Traditional Western Culture/Aesthetics and Buddhism
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 12:54 am
As Buddhism becomes more popular in the West, it makes me wonder about the cultural aspect in relation to Western traditional culture, say in the manner of aesthetics or forms of religiosity. For example, when Islam came to China, the Chinese Sinified Islam aesthetically. Take for example the Great Mosque of Xi'an:
The same can be said of the uniqueness of the Buddhist culture, aesthetics, temple architecture, etc. as it is in various cultures where Buddhism took hold. To continue with the Chinese example, Buddhist temples were constructed in the same manner of Chinese architecture, employed Chinese aesthetics, and the Buddha himself was often portrayed as an East Asian much in the same way Jesus was portrayed as a blonde haired blue eyed European in Northwestern Europe and an African in Ethiopia. However, it seems that in the West, the Buddhism that is spread often comes attached with the East Asian, Tibetan, Thai, etc. cultural and aesthetic forms, even if it is the case that the founders of these temples and all the adherents may be white Europeans. Why is there no effort to maintain traditional Western culture and integrate Buddhism into that?
For example, why not produce Buddhist temples that employ classical Greco-Roman architecture, Hellenistic sculpture, Roman mosaics, Gothic art or architecture, Baroque art or architecture, and so forth? Why not produce Buddhist scripture in the style of Insular Anglo-Celtic art or the style of medieval illuminated manuscripts? Why not have Buddhist chants that are done in the style of Gregorian chant or Western polyphony?
While I hear this Buddhist group is dodgy, here is an example of a step taken in that direction that I came across on the net. Celitc Buddhist thangkas (admittedly not that well done, but nonetheless):
http://www.celticbuddhism.org/paintings.html
At least there is an attempt in the above example to maintain Western traditional culture and integrate or synthesize Buddhism into that.
So the question is, why isn't that done today? In your opinion is there value in integrating Buddhism into Western traditional culture? Or do the Westerners that become Buddhists feel it is also better to Asianize culturally and aesthetically along with their adoption of the Dharma?
The same can be said of the uniqueness of the Buddhist culture, aesthetics, temple architecture, etc. as it is in various cultures where Buddhism took hold. To continue with the Chinese example, Buddhist temples were constructed in the same manner of Chinese architecture, employed Chinese aesthetics, and the Buddha himself was often portrayed as an East Asian much in the same way Jesus was portrayed as a blonde haired blue eyed European in Northwestern Europe and an African in Ethiopia. However, it seems that in the West, the Buddhism that is spread often comes attached with the East Asian, Tibetan, Thai, etc. cultural and aesthetic forms, even if it is the case that the founders of these temples and all the adherents may be white Europeans. Why is there no effort to maintain traditional Western culture and integrate Buddhism into that?
For example, why not produce Buddhist temples that employ classical Greco-Roman architecture, Hellenistic sculpture, Roman mosaics, Gothic art or architecture, Baroque art or architecture, and so forth? Why not produce Buddhist scripture in the style of Insular Anglo-Celtic art or the style of medieval illuminated manuscripts? Why not have Buddhist chants that are done in the style of Gregorian chant or Western polyphony?
While I hear this Buddhist group is dodgy, here is an example of a step taken in that direction that I came across on the net. Celitc Buddhist thangkas (admittedly not that well done, but nonetheless):
http://www.celticbuddhism.org/paintings.html
At least there is an attempt in the above example to maintain Western traditional culture and integrate or synthesize Buddhism into that.
So the question is, why isn't that done today? In your opinion is there value in integrating Buddhism into Western traditional culture? Or do the Westerners that become Buddhists feel it is also better to Asianize culturally and aesthetically along with their adoption of the Dharma?