The way in which the human form is depicted in different cultures can vary greatly on which values that culture holds in highest esteem, whether it be the importance of fertility, authority or family.

Authors Avatar

Art is a means of communicating human experiences and cultural values. Different cultures portray the human body in different ways which is meaningful and evocative to that particular culture.

The way in which the human form is depicted in different cultures can vary greatly on which values that culture holds in highest esteem, whether it be the importance of fertility, authority or family. In Japan, there is one popular archetype we see presented time and time again, that of the divine boy. Whilst it is important to note that depictions of the divine child are seen across the world, most notably perhaps the depictions of Christ as a child, Japan is one culture that we see hold this archetype above many others in importance. This highly spiritual culture is heavily influenced by its dominant religions, Buddhism and Shinto, and this spirituality has affected its representations in art heavily.

In order to analyse why the archetype of the divine boy is so influential on Japanese art we first must look at some of the most popular examples. Images of Chigo Daishi, a Japanese cultural hero who was in his later years a high priest, as a boy are incredibly popular. (Guth. 1987. p2 ) In one of the most well known depictions Kobo Daishi (Kukai) as a Boy (Chigo Daishi) (fig.1) the child is depicted as youthful and innocent, his hands held together in prayer. This pose shows his devotion to his spirituality, his culture and his country, even at a young age. His hair is parted in a youthful style and his is skin clear and pale, these are all features to enhance his image of youth and beauty. But why has this image so popular and appealing to the Japanese culture? And what is it trying to portray? The idea of the young innocent child showing devotion through prayer creates a role model for the Japanese public. He is the perfect depiction of how a child, or any person, should act. Showing complete devotion to his spirituality without question also enforces the popular idea of respect for authority and respect for elders, an idea incredibly popular in not only Japanese culture but in varying East Asian countries, most notably in China.

Join now!

Perhaps the most important divine child in Japanese culture, more so than Chigo Daishi, is the Buddha. Buddhism had begun to spread across East Asia and in the 7th century the idea first started to be imported to Japan, (Sawa, 1964, p9) especially during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods of Japanese history. As in all religions, the creation of icons and images to represent religious values was incredibly important to introducing Buddhism to Japan. Over this time many representations of the birth of Buddha were created, such as the gilt bronze figure found in the Todaiji Temple, Nara (fig.2). This statuette ...

This is a preview of the whole essay