From the same time period of some of the cave paintings found in France and the rest of Europe, a separate art of its own was beginning to take course in Eastern lands. Similar to the art of Europe, this art was also painted on caves. Some of the oldest examples, particularly from central India, date to prehistoric times, beginning in the Stone Age. These wall paintings, like their European counterparts, represent animals and hunts, and were painted in a style that remained much the same for thousands of years.
The Bhimbetka rock shelters house some notable examples of Indian cave art which is about 9,000 years old. Much of the work found here give us a glimpse of the lives of the people who painted them. Besides animals and hunting, many scenes from everyday life were depicted such as childbirth, dancing and drinking, and religious rites and rituals, including burial and funeral ceremonies.
Some of the earliest art finds in Bhimbetka are petroglyphs, or rock cutouts. These symbols were cut from the rock, to portray people and animals. Paint was used to express the art afterward. This cave art shows distinguishable time periods ranging from the Upper Paleolithic era through the Mesolithic, Calcolithic, and Early Historic time periods on up to Medieval times. The early art from the Stone Age shows crude representations of animal themes dominating. The art of the Mesolithic period begins to evolve. Here we start to see people taking part in daily activities. Musical instruments and weapons are easily recognizable, and we begin to learn about rituals such as burial. Later we see contact with other agricultural communities in the Calcolithic period. And finally in the Early Historic and Medieval period, we see a notably evolved form of detailed art depicting people with colored tunics, religious symbols, and gods.
The 6th to 5th centuries B.C.E. gave us the life and works of the spiritual leader Gautama Buddha, which would indefinitely influence Eastern culture from religious values to art. Buddhist art, as an art style, would begin in the Indian subcontinent, and later spread to all parts of Asia and the rest of the world in short time. This art was initially characterized by aniconism, or a shunning of the representation of Buddha in the human form. Later, around the 1st century B.C.E., an iconic period began, which lasts to this day. From this period on, Buddha and his life and teachings have been represented not only by his symbols but as a person.
As the art form became iconic, the Buddha was first portrayed as an idealized human being retaining physical human characteristics yet representing a divine perfection. This showed Buddha as both a man and a god, and would become the norm for Buddhist art and belief in subsequent centuries. Bodhisattvas, or “enlightened beings,” were represented in sculptures which show Buddha in previous lives or as a young man destined toward final enlightenment. In Mahayana Buddhism, these Bodhisattvas can be a person who already has a considerable degree of enlightenment and seeks to help and teach the unenlightened ones.
Buddhist art continued to gain momentum and grow to the north as the Silk Road was opened to connect all parts of Asia. Various forms of Buddhism came form the contact with other Asian cultures and continued to grow and have influence until the emergence of Islam and Hinduism. By the 10th century A.C.E., Buddhism and Buddhist art was all but nonexistent in the Indian subcontinent, but had spread all across Asia and was still a considerable way of life In Japan, and other parts of Asia. As the art spread across the land, cultures and art styles mingled and Buddhist art is varied, based on the specific country.
Meanwhile in China, various art forms were developing and evolving based on the dynasty and ruler. Much of early art around the later Stone Age consisted of beautiful jade sculptures and pottery. Around the time of the Shang dynasty of around 1600 B.C.E., bronze was introduced into the art world, as well as calligraphy. Similar to the Buddhist art of India, much of Chinese art was also based on philosophy, particularly on the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. Buddhist art itself would become assimilated in Chinese culture around the 4th century B.C.E.
Different periods of Chinese art have been marked by dynasties. In the Sui and Tang dynasties of the 6th through 10th centuries A.C.E., foreign influence was embraced and new ideas came into Chinese culture. Buddhist art was still a strong art form and was characterized by sculptures of Buddha, which retain classical design based on earlier Indian art. In the Tang dynasty, painting as an art, including ink washes, started to achieve high status. Opera was introduced in the Song dynasty, and landscape painting became popular in the Yuan painting of the 13th century. Late imperial dynasties are known for increased popularity in poetry.
Early Japanese art took a similar path to Chinese art, being influenced heavily from the introduction of Buddhism. Toward the 9th century A.C.E., Japan began to break away from Chinese culture, and new forms of expression were developed, independent from the ideals of foreign nations. Much of this early Japanese art was religious but around the time of the Tokugawa regime of the 15th century, religion began to show less influence in art and culture in general.
Throughout Japanese history, a preference toward painting as the major art form is as prevalent today as it was in prehistoric times. Traditional writing is an art form in itself and its brush strokes match the style and elegance seen in paintings. Much of the painting was also involved in printing techniques based on Chinese woodblock printing, which became extremely popular with the new Edo (Tokyo) government at the turn of the 17th century. A painter cooperated with an engraver to design and engrave a woodblock which a printer would ink and press the block onto paper. The painter would take this black and white image, and paint it with finishing touches of color.
Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” is a genre of art starting in the 17th century which involves painting and printing of popular Japanese subjects. Kabuki theater actors were a favorite amongst painters and appeared time and again in artwork. The theaer actors were portrayed waiting for their parts, on stage and in character, and always wearing their fantastic costumes. Also scenes of travel and geisha houses were a recurring theme with the painters and printers. Ukiyo-e, in general, portrays a still and quiet world and reflects Japanese sensitivity to nature. Still lifes and peaceful landscapes were an honored theme.
Elsewhere throughout Asia, art was developing in each country’s own unique styles. Korean art is noted for its use of bold colors and surface decoration of pottery and sculptures. In Laos, the Buddhist art was sometimes carved in relief directly in cave walls. Thai and Tibetan art was also largely Buddhist. Cambodia, besides being influenced by Buddhism also shows art coming from the Indian Hinduism, and are known for their stone bas-reliefs. Indonesia, being the center of trade routes between the Far East and Middle East, enjoy a long history of absorbing many Asian cultures and religions, and their art is varied throughout its history.
Although art in these Asian countries has become what you would call “modern,” just like any Western country’s art, Asian people of today celebrate a long history of tradition, and often include parts of traditional art in contemporary art. The art of Japan has just recently exploded with modernism with influences of Manga (comics) and anime (animation). This art is unique in its own way, and shuns away from foreign influences, making it completely their own.
As far as Western art is concerned, many of it has been influenced by ancient Eastern art. Chinese printing techniques were around for hundreds of years before anything remotely similar came out in the West. Later, in the 19th century many Western artist were heavily influenced by Eastern art, such as Vincent van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Both of these artist, henceforth influenced much of the art we know today. With tens of thousands of years of growth, Eastern art remains a powerful influence on the art of the world in general.
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