Japanese painting

Traditional Japanese culture is profoundly distinctive. The philosophy and literature of Japan differ considerably from those of the Western world. Nevertheless, there is a certain succession, for the Japanese expressions (aphorisms) can have certain equivalents in the Western culture. For instance, a Japanese proverb “there are no complaints about the gift” has the same meaning as the Russian “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”. The aesthetic concepts of Japanese art were formed under the influence of the Japanese special attitude towards the beauty, including the beauty of local natal nature which they have always considered a perfect divine creation. Worshiping the beauty of nature the Japanese tried to live in harmony with it and respected its magnificence. Confucius said: “Everything is beauty, but not everyone is able to see it”.

Japan, the country of the rising sun, has always attracted and inspired people. They created legends, poems and songs about the beautiful country. Being remoted from the rest of the world, Japan formed its own different civilization. Like all Japanese culture, the national painting is also unique.