Influences of Zen culture can be seen throughout the world.
In everything from paintings, to sculptures, to homes and other buildings you can see the Zen influences Zen influenced structures are simple, use natural materials and finishes, and have a very distinct appearance. The Traditional Japanese house has evolved over two millennia and has been adapted from two dissimilar architectural traditions. The Japanese house style has combined tropical nature shrine from theShinto rellglon of early Japan and the Chinese models of the palace architecture of the T'ang dynasty through the designs used in the Chinese Ch'an Buddhist monasteries.The first indigenous Japanese architectural style is known as shinden.
Shinden combines the influences of the T'ang Chinese palaces and the Japanese requirements. Walls are usually made of clay or plaster. some modern day structures also use the more common sheet rock. The exterior of the homes are either left In their natural tones and unpainted or they are painted using traditional Chinese colors such as red (Chinese vermillion) with yellow accents.
Furnishings are often sparse. The interior is often on large open area that Is divided temporarily based on the needs ot the moment.There are usually movable mats Instead ot chairs. There are often heavy shutters around the exterior of the rooms. The shutters can be removed during the summer or replaced with light bamboo blinds.
The classic Zen home has very little, it any, ornamental aspects ot the shinden design. Zen monks introduced the shoin (a window alcove with a raised sill, overlooking a arden, used by the monks for reading and writing) and the (a wall cabinet recessed In a niche that is used for storing papers and writing utensils). The shoin is often where guests are received.There is usually a tokonoma (art-display alcove) In the sholn. Often you will find a genkan (entry area like a foyer).
The Zen home gets its openness and fluidity of space from the Shinden style. The Zen homes often have thatched or tiled roofs use pillars to suspend the floor above the ground, unfinished natural wood, and d virtual absence of nails. The windows (when present) nd art works are set at a lower level then traditional homes, This Is due to the fact that there is usually no furniture such as sofas or chairs.Most of the time residents and guests sit on the floor therefore the eye level Is lower than In modern day and western style homes, Exterior walls are made of sliding latticework panels covered In white rice paper. These are called shoji.
When there is a need for greater insulation or safety a second set of slldlng panels called amado that are similar In appearance of Western style doors may be installed outside of the shoji. If there is a section of wall that is too narrow for the six feet high by three feet wide shoji, a solid wall may be used.These walls may also be bullt on the Interior ot the home where appropriate. uch as around the rest rooms Interior rooms are most often separated by fusuma.
These are light wooden frames covered In heavy opaque paper that are suspended trom tracks attached to overhead crossbeams. They are often decorated with unobtrusive designs. There is little privacy in the home. The floors in modern day Zen homes are usually made of wood or woven mats. Guests remove their shoes room the slippers are removed as well.
Often the only furniture in the common areas is a small table used for dining and tea. There may be lamps with rice paper shades or knee-high chests of drawers.There are sometimes one or more heat sources. Charcoal hibachi hand warmers or larger heaters sunk into a center recess in the floor, beneath the table, or both are often seen in Zen homes. One vital aspect of the Zen home is the garden. There is a roofless garden within the inner courtyard.
It is purposefully absent of flowers. It has shaped pines, a pond, and rocky pathways. There are mossy stones and the garden has a deceptively large appearance looking out from the interior of the home. It is a small encapsulation of the natural world that is surrounded by a bamboo and plaster fence.It is seen from Just one view from the interior of the home. The Zen home intertwines the exterior world with that of the interior.
There is a philosophy that is seen in the homes; there is an absence of all non-essential items. The Zen homes reflect the Zen exercise of rigorous framework of constraints and discipline. The homes, like all Zen art work, feel effortless and natural. All boundary lines within in the home are clean. Curved lines are deliberately excluded in the partitioning of space.
There is a pure geometric formality. Usually Zen structures will have a connection to a body of water.Often this body of water is located in a way that you actually have to cross it in order to enter the structure. Much of the American Zen architecture from the 1960's to present day use reclaimed and salvaged lumber in the structures. This goes along with being in tune with nature and the earth.
They take as few new materials out of nature and disturb it as little as possible. Many non-Japanese style homes use some of the qualities of the Zen influences. The open concept, outdoor living spaces, courtyard gardens, and clean minimalistic design are all inspired by the Zen arts and architecture of Japan.This connection between the modern and the classic is what I find so fascinating about architecture and interior design.
This connection is why I chose this topic. I have learned that there are a lot more ties to classic traditions and culture than what I had previous thought. I have learned a lot about the function of different aspects of the Japanese home and their living spaces. This was a very fun assignment. I will definitely continue with my own personal research into this topic as well as others that have been covered throughout the course.
This has been very fascinating and enlightening.
