Japan's history is replete with examples of the assimilation of art and artifacts from China, yet in many cases the cultural traditions that produced them have disappeared in China itself. Often, the best clues to further our understanding of these lost artistic traditions lie in examining artifacts preserved down the centuries by Japanese collectors.
Some of these precious works are currently on display at the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, in an exhibition to celebrate the museum's 10th anniversary. The exhibition showcases valuable Chinese objects from the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) and the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) which have been given designated-treasure status by the government of Japan, including more than 120 examples of ceramics, paintings, printed books and lacquerware.
Among the items on display are rare black Sung Dynasty tea bowls which were highly prized by Japanese collectors. Called tenmoku in Japanese, these bowls were used in the tea ceremony in this country from the late 12th century onward, whereas in China the tea ceremony had already become widespread during the Sung Dynasty. Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism flourished in China during this period, and tea was especially enjoyed in Zen Buddhist circles. Monks sipped it as a refreshment to shake off sleepiness during periods of meditation. Japanese monks who underwent apprenticeships in China brought this practice back to Japan.