨 ink painting. There is also a Zen style of architecture *zenshūyō 禅宗様.