 Though Zen Buddhism had arrived in Japan at the end of the 12th-century, Zenga (as here described) didn't come into its own until the beginning of the Edo period in 1600.In keeping with individual paths to enlightenment, nearly any subject matter can lend (and has lent) itself to Zenga.Everything from a cat, to a bamboo shoot, to a man defecating in a field has been used to illustrate a particular point - although enso, sticks and Mt.