Introduced by Zen Buddhist monks in the 14th century, sumi-e represents the art of black ink painting. This monochromatic style emphasizes simplicity, spontaneity, and spiritual depth, capturing the essence of subjects through minimal brushstrokes. Sumi-e embodies Zen philosophy, where "few marks of black ink painted with a brush on a simple sheet of white paper, can represent the most complex model". Over time, Japanese masters began to incorporate subtle colored mineral pigments to create highlights or accents in their compositions.