Buddhist Statues and the Japanese: Religion and Beauty in the Modern and Contemporary Eras

2018/11/12

There is a theory that in modern society, the influence of religion gradually declines, and scientific worldviews and secular values become dominant (secularization theory). In fact, in modern Japan, those who are actively involved in specific religious organizations are a minority, and few people make choices in their lives or daily living based on religious teachings.

On the other hand, if you ask whether the relationship between the Japanese and religious things is simply weakening, surprisingly, that is not necessarily the case. The high popularity of Buddhist statues during the Heisei era is perhaps the best example of this. Buddhist statues were originally created to convey the teachings and ideals of Buddhism through sculpture. They are clearly a type of religious object.

That said, most people who like Buddhist statues are probably not seeking something religious. The majority of people likely interact with Buddhist statues as works of art or historically valuable entities, or to deepen their education or enjoy them as a hobby.

Why are Buddhist statues, which are originally religious objects, loved by many Japanese people today regardless of religion? Solving that mystery might lead to a re-examination of our way of life and values. This was one of the major motivations for writing this book.

When I actually set out to solve the mystery, I found various elements closely related to Japan's modernization. For example, the concept of "art" and the systems surrounding it.

Japanese people have long been captivated by the magnificence of temple and shrine architecture and have sensed beauty in folding screen paintings. However, it was only in the modern era after the Meiji period that these were captured collectively as "art," taught in schools, and viewed in museums. New customs were formed in our society through the ideology of art imported from the West.

And Buddhist statues were also incorporated into this category of art. As a result, they eventually came to be studied and enjoyed regardless of religion. Behind the modern popularity of Buddhist statues were these ideological and social innovations brought about in the modern era.

It is not just art. The spread of photography and the rise of tourism have also completely changed our relationship with Buddhist statues. In my book, I verify these realities from multiple perspectives and reconsider what Japan's modern era was all about.

Buddhist Statues and the Japanese: Religion and Beauty in the Modern and Contemporary Eras

Toshihiro Omi (Author)

Chuko Shinsho

272 pages, 860 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and job titles are those at the time of publication.