Please find hereafter more specific terms related to the category symbolism
Symbolism and elements of
nature are frequently seen in Japanese art. The roots of the Japanese symbolism are to be
found in Heraldry (court & warrior society) and religion (Shinto - Buddhism) or were
imported from China. The sun, the moon, the dragon and the peacock were, rather than the
familiar chrysanthemum and paulownia, the early emblems of the first Japanese sovereigns.
Shinto - meaning, the way of the kami (gods) - was the earliest Japanese religion ruled by
the world of nature and sensitive to spiritual forces : it influenced the representation
of fauna and flora / heaven and earth. Of course over the years many other aspects played
a role in the development of Japanese symbolism - influences such as literature or theatre
are important as well. Note : Mythology, legends and deities are closely related to this
section, but we choose to make a separate file on this category.
