Considerazioni sul patrocinio gentilizio alle abbazie zen fra 13. e 15. secolo

The phase that saw the debut of the buke seiji (military government), at the end of XII century, is often synthetically described as marked by a definite cultural specificity: the dismissal of the model of the Kyōto court, suddenly replaced by a warlike and knightly atmosphere. This unforeseen change was due to a twofold influence: the life habits of the military class emerged from the provinces and the desire to take some distance from the logics of the imperial court. In terms of religious attitudes, the military class, from then onward, would no longer stick to the Buddhist esoteric schools, but would experience the charm of the Zen school, that was circulating doctrinal, ritual and ethical principles more congruent with the new power. Within the limits of the synthesis, this picture shows what essentially happened, but the process is to be intended as very complex and nuanced and represents a turning point both for the birth and the consolidation of the provincial military class and of the Zen school. After briefly analyzing the critical methodologies of studies about Zen according to a social and cultural perspective, this essay deliberately relates Zen school and political power, with specific reference to the aspect of patronage. It is my position that this scenario rewrites the role-plays in the political and social interaction, and this has a strong impact on both the historical and economic studies and also influences the understanding of the Japanese arts and their development.