Answer: The main differences between Japanese and Chinese art include the materials used and how they were executed. Religion played a major role in influencing both Japanese and Chinese art. Both countries were Buddhist, but Japan also had the Shintoism influence, and China had Confucianism and Taoist.
Comparing and Contrasting:
- Chinese art is known for its paper and silk paintings, made by brushstrokes, usually in black or colored inks. Japanese art has various art forms, such as woodblock prints, ink painting, oil paintings, and calligraphy.
- Chinese art is usually very complex and also known to be highly decorative. Japanese arts is known to be more simple.
- Both Japan and China have a rich and long history, so their art influences change according to different eras. For example, earlier Japanese art may look more similar to Chinese art, but then there is a shift in the 9th century when Japanese art takes on a more distinctive Japanese look and feel.
-Religion has played a role in both countries for their arts. Both China and Japan are Buddhist. But Japan also has Shintoism, and China has Confucianism and Taoism.
- Both countries used very similar materials for their art, but how they used and executed those materials are different. An example of this is the woodblock prints, where the Japanese woodblock prints are very different and distinctive from the Chinese woodblock prints.