Viewing the world with a Dharma eye: The influence of Zen Buddhism viewpoints upon artistic concepts in the late Northern Song dynasty

Abstract

Zen Buddhism viewpoints exerted great influence on the world’s outlook of the poets of the late Northern Song dynasty. The essay aims to discuss the poetic and artistic concepts put forward by poets of the Song dynasty in the philosophical nature of Zen Buddhism. The Zen concepts that have enlightened the Song poets include “equality for all”, “being all-pervasive and all-inclusive”, “mastering the secrets”, “turning things around” and “the communication of the six roots”.

Keywords

Zen Buddhism viewpoints / aesthetic viewpoints / Chinese poetic concepts / Chinese artistic concepts / the poets in the late Northern Song dynasty / Huihong