Poetic Imagination: the Zen Milieu
176 views · Published 14 October 2018 · 4:43 · Indexed 10 November 2026
Channel: Portland Art Museum · 2018 · Education
This video demonstrates an example of the Zen Milieu style of calligraphy. Zen, a sect of Buddhism that originated in China, flourished in medieval Japan under the patronage of the warrior class. In the monasteries of Kyoto, monks and their patrons alike studied not only religious texts but also a broad curriculum of Chinese history and literature. Monochrome ink painting, frequently based on Chinese poetic themes and uniquely suited to the Zen worldview, was initially taken up by monks and later adopted by professional painters. This video features Portland calligrapher, Sora, and was produced by Portland Art Museum for the exhibition, Poetic Imagination in Japanese Art: Selections from the Collection of Mary and Cheney Cowles, which runs through January 13, 2019. Note: this video contains no audio. For more information about Sora, visit https://sorashodo.com/ For more information about the exhibition, visit https://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/poetic-imagination-in-japanese-art/
