Book Description
The art of landscaping was said to have been imported from China but as with other imports, the Japanese transformed garden design to suit the indigenous climate and natural surroundings, creating an entirely original art form in the process. A stroll through any of these gardens reveals their
inimitable spirit, style and expression.
STYLES AND MOTIFS JAPANESE GARDENS is a highly accessible flip reference for the novice gardener and first time visitor. Each of the 31 beautiful Kyoto gardens featured in this book embody the unique landscaping approaches and techniques of the periods when they were created, from the Heian and
Muromanchi eras to Momoyama and Edo.
From teahouses, rock gardens, ponds, and basins, STYLES AND MOTIFS JAPANESE GARDENS features only gardens that are open to the public, making this book an ideal guide for visitors to Kyoto who wish to know more about the spirit and form of Japanese landscape arts.
Customer Reviews:
Japanese Gardens.......2006-07-15
I got some good ideas looking through this book. I am not a "kid" under 13 but found it difficult to find any other place to review this. I was waiting for it to come to my library but got impatient and sent for it.
WTF...it's small and shallow.......2006-06-26
Some joker here said this book was an "Excellent coffee table book." When you think of a coffee table book, you think of a big book with large pictures.
This book is 6 inches...it's a combed bound landscape pocket book.
Sure the pictures and the short essays that accompany them are lovely...bring a magnifying glass!
However, the essays often point out the shortcomings of the book. In one case, it talks of how a garden was built to be enjoyed from multiple points of view; however, you only get one photo of the garden. In another case, a pond garden is described as being enjoyed from a boat; but the picture is from the shore.
For you zen folk: the nature of the book is not in harmony with the content of the book. A pocket book can never cover the scope of these gardens.
I gave it two stars because it might be good as a learning aid to those studying Japanese gardens...the landscape binding make it a pretty good flash-card system.
Eccellent coffee table book.......2006-02-19
Splendid photographs and insightful descriptions enhance the appreciation I already have for the artistry within Japanese gardens.
Making clear the mysteries of the garden.......2005-05-04
It is said that if you cut a Japanese garden with a sword, it will bleed, because the gardener has put his very life's blood into his creation. To stand in the composed splendor of an authentic Japanese garden, it is easy to believe this, so powerful and rich is the aura of the place. Any visitor to Japan will spend at least some time in the famous gardens, wandering and dreaming. Possibly there are one or two Japanese gardens in your hometown as well, if you are lucky.
However, unless you are steeped in the mysteries and culture of Japanese religion, you would no more understand the deeper symbolism of the place than a lifelong Buddhist would understand the icons of a Catholic church. Japanese gardens are not mere works of beauty. In some cases, they are encoded representations of paradise. In other cases, mediation tools to assist in gaining enlightenment. In all cases, they are much more than what they appear.
Katsuhiko Mizuno has kindly written a guide book, a decoder if you will, to the delights of the garden. "Styles and Motifs: Japanese Gardens" is an essential book. Mizuno has made simple the complex structure, elucidating the symbology of the naturescape and the intentions of the gardener. Set into thirty basic motifs, such as "Moss Gardens," "Sand Designs," "Buddhist Trinity Stones" and "Rock Arrangements Symbolizing Eternal Life," the book explains and shows examples of typical features. Each feature is accompanied by a beautiful photograph, and information as to which gardens throughout Japan that particular feature can be found.
The book is compact, and spiral bound, making it very convenient to carry and travel with. Anyone coming to Japan would be happy to have included a copy in their packing.
I have been to Ryoan-ji in Kyoto many times, and each time I can hear people, staring at the famous Dry Landscape Garden (#15 in the book) saying, "Its beautiful, but what does it mean? I just don't get it." If they had a copy of "Styles and Motifs: Japanese Gardens," think of how much richer their experiences would have been!
Book Description
Definitive catalogue of Japanese heraldic crests featuring almost unlimited variety of plant, animal, bird, and geometric forms — everything from "wild goose" to "folding fan" to "mountain and mist," each with dozens of variations. 4,260 illustrations. "The 4,260 marvelous heraldic emblems...are delicate, interesting, and perfect." — Lady's Circle Needlework.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-08-05
I bought the book for my son and he loved everything about it. The illustrations are teriffic.
Comprehensive and logically organized.......2006-01-07
Supposedly, there are about 2,000 Japanese family crests, with origins that reach back more than a millenium. And while I can't say whether this book contains all two thousand, it's nevertheless pretty comprehensive. They're presented in columns of black images--each image about 2" in diameter--and grouped by theme (e.g., crests depicting one cherry blossom, then crests based on 2 blossoms, then crests based on 3 blossoms, etc.).
Like other Dover art books, this one is primarily for artists and designers, rather than for students of history/culture. (I used these images for stencilling, during an Anglo-Japanese makeover of our 1870s-era house--and discovered that "chinoiserie" abounds, but "japanesque" is rare. This book became part of an invaluable, and small, set of resources.)
Fantastic for Graphic Design Inspiration.......2003-04-14
Page, after page, after page of great designs.
Not something you can use for research, but it you are looking for inspiration, this is a book for you. I started putting yellow post-its on the designs I wanted to use (quilting, cross-stitch, stained glass), but I soon gave up when I realized that I was marking almost every page.
This is one of those rare design books that is well worth the money.
Well worth the price..........2003-01-06
I've lusted after this book ever since I saw it in the library years ago. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the name (I should've stolen it then!). So what a delight to finally rediscover it. The images in this book have haunted me, and defied my attempts to recreate even a few of them from memory. There are more permutations on each motif than one can possibly think of. An endless wealth of source material for logos, symbols, backgrounds, graphics. This book is a must-have for any designer interested in or influenced by Japanese design!
Japanese Motifs.......2002-02-28
So far the only Ra-Mon book that I have found with my family Crest. For me it is worth the money.
Book Description
Japanese kanji characters combine meaning with beauty and thus offer a unique medium for artistic expression. But if you don't know the language, how do you find characters that say what you want and are not just a "kanji cliche"? You can start here. This attractive book has over one hundred thirty kanji presented in a simple format for easy use. For example:
Post the kanji for kenshin on a mirror to remind you of your "devotion" to your studies.
Embroider bussho on a meditation cushion to help you reflect on "Buddha nature."
Tattoo the name Zatoichi on your upper arm as homage to your favorite blind swordsman hero.
Show your "love" with a card decorated by ai.
Pick from Warrior, Heart, Nature, and Spirit categories to find the characters that express your sentiments best. Each entry includes historical or etymological background, often with unusual "kanji facts." Then trace, photocopy, or even stencil the clear letterforms-displayed in several different kanji "fonts"-to get just the effect you want. Included is an introduction to kanji, writing tips, and a special supplement on Zodiac kanji (great for birthdays!).
"People are always fascinated by different cultures, and we continue to be awed by the wonderful ways in which East and West have mingled in culture, lifestyle, design, art, and aesthetics. We hope this book will enrich your own experience of kanji in art and design and help you bring your creative gifts to bear in fresh, new ways."-from the Authors' Introduction
Shogo Oketani and Leza Lowitz are writers and translators who live in the San Francisco Bay area.
Customer Reviews:
I love this book !!!.......2006-06-26
This book is wonderful if you are going to get a tattoo of a certain Kanji it has tons to choose from. I use this book almost everyday.. this is by far one of my best purchases.
Excellent format and descriptions.......2006-03-13
I have been an admirer for Oriental Culture, and willing to understand Chinesse and Japanese writing. This book is an excellent source which explains a lot of Kanji symbols, and has several notes about interesting facts about it. I recommend it to all people looking to introduce themselves into this enigmatic and wonderful language.
Antonio Sobalvarro
Fantastic resource.......2004-11-05
Easy to read, follow, and use right away. Shows formal, modern, flowing, and stylish character sets. Describes the root, meaning, and nature of common Japanese words and phrases. The calligraphy is excellent. I only wish it was longer and more encompassing. Among other things I use this book as a supplement to Write Your Name in Kanji text by Nobuo Sato to write the characters more elegantly.
Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction
Who would have thought I would enjoy a book like this?.......2004-01-05
We had recently seen "The Last Samuri" so I was in the frame of mind to learn more about Japanese history and culture. I found this book on the Breakfast table one recent morning. The introduction and explanation of Kanji was clear and concise. This book provided a great beginning to the subject of how a culture influenced a language and how a language influenced a culture. I couldn't put it down for an hour or so. I'll refer to it often.
A Stroke of Genius!.......2004-01-02
How lucky I was this holiday season to have received Designing with Kanji: Japanese Character Motifs for Surface, Skin and Spirit by Shogo Oketani and Leza Lowitz. From the beautiful cover to the exquisitely illustrated text Stonebridge Press has done it again! Oketani and Lowitz have taken an art form that is little understood in the United States and have made it accessible. I have always been drawn to "Asian things" in my home from artifacts to flower arranging, and the Kanji calligraphy and historical background helped me clarify my fascination with the genre. I had no idea there were other Kanji fonts such as modern and stylish for instance.I particularly appreciated the poetic description of each illustrated Kanji and the little Kanji Facts interspersed throughout the book. I have no tattoos and am not expecting to get any in the near future however, this book is for anyone wishing to understand the Japanese "character".
Book Description
360 traditional Japanese designs and motifs redrawn in clean, crisp black-and-white, royalty-free illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointed..........2006-12-01
I thought it was a collection of original Japanese designs. The editor apparently took it upon herself to redraw them, and that is what's contained herein. The designs end up diminished, weaker than the traditional crisp oriental linework. I would return it if possible. Very disappointed.
a decent reference for tattooing.......2003-03-22
If quanity and quick reference for tattooing is what you're looking for, look no further. Be warned though the illustrations are pretty weak in a lot of areas, so be ready to redraw! But there are tons of floral designs (especially lotus) and simple designs that are invaluable for a tattooer. So as far as an excellent source on traditional japanese art it is not, but it could be handy in the shop.
Book Description
Practical archive of 45 copyright-free designs adapted from watercolors, screens, kimonos, Noh drama costumes, wall hangings, more. Wide variety of stripes, allover patterns, nature scenes, grand sprays of flowers and tree branches, other clearly detailed designs suggesting subtle elegance of Japanese art. Introduction. Captions.
Product Description
The KOMON (small patterns), CHUGATA- MON (medium patterns) SARASA & SHIMA Patterns, which were used for decorating the surface of clothes, patterned papers, art, and daily utensils. Lovely Full Color Illustrations
Book Description
A definitive sourcebook for designers, architects, home remodelers, or anyone thinking of adding a Japan-inspired design to a room or home. Hundreds of line drawings show traditional Japanese architectural details and motifs, everything from shoji screens and tatami mats to ceiling and garden fences. An invaluable resource for planning and design, The Japanese Home Stylebook shows why the Japanese residential style is so admired around the world for its exquisite beauty and versatility. Selected by Architects & Designers Book Service.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful and inspirational.......2007-04-29
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (4/07)
If your tastes run to something simple, but not austere, or if you simply love great design, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Saburo Yamagata's "The Japanese Home Stylebook." This is a visually stunning book, which will certainly be able to provide numerous ideas to anybody who is involved in design, home remodeling or interior decoration. Even architects and builders should be able to pick up many ideas from it.
The book consists mainly of pictorial material although Editor Peter Goodman provided some text explaining the basics behind the Japanese residential style and its elements. Starting with a basic Introduction, the book is further divided into chapters, each dealing with one of the elements. Each chapter starts with explanation of that element, followed by numerous drawings. The elements included are: Tokonoma and Shelves, Tatami Mats and Ceilings, Transoms, Fusuma, Shoji Screens, Windows, Doors, Railings and Verandas, Garden Fences and Paths and Decorative Patterns. If the 1800+ drawings found in this book are not enough to inspire you, the last chapter lists "Other Design Sources."
I found this book to be elegant and truly inspiring. My only regret is that there are no pictures of complete, finished rooms or houses, depicting the finished product. Maybe this opens the doors even wider for reader's own creativity and imagination...
I would recommend "The Japanese Home Stylebook" for anybody who deals with design, home building, or renovations.
A seminal reference for architects, designers, builders and home remodelers.......2006-02-10
Saburo Yamagata (1911-1986) was a graduate of Kobe University, Japan, and a practicing architect. He drew from more than 1,800 designed from traditional Japanese homes to create The Japanese Home Style Book, a seminal reference for architects, designers, builders and home remodelers. Covering every element of traditional Japanese architectural design, the entries are systematically arranged for quick reference and easy of use. Included are paper-and-wood shoji screens; fusma sliding panels; door and window designs; tatami mat arrangements; decorated ceilings; latticed and carved transoms; tokonoma scroll alcoves; "staggered shelf" layouts; outdoor verandas and railings; garden fences and screens; as well as stepping-stone paths; decorative patterns and motifs for every purpose. The Japanese Home Style Book is a seminal contribution to professional and academic Architectural Studies and reference resource collections.
Excellent.......2005-08-20
This book will be used by my builder for my new home. The photos are magnificent.
The display is exactly what I wanted him to learn.
Inspiring for design from furniture to landscape.......2004-07-30
I have turned to this book for inspiration when designing interiors, cabinetry, furniture, fabric and landscape design, even graphic design. It is so flexible and easy to use. A good tool.
Inspiration for woodworders, architects, landscape designers.......2004-01-12
Collection of clear drawings illustrating design elements, spatial composition (empty space as important as solid materials) instructive for artisans searching to solve design problems, or merely for inspiration in initiating a project.
Not a DIY text, rather a compact orderly selection of drawn images to stimulate creativity within the realm of your own talents and expertise. How you apply the ideas rests solely on what develops in your own mind as a result of viewing simple beauty before you.
Book Description
Over 250 readily useable, copyright-free, authentic Japanese designs — from ceramics, textiles, more. Includes florals, demons, animals, geometrics, more.
Average customer rating:
- Symbols of Japan, Thematic Motifs in Art & Design
- A general, somewhat dry study of Japanese symbols
- An essential book for Japanese art and culture
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Symbols of Japan: Thematic Motifs in Art and Design
Merrily C. Baird
Manufacturer: Rizzoli International Publications
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Similar Items:
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Snow, Wave, Pine: Traditional Patterns in Japanese Design
ASIN: 084782361X
Release Date: 2001-05-18 |
Book Description
" . . . It is in the nature of man to both think and express himself symbolically. Moreover, the power of symbols is magnified when a society has broadly shared experiences, a deep knowledge of its cultural traditions, and common sentiments about those experiences and traditions. The fact that these conditions exist in Japan to a striking degree has insured that the country continues to enjoy a cultural life meaningfully enriched by the use of symbols."
So begins Merrily Baird's definitive guide to the symbols of Japan. Begining with a brief but insightful explanation of the development of symbols throughout Japanese history, the book looks at thematic motifs encountered in both the classical fine arts and the applied arts. The motifs are organized according to broad thematic categories such as "the cosmos, heaven and earth" and "animals of the land and sea," among others, allowing for broad reading on a number of topics of interest to a wide variety of readers, including collectors of Asian art and students of Japan.
Nearly every symbol is illustrated with fine examples of art and design from major public and private collections, offering the reader a wealth of visual information to enrich the expert commentary on each subject. Beautiful objects of a variety of media are represented: painting, sculpture, woodblock prints, netsuke and inro.
The book is the culmination of more than twenty years of research by the author, much of which was conducted while she lived in Japan. Baird's text reflects recent developments in Japanese scholarship but her prose is as accessible as it is informative, making this book an indispensable volume for both those already familiar with Japanese culture and those newly introduced to its rich complexities.
In this indispensable guide to Japanese symbols, the author, Merrily Baird, offers the reader the most lucid study of the symbolism of Japan's fine and applied arts in print today. Organized according to broad thematic categories, nearly evey symbol is illustrated with fine examples of art and design from major public and private collections in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. The book is organized to allow collectors of East Asian Art and students of Japan to both research specific symbols and read broadly on such diverse topics as plants and flowers, animals of the land and sea, demons and dieties, among others. As beautiful as it is informative, Symbols of Japan is destined to be the cornerstore of every art and design library.
Customer Reviews:
Symbols of Japan, Thematic Motifs in Art & Design.......2001-06-09
This is a long awaited book which succinctly lists and describes the symbolism seen in the Japanese arsts, making the viewing of the works much more interesting and enjoyable. The history , where they originated, how when and where they are to this day, used. The colors for different ages and seasons. How they have changed over the centuries. Surprisingly, I found some similarities in the our and other western ideas that are used in much the same way as the eastern. The information is deep and scholarly, yet reading it is not a chore.
A general, somewhat dry study of Japanese symbols.......2001-05-29
The book is organized by themes. Each chapter is a group of symbols. The chapters are: 1 - Cosmos, Heaven, & Earth; 2 - Trees & their fruits; 3 - Diverse plants; 4 - Birds & insects; 5 - Land & sea animals; 6 - Demons, deities, and figural groups; 7 - Religion & good fortune; 8 - Objects of everyday life; 9 - Music, board games, and cultural pursuits;
Within each chapter, each subject is treated alphabetically. So for example for Ch. 4, subjects treated are: ...., Bamboo shoots, Beans, Bellflower, Bracken, Bush Clover, Chrysantemum,....
The information is there, no question. I was looking into what the heck was that egg-shaped 'tama' that I've seen associated with the Inari fox several times on netsukes, now I know (it's a wish granting jewel.) The 2 reproaches I would make are the following:
First, the information is there but it's a very dry reading. So for example in the case of the tama & Inari fox, I know now what a tama is, but I would have loved a little bit more info on why it is associated to the Inari fox, why it's shaped like an egg, etc. Basically, I would have liked some info on the legend behind the symbol.
Second, the book hesitates between being a scholarly reference book (somewhat dry content) and an entry level one (1 inch deep and 1 mile wide.) For example, the Chrysantemum gets as much treatment as the Cherry Tree (FYI, a full page), but the author only mentions that it is an imperial emblem once, en passant, in the last paragraph (as if any reader, of course, would already know that.) She also doesn't talk about how the Kikumon is used by artists who had been such authorized by the imperial family as an endorsement / reward.
The book is quite well illustrated with generally at least 1 plate per page. Illustrating ALL themes would have required 2 more books! Some of the pictures are of unusual subjects such as modern jpz art pieces that I at least had not had the opportunity to see before, or a couple of amber netsuke. Loads of inro boxes, netsuke, and prints. I have not seen a single sword blade (but there's at least 1 tsuba.) There are a great quantity of small size example of mons, typically a couple for each key theme (e.g., 2 for each of Stars, Sun, Moon, Lightning, but none on Snow, Rocks, Mountains,...)
All and all I will give it a grade of 4 out of 5, as an entry level reference book for Jpz culture *generally speaking*. If you are looking for an treaty focusing on a specific art, or one that would give you more than the raw information and include legends and stories, you might be disappointed.
An essential book for Japanese art and culture.......2001-05-07
This wonderful, fascinating, and gorgeous book is one of the most useful volumes I have ever come across. After years of wondering what visual images signify on Japanese artifacts like a wedding kimono, this remarkable book enables us to understand what they mean. If you want to know what an adulteress looks like, you will find out in this book. An adulteress wears one pot on her head for every adultery. The puzzling world of the netsuke, in which men often sport frogs on their heads, is explained here. The index is entirely useful, so that anything can be found quickly. I looked up "tanuki" (like our raccoon) and "hair," and found a wealth of information immediately. This book is so beautiful it is enough simply to look at it, but it also gives the reader access into deep understanding of Japanese culture. You will amass an enormous understanding without even being aware of it. Merrily Baird has gone ardously and exhaustively afield, and the result is a book that is astonishingly readable, often funny, and completely sound. I intend to give this book to friends interested in art and in Japan. I hope everyone will take a look at it. Believe me, you won't stop looking very easily.
Book Description
Dragons, tigers, cranes, peacocks, and peonies abound in this dazzling collection of popular Japanese motifs. So do other designs featuring flowers, plants, and animals. Geometric, abstract, and allover patterns are also included. More than 130 authentic illustrations serve as a wonderful source of inspiration for original design work.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for sewing at a great deal.......2006-07-07
I went to the san antonio museum of art. In the gift-shop I found this book. It has many many FULL COLOR designs and patterns. It is a great book for artists or teachers that need a japanese deign or art reference. This wonderfull book is your average book: a bit bigger than 8.5/11 (normal sheet of paper), glossy covers, and a quarter inch thick. It has many deigns that are fun to copy and sew. I am a japanese enthusiast, and if you are even remotly curious and even clicked on the picture and reading this review right now it is a must.
Some product details:
* bit bigger than 8.5/11 (normal sheet of paper
* glossy covers
* a quarter inch thick
* Wide veriety of art designs and Motifs: from lanscapes to birds to dragons this book has it all.
A definit Must Buy
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