The Impact of Buddhist Thought on the Ideology of Jin Dynasty Painting in China

Abstract

This study investigates the transformative influence of Buddhist philosophy on the ideological structure of painting during the Jin Dynasty (265–420 CE) in China. Employing a qualitative methodology that combines iconographic analysis, historical contextualization, and descriptive interpretation, the research focuses on representative artworks to explore how Buddhist metaphysical principles reshaped visual expression. The study reveals that core Buddhist concepts—such as śūnyatā (emptiness), karma (causality), and transcendence—significantly influenced the shift from representational accuracy to philosophical symbolism. Visual strategies such as negative space, abstract brushwork, and cyclical composition emerged as aesthetic responses to Buddhist cosmology. Furthermore, the findings suggest that Buddhist ideology reframed the painter’s role as a spiritual mediator, elevating painting from decorative function to contemplative practice. This redefinition paralleled broader socio-cultural transitions, including the syncretism of Buddhist and indigenous qi-based worldviews during a politically fragmented era. Methodologically, the research bridges the disciplines of art history, religious studies, and visual semiotics, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of how ideology is encoded within aesthetic forms. The study ultimately argues that the ideological transformation of Jin Dynasty painting under Buddhist influence laid critical groundwork for the development of Chinese art’s introspective and symbolic dimensions, which would later mature in subsequent dynasties. By situating visual culture within its philosophical and historical framework, the paper offers a deeper appreciation of Buddhism’s enduring role in shaping Chinese artistic identity.