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3 |
Addiss, Stephen. 77 DANCES: JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY BY POETS, MONKS, AND SCHOLARS, 1568-1868.
Boston Weatherhill 2006 0834805715 Hardcover Fine in Fine DJ
280 pp. Approx. 8.5 x 12in. The first book on Japanese calligraphy from the significant Momoyama and Edo periods (1568Ð1868), 77 Dances examines the art of writing at a time when it was undergoing a remarkable flowering, as illustrated by over one hundred sumptuous illustrations. Everything from complex Zen conundrums to gossamer haiku poems were written with verve, energy, and creativity that display how deeply the fascination for calligraphy had penetrated into the social fabric of Japan. Examining the varied groups of calligraphers creating works for diverse audiences will show how these artistic worlds both maintained their own independence and interacted to create a rich brocade of calligraphic techniques and styles. The book begins with basic information on calligraphy, followed by six main sections, each representing a major facet of the art, with an introductory essay followed by detailed analyses of the seventy-seven featured works. The essays include: The revival of Japanese courtly aesthetics in writing out waka poems on highly decorated paper The use of Chinese writing styles and script forms Scholars who took up the brush to compose poems in Chinese expressing their Confucian ideals Calligraphy by major literati poets and painters The development of haiku as practiced by master poet-painters The work of famous Zen masters such as Hakuin and Ryokan
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51.95 USD
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4 |
Ahmed, Monisha. LIVING FABRIC: WEAVING AMONG THE NOMADS OF LADAKH HIMALAYA.
New York Weatherhill 2002 0834805219 Hardcover Fine in Fine DJ
192 pp. 8 x 11in. 42 oz.This is the first study of the tradition of weaving among the nomadic pastoralists of Rupshu, in eastern Ladakh. Weaving touches all aspects of life in Rupshu, where both women and men weave, each on a different type of loom. Local narrative states that the craft of weaving was bestowed upon Rupshu by the gods, and thus all feats related to it have a close connection to the sublime. This book documents and analyses the ways in which fibers, weaving, and textiles are symbolized, constructed, and experienced in Rupshu where themes such as gender, kinship, hierarchical and spatial relations find ready expression through the design and making of cloth. Through her work the author traces the relationship between livestock, weaving, social and symbolic structures in order to understand the multitude of contexts within which wool-oriented activities exist. Richly illustrated, this book will appeal to those with an interest in textiles, nomads, gender studies, and the Himalaya.
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39.95 USD
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5 |
Albertini, Claudia. AVATARS AND ANTIHEROES: A GUIDE TO CONTEMPORARY CHINESE ARTISTS.
Kodansha International 2008 4770030711 Hardcover Brand new
176 pp. Approx. 7.75 x 10in. 27 oz.Showcases forty of the latest and most relevant contemporary artists from China. Featuring stunning full-color plates of the work of leading painters, photographers, sculptors, performance artists, video artists, and even a fireworks artist, this book gives a fascinating insight into modern Chinese society and its vibrant contemporary art scene. Chinese contemporary art is currently enjoying a worldwide boom, fetching record-breaking prices at auction houses around the globe. China's rapid transition from communism to consumerism, and the dizzying changes brought by urbanization, globalization, and new technologies have created a fascinating explosion of contemporary art overwhelmingly concerned with the search for self-identity in a society that, from Confucius to Mao, has traditionally disregarded individualism for the collective good.Avatars and Antiheroes reflects the schizophrenic undercurrents of a nation in continuous fast-forward. From the Cynical Realism and Political Pop movements associated with the post-Tiananmen generation of artists such as Yue Minjun whose grinning representations of himself as antihero seem to mock the revolutionary heroes of old, to the pop-culture generation spearheaded by Cao Fei whose digital avatars live in a world without borders, this book showcases the work of the most important contemporary artists to emerge from China in recent years.
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27.95 USD
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7 |
Allen, Jeanne. DESIGNERS GUIDE TO JAPANESE PATTERNS 1.
Chronicle Books 1993 0877014825 Paperback Very Good+
130 pp. Spanning over a thousand years, from Japan's elegant Heian period to the present, this comprehensive survey of 136 illustrated patterns taken from the country's national treasures collectively mirrors the society's political, cultural, and artistic history.The book's six sections are based on themes that have been constants in Japan's cultural consciousness, and each section illustrates how artisans of the different historical periods interpreted the concepts of nature, geometry, and the abstract.
Some faint cover wear.
Price:
12.00 USD
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12 |
Araki, Nobuyoshi. ARAKI BY ARAKI: THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S PERSONAL SELECTION.
Kodansha International 2003 4770029381 Paperback Fine
408 pp. Approx. 8.5 x 11in. 64 oz.Araki by Araki is a record of the career of Nobuyoshi Araki, self-styled "photomaniac" and permanent enfant terrible of the Japanese art world. Published to mark the artist's sixty-third birthday on May 25, 2003, this volume features 2002 photographs covering his entire career from 1963 to 2002.Sex-trade voyeur, recorder of Tokyo cityscapes, chronicler of married life, or experimental photo artist : no matter what your image of Araki, this collection will reveal new aspects of his talent, as it traces his unique vision over forty prolific years.All the pictures were selected by Araki himself (who also provides an original commentary), making Araki by Araki not only a comprehensive but highly personal overview of the artist's work to date. High quality color and duotone black and white printing ensure the highest standard of reproduction throughout.
Reviews
"This book offers an opportunity to witness the evolution of Araki's work as understood by the artist himself."
THE Magazine
"...An unflinching leer into urban Japan's unique sexual underworld."
Nerve
"He possesses the almost magical ability to transform the most mundane details into objects of fascination, to impregnate them with a raw sexual energy.... This mischievous photographer provokes viewers with images of the female form that are often oddly sensuous and objective at the same time, both erotica and cerebral. Ultimately, Araki presents us with a puzzle: the naked human psyche itself."
The Japan Times
"Chronicles in black-and-white and color the whims of the enfant terrible of the Japanese art scene, and the changes in Japan as well. ...unrepentant and upbeat"
Japan Visitor
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47.95 USD
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13 |
Aria, Barbara. NATURE OF THE CHINESE CHARACTER.
New York Simon & Schuster 1991 0671728865 First edition Hardcover Fine in Fine DJ
96 pp. Approx. 5.5 x 7in. Calligraphy by Russell Eng Gon.This attractive volume brings ideograms to life in all their subtlety and beauty, with lush calligraphy, handsome illustrations, and simple stroke-by-stroke instructions for writing the characters yourself. Each of the forty ideograms featured here is graphically explored in a series of dramatic and instructive renderings, from historic and etymological drawings to contemporary calligraphy. Each depiction sheds light on a unique aspect of the meaning, craftsmanship, and origins of the individual character, and each brings you a step closer to understanding and being able to create the ideograms yourself.
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15.00 USD
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36 |
Aseshananda, Swami. GLIMPSES OF A GREAT SOUL: A PORTARIT OF SWAMI SARADANANDA.
Vedanta Press,U.S. 1982 0874810396 Paperback Very Good
274 pp. Approx. 6 9in. 17oz.Swami Saradananda is the monastic name of Sarat Chandra Chakravarti. Born to a wealthy and orthodox Brahmin family of Calcutta in 1865, he later became a disciple of the great Bengali saint and mystic, Sri Ramakrishna, a distinguished visitor to the United States, a noted writer and teacher, and, ultimately, Secretary of the extensive religious and missionary order named after Sri Ramakrishna.This is no ordinary biography; Saradananda was an amazing combination of spirituality, patience, devotion, and effectiveness in dealing with the exigencies of a large organization. When flood, famine, and epidemic wreaked havoc in the countryside, Saradananda was there to help; when financial problems plagued the organization he had pledged his life to support, he turned writer to earn the necessary funds to continue. His is a story of close contact with political leaders, great saints, numerous religious leaders throughout the world, great teachers, noted authors, and outrageous eccentrics. In adition to the fullness of his own activities, two major themes ran through Saradananda's life and are reflected in this book: his selfless devotion to Sri Sarada Devi the saintly, venerated wife of Sri Ramakrishna, and his closeness to his brother monks.
Crisp, clean copy. Some fading to covers.
Price:
8.00 USD
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37 |
Ashby, Janet [Ed.]. READ REAL JAPANESE ESSAYS: CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS BY POPULAR AUTHORS.
Kodansha International 2008 4770030576 Paperback Brand new
240 pp. Approx. 5.5 x 8.25in. 14 oz. Includes free CD with audio narrations.8 stimulating essays with translations of all the complex passagesJapanese-English dictionary for quick lookup, tailored to your needsNotes explain subtleties of nuance, usage, grammar, and cultureFree CD with audio narrations performed by a professional actressProfiles of the individual writers place the works in contextThere is a world of difference between reading Japanese that has been specially contrived for students and reading real Japanese, that is, real-world Japanese written for native speakers. The contrived variety might be called schoolmarm Japanese: standard to the point of insipidity, controlled to the point of domestication, restricted to the point of impoverishment. The Read Real Japanese series, comprising one volume each of essays and fiction, provides the real thing: lively writings by contemporary authors.Read Real Japanese Essays presents short works by eight established writers, including Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto. The essays are by turns humorous, insightful, and biting; all are stimulating works that will teach you a wealth about Japanese writing and motivate you to read more.Following the form of real Japanese writing, the text runs from top to bottom, right to left. To guide you in your reading, each double-page spread features translations of nearly every sentence or phrase, making it possible to understand the meaning at a glance. Moreover, in the back of the book is a tailor-made Japanese-English dictionary covering all the words appearing in the essays, and a series of notes that elucidate issues of nuance, usage, grammar, and culture. Best of all, the book comes with a free audio CD containing narrations of the works, performed by a professional actress. This will help you to get used to the sounds and rhythms of Japanese, as well as the speed at which the language is normally spoken.For intermediates and beyond; for the classroom and for the car; for the intellect and for the ear: Read Real Japanese Essays is your gateway to the pleasures of reading first-rate nonfiction by Japanese authors, in the original.
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19.75 USD
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38 |
Ashida, Ichiba. IKEBANA WITH LIVING PLANTS.
Tokyo Shufunotomo 1998 0870409034 First printing Hardcover New
128 pp. Approx. 10.5 x 7.5in. Here is a new variation of traditional ikebana that allows you to enhance enjoyment of your indoor potted plants by adding cut flowers or branches to the flower pot. The addition of cut flowers to your favorite potted plant lets you change the mood or ambiance of your room in countless ways, yet your original plant remains uncut and intact.
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Price:
21.95 USD
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39 |
Audsley, George, Cutler, Thomas. GRAMMAR OF JAPANESE ORNAMENT.
New York Arch Cape Press 1989 0517678845 1st edition Hardcover Near Fine/VG
9x13 in. 290 pp. Over 100 plates. Combines in one large-format volume a selection of the finest examples of oriental ornamentation in a range of media: lacquer, carving, metalwork, embroidery, enamel, pottery, textiles, encrusted work, painting and drawing.Until the Revolution in Japan in 1868 which suppressed the feudal system, transformed the political economy and ended the extended period of art and craft patronage by the feudal overlords, Japanese art was almost completely unknown in the West. As trade links were formed, interest grew and Thomas Cutler, a fellow of the Architectural Association, published in 1880 his Grammar of Japanese Ornament & Design. This was followed in 1882 by George Audsley's The Ornamental Arts of Japan. Audsley was an architect and scholar who lectured at the Architectural Association in London. Their work remains a classic reference with its outstanding examples of the genius of Japanese art and design.
Contents as new. Small remainder mark, bottom edge. Dust jacket has small closed tears along top edge.
Price:
45.00 USD
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40 |
Audsley, George, Cutler, Thomas. GRAMMAR OF JAPANESE ORNAMENT.
New York Arch Cape Press 1989 0517678845 1st edition Hardcover Near Fine/Fine
9x13 in. 290 pp. Over 100 plates. Combines in one large-format volume a selection of the finest examples of oriental ornamentation in a range of media: lacquer, carving, metalwork, embroidery, enamel, pottery, textiles, encrusted work, painting and drawing.Until the Revolution in Japan in 1868 which suppressed the feudal system, transformed the political economy and ended the extended period of art and craft patronage by the feudal overlords, Japanese art was almost completely unknown in the West. As trade links were formed, interest grew and Thomas Cutler, a fellow of the Architectural Association, published in 1880 his Grammar of Japanese Ornament & Design. This was followed in 1882 by George Audsley's The Ornamental Arts of Japan. Audsley was an architect and scholar who lectured at the Architectural Association in London. Their work remains a classic reference with its outstanding examples of the genius of Japanese art and design.
Contents as new. Light foxing (spotting) along top & front edges.
Price:
45.00 USD
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45 |
Barber, Bernard; Levy, Dana. WATER: A VIEW FROM JAPAN.
New York Weatherhill 1974 0834800977 First edition Hardcover VG+/G
207 pp. Approx. 12 x 8.5in. With 170 pages of photographs, 109 in color. In Japan water is everywhere. It is a part of almost every aspect of life: a part of religion, of art, of work, of relaxation. Focusing on the Japan they know through the medium of water, they have joined text and pictures in layer upon layer of visual and verbal experiences to present an image of this fascinating culture as clear and distinctive as that of Mount Fuji.
Crisp, clean, tight. One inch closed tear and creasing to dust jacket , bottom front corner.
Price:
16.00 USD
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49 |
Barry Davies. CONTEMPORARY LACQUER. UNRYUAN: THE NEW GENERATION.
London Barry Davies Oriental Art 1993 Hardcover Fine in Fine DJ
Unpaginated. Approx. 13 x 9in. Exhibition:12-25 June 1993.The discovery of Unryuan was a watershed in contemporary Japanese art. His remarkable skills in both the design and technical execution of his works undoubtedly place him already alongside such illustrious artists from the past as Shunsho and Shiomi Masanari.
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30.00 USD
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50 |
Basan, Ghillie. COOKING OF MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE.
London Hermes House 2006 0681289619 Paperback Fine
160 pp. Approx. 9 x 11in.Discover an exotic cuisine that blends Malay, Indian and Chinese traditions with 80 recipes and over 300 photographs: Steamed Fish Nonya-style; Sarawak Goat Curry; Popiah; Laksa; Red Bean Pudding etc.Includes comprehensive guide to unusual ingredients, with easy-to-follow step-by-step cooking instructions. Explores the rich and fascinating cultural, social and culinary traditions of Malaysia and Singapore.Complete nutritional information provided.
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26.00 USD
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51 |
Basho, Matsuo. THE NARROW ROAD TO OKU.
Tokyo Kodansha Intn'l. 1996 4770020287 Paperback Fine
187 pp. Approx. 5.5 x 9in. 15 oz. Translated by Donald Keene. Illustrated by Miyata Masayuki.On Illustrating Basho's The Narrow Road to OkuIn the account which he named The Narrow Road to Oku, Basho makes a journey lasting one hundred and fifty days, in which he travels, on foot, a distance of six hundred ri.This was three hundred years ago, when the average distance covered by travelers was apparently nine ri per day, so it is clear that Basho, who was forty years old at the time, possessed a remarkably sturdy pair of legs. Nowadays, with the development of all sorts of means of transportation, travel tends to be quite straightforward in every respect, so it is almost impossible for us to imagine the kind of journey Basho undertook, "drifting with the clouds and streams", and "lodging under trees an on bare rocks."During my countless rereadings of The Narrow Road to Oku I always bore that in mind. The short text, which takes up less than fifty pages even in the pocket-book edition, seemed to me much longer than that, and I felt truly awed by Basho's 2450 kilometer journey.I chose The Narrow Road to Oku as the theme of the exhibition marking the thirtieth anniversary of my career as an artist. As somebody who has been illustrating works from Japanese literature for many years, the subject naturally attracted and interested me. But once I had embarked on the project, it wasn't long before I realized I had chosen a more difficult and delicate task than I ever imagined.Last year, to mark the centenary of Tanizaki Jun'ichiro's birth, I produced a set of fifty-four pictures for his translation of The Tale of Genji. This was a formidable undertaking, as I had to grapple with the achievement of a literary genius whom I had known personally. But if producing a single picture to represent each chapter in The Tale of Geji was a matter of selecting a particular "face" or "plane" to represent the whole, producing a picture to represent each haiku in The Narrow Road to Oku was a matter of having to select one tiny "point": a mere "dot". One misjudgement in my reading, and the picture would lose touch with the spirit of Basho's work and end up simply as an illustration that happened to be accompanied by a haiku. I had to meticulously consider each word in those brief seventeen-syllable poems. Then, if I was lucky, from the vast gaps and the densely packed phrases a numinous power would gather and inspire me: at times I felt as if I was experiencing what our ancestors called kotadama, the miraculous power residing in words.A self-styled "beggar of winds and madness," Basho originated and refined a unique genre of fictional travel literature which used poetry as a means of rendering, out of nothing, all of creation. He also wroteJourneying is the flower of elegance
Elegance, the spirit of
travelers long gone:
The places seen and recorded
by Saigyo and Sogi:
All those are the heart of haikai.I feel I could ask for no greater favor from my painter's brush than that I too be able to glean the merest fragment of what Basho saw, and be able to reproduce it in my work.Miyata Masayuki
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19.95 USD
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52 |
Beer, Robert. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TIBETAN SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS.
Shambhala 1999 157062416X Hardcover Fine in Fine DJ
392 pp. Approx. 9 x 12in. 70 oz.For artists, designers, and all with an interest in Buddhist and Tibetan art, this is the first exhaustive reference to the seemingly infinite variety of symbols found throughout Tibetan art in line drawings, paintings, and ritual objects. Hundreds of the author's line drawings depict all the major Tibetan symbols and motifs: landscapes, deities, animals, plants, gurus, mudras (ritual hand gestures), dragons, and other mythic creatures, ranging from complex mythological scenes to small, simple ornaments."Worth our attention, whatever religion or background, because it gives us an artistic and contemplative mechanism to join inner and outer worlds. This will not come automatically, but only when we approach the book with the desire to refine both our analytical powers and our creative vision. This is a book to live in, for anyone who sees the connection between art and human potential."Parabola"The first detailed work to appear in English examining the extraordinarily vast and symbolically rich iconography in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. . . . A beautiful book."Watkins Review
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51.95 USD
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53 |
Beers, Burton F. CHINA IN OLD PHOTOGRAPHS, 1860-1910.
New York Scribners 1978 0684156512 Hardcover Near Fine in Near Fine Dust Jacket
160 pp. Approx. 8.5 x11in.This extraordinary collection of antique photographs provides a rare view of life in nineteenth-century China and a unique and revealing portrayal of Chinese culture. The photographs show the common people of China farming, fishing, spinning, peddling, and acting as beasts of burden, pulling heavily loaded wheel-barrows or rickshas.China in Old Photographs also shows the growing Western influence that would eventually dominate the country. The Westerners were able to establish missions, schools, and industries and control entire cities. Alongside pictures of a bride being carried in a sedan chair, lounging opium smokers, and a girl with bound feet, there are photographs of electric light poles along the narrow Shanghai streets, steamboats on the Yangtze river, and soldiers posing next to a Western-style cannon.All the photographs come from the collection of the Museum of the American China Trade in Milton, MA. Burton F. Beers has provided an informative introduction and vivid descriptive captions, making this a treat for both the mind and the eye and a valuable contribution of immense historic interest.
Crisp, clean, tight.
Price:
24.00 USD
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54 |
Bellah, Robert Neelly. TOKUGAWA RELIGION: THE VALUES OF PRE-INDUSTRIAL JAPAN.
Beacon Press 1970 0807059536 Paperback Good
249 pp. Approx. 5.5 x 8in. 12 oz.Bellah's incisiveness and penetration of insight exemplify sociological analysis at its best. Specifically, he argues that political loyalties more than economics determined the values of an era. His work is a refutation of any simple economic determinism as well as of identification of Chinese and Japanese thought in a single oriental culture..."Bellah suggests that Tokugawa religion had a relation with economics comparable to that of Protestantism in the rise of capitalism; however, he admits that qualification is necessary at almost every point. In the end, he is careful not to reduce religion simply to cultural values, and he is somewhat influenced by Tillich's analysis. Few books can do more to break the stereotypes sometimes associated with Japanese studies. The author's careful sociological analysis is a warning to any who would ignore the dialectic between religion and culture."Christian Century
Contents VG+. Covers rubbed. Tape repair, top of spine.
Price:
5.00 USD
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55 |
Belli, Melvin M.; Jones, Danny R. [Fwd. by Errol Flynn]. BELLI LOOKS AT LIFE AND LAW IN JAPAN.
Bobbs-Merrill 1960 First edition Hardcover Near Fine/VG+
320 pp. Approx. 5.5 x 8.5in. 20 oz.Preface by Toshio Irie, Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan. Apart from being a factual and anecdotal look at the Japanese legal system, the book also reports on a number of sensational trials: that of William Girard, the American soldier accused of murder and tried in a Japanese court under Japanese law, with the consent of the U.S Supreme Court; the trial of the Rat Boy, a Japanese Robin Hood; the trial of surely the most audacious criminal then on record, who represented himself in the early days of the Occupation as "MacArthur's sanitation expert" and forced employees of a Tokyo bank to drink strychnine as "stomach medicine". And the trial of Tokyo Rose, accused of treason in the United States.The intention of Belli and Jones is always to make clear how the forces of history, ethnology, religion, customs and folklore shape the development of the Japanese legal system.
Appears unread. In lightly edgeworn jacket.
Price:
15.00 USD
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58 |
Bess, Nancy Moore. BAMBOO IN JAPAN.
Tokyo Kodansha Intn'l. 2001 4770025106 First edition Hardcover New.
224 pp. Approx. 11x9.5 in. For centuries, bamboo has fascinated legions of craftspeople, plant lovers and devotees of the handcrafted object. And nowhere is bamboo used more elegantly and distinctly than in Japan. Its presence touches every part of daily lifeÑart, crafts, design, literature, and food. Its beauty enlivens textile designs, restaurant interiors, and holiday festivities. Artist and writer Nancy Moore Bess set out to discover just how bamboo-crafted objects attained such heights in Japan. Her travels took her throughout the country and through centuries of accumulated artifacts. After five years of dedicated research and study, she has assembled an unparalleled collection of writings and photographs that uncover the hidden beauty of bamboo. Bess unveils the boundless uses of this versatile material in Japan, ranging from the most elegant and refined to the most humble. She shows bamboo's applications in the garden and home, in the cherished accessories of the tea ceremony and flower arranging, and in an endless array of crafts from elaborate baskets to colorful kites and dolls. With illuminating text and over 250 exquisite photographs, illustrations, and artwork, Bess reveals the intricacies and resources of this lovely versatile plant. She explores the Japanese reverence for bamboo's natural beauty, adding immeasurably to our knowledge of the Asian sensibility and lifestyle.
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Price:
39.95 USD
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60 |
Beurdeley, Jean-Michel & Hinz, Hans. THAI FORMS.
New York Weatherhill 1980 0834801507 First edition Hardcover VG+/VG+
127 pp. Approx. 11 x 10in. A study of the formal design of everyday objects in Thailand. In 100 superb B/W and 20 color plates, the book presents articles that have been designed for a special purpose and constructed from everyday materials strictly suited to that purpose,Beauty is born out of the harmonious relationship between use, design, and material The Thai artistic tradition developed to a large extent independently of the other great Asian art traditions. Where influence from China or India did occur, the foreign elements were incorporated into distinctively Thai art forms. This unique artistic tradition pervades daily life in Thailand from the king's court to the humblest farmer's home. tradition
Price:
20.00 USD
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66 |
Bo, Shi. BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH: A HISTORY OF CHINESE WRITING.
Shambhala 2003 1590300505 Paperback Fine
128 pp. Approx. 6 x 9in. 10 oz.The characters used in Chinese writing are not letters but stylized ideographs, each with its own history. The development of Chinese writing is linked to the history of China's emperors, who commissioned new styles of writing with which to record their victories. In Between Heaven and Earth, master calligrapher Shi Bo gives a fascinating overview of the evolution of seven seminal Chinese writing styles starting in the seventeenth century BCE. He also introduces the reader to the calligrapher's art, including its materials and techniques. This gift-quality, two-color book is abundantly illustrated with archival material and the author's original calligraphy and will appeal to readers interested in Chinese language, history, and calligraphy.
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Price:
14.95 USD
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67 |
Bonosky, Phillip. DRAGON PINK ON OLD WHITE.
New York Marzani & Munsell 1963 Paperback Good
224 pp. Line illustrations. Approx. 5.5 x 8.5in. 12oz.Chinese color symbolism differs drastically from the West, illuminating the contrasts in cultures. Here is a friendly but critical eyewitness account by an American novelist sensitive to the art, culture and social psychology of China.
Contents crisp, clean. Binding weakening slightly. Covers faded.
Price:
5.00 USD
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74 |
Brant, Rosemary [Ed.]. YANG CHU'S GARDEN OF PLEASURE: THE PHILOSOPHY OF INDIVIDUALITY.
Astrolog Publishing House 2006 9654942062 Paperback Fine
93 pp. Approx. 5.25 x 8.25in. 6 oz.Yang Chu was a philosopher who is believed to have lived in the 4th. century BCE. A wandering teacher with few pupils, he had no permanent school, and left little evidence of his teachings.Like the ancient Greek philosophers, Yang Chu taught his students through discussion and debate. Only a fragment of his teachings remain: a series of debates, collected under the title Garden of Pleasure, which were memorized and recorded by his pupil Meng Sun Yang.Called the philosopher of pleasure and contentment, Yang Chu is mainly concerned with enjoying life to its fullest. His philosophy simply demands that people follow their inner voice to reach happiness. According to Yang Chu, the things that prevent happiness are disagreement, instability, greed, and anxiety. To achieve fulfillment, one should simply follow one's natural inclinations. Everything else will harm, limit, offend or enslave.Written in modern English, this collection of debates guides the readers through Yang Chu's distinctive philosophy, dealing with issues such as mortality, equality, the desire for fame and fortune, and the true nature of the human ego.
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75 |
Brauen, Martin. DREAMWORLD TIBET: WESTERN ILLUSIONS.
Boston Weatherhill 2004 0834805464 Hardcover Fine in Fine DJ
296 pp. Approx. 8 x 11in. In this lively and visually engaging work on Western conceptions of Tibet, anthropologist Martin Brauen paints a vivid portrait of misinterpretation, trivialization, and political and commercial exploitation of a rich and ancient culture. Starting with romantic notions of 17th-century adventurers in search of a Himalayan Utopia, Brauen discusses misconceptions both amusing and disturbing, such as the distortions of 20th-century neo-Nazis. The author also details the cynical exploitation of Tibetan Buddhism, a fundamental objective of which is the elimination of human greed, to further Western commercial aims. Nor does Brauen absolve Tibetans themselves in the use of the more benign, even flattering, of these distorted images, as they strive to draw the world's attention to their own politically and socially tenuous situation. Here the author lists the traditionally tolerant nature of Buddhist beliefs, the tendency of Tibetans to submit without question to authority figures, and some inherent naivetŽ as contributing factors. The book concludes with a caution on the dangers that these misconceptions pose to a mature presentation of the great value that Tibetan culture holds for the world. The illustrations are a fascinating and diverse collection drawn from movies, comic books, and popular literature. Illustrations of the commercial packaging of Tibet, its spiritual icons and religious leaders, are vivid and at times even shocking, as they portray the promotion of products ranging from cars to cosmetics, T-shirts, ash trays, and even soft pornography. In a world in which the elimination of cultural misunderstanding may be the key to ending human strife, Dreamworld Tibet offers a thoughtful and timely contribution.
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76 |
Braverman, Arthur. LIVING AND DYING IN ZAZEN: FIVE ZEN MASTERS OF MODERN JAPAN.
New York Weatherhill 2003 0834805316 First edition Paperback Fine
176 pp. Approx. 6.5 x 9in. Living and Dying in Zazen combines the life stories and teaching of five teachers: Kodo Sawaki, Sodo Yokoyama, Kozan Kato, Motoko Ikebe, and Uchiyama, associated with Antaiji monastery and the story of Braverman and other Western students coming to grips with Zen, Japanese culture, and themselves. The deification of Zen teachers by their followers has been a problematic issue in American Zen; this book provides a healthy antidote, presenting four men and one woman who have lived and died in Zen within the rich context of their personal lives and their culture, so that we can fully understand what makes a Zen master in Japan.
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77 |
Braverman, Arthur. WARRIOR OF ZEN: THE DIAMOND-HARD WISDOM MIND OF SUZUKI SHOSAN.
Kodansha Globe 1997 1568360312 Paperback Fine
133 pp. Suzuki Shosan is among the most dramatic personalities in the history of Zen. A samurai who served under the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in the seventeenth century, he became a Zen momk at age 41 and evolved a highly original teaching style imbued with the warrior spirit. The warrior's life, Shosan believed, was particularly suited to Zen study because it demanded vitality, courage and "death energy", the readiness to confront death at any moment. Emphasizing dynamic activity over quiet contemplation, Shosan urged students to realize enlightenment in the midst of their daily tasks, whether tilling fields, selling wares, or confronting an enemy in the heat of battle. Long popular in Japan but little known in the West, Shosan is presented here to Western readers in a sparkling translation and with a comprehensive introduction that brings alive his unique and colorful teaching.
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81 |
Bushell, Raymond. NETSUKE MASKS.
New York Weatherhill 1995 0834803410 Hardcover New
206 pp. Approx. 12 x 9 in. Profusely illustrated in B/W & color. Gigaku, Bugaku, Religious (Gyodo), Demon (Tsuina), Shishi, Okina, Noh, Kyogen, Folk Play masks. Mask groups and mask sets, trick mask netsuke, Quasi masks, masked dancers and a list of signatures, inscriptions, kakihan and masks. Glossary. Selected bibliography, index. Bound in red cloth & In cardboard slipcase.
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82 |
Bushell, Raymond. INRO HANDBOOK: STUDIES OF NETSUKE, INRO, AND LACQUER.
New York Weatherhill 1979 0834801353 Hardcover New
264 pp. Approx. 10 x 7.5in. For collectors who have discovered the delights of such miniature Japanese art forms as the inro and the netsuke, this authoritative and enlightening book offers a wealth of valuable information. That it also affords entry to a world of fascinating design and superb craftsmanship goes without saying. In addition to illustrating in color and discussing in detail 108 distinguished inro and their accompanying netsuke, as well as 18 related miniature objects, it presents highly informative essays on the making of inro, on pearl shell inlays, and, in particular on the materials and techniques of lacquer art, the last of these with 62 color photos. It also furnishes an extensive list of lacquer artists' signatures with 386 photos. It is refreshing to have an author tell his readers not only what his book is but also what it is not. In his introduction Bushell says: "This book is addressed to the collector of inro, netsuke, and other forms of miniature Japanese art, with emphasis on works in lacquer. Its purpose is specific and limited. It is not a comprehensive study of lacquer. It is not a historical survey, a technical analysis, a comparative examination, or a compendium of terms and definitions. In point of time it is limited to the Tokugawa, Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods. In point of craft it is limited to the later development of precise and sophisticated techniques, with their brilliant decorative effects." Bushell points out that he is not making an unnecessary emotional appeal in praise of lacquer. His objective is far more practical. This book is the product of his efforts to understand the structure underlying the beauty of lacquer art and to provide clear and simple explanations. Because other books on the subject had not satisfied him, he undertook his own basic research, and here he presents the information he acquired through painstaking study with master lacquer craftsmen and other authorities.
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59.95 USD
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83 |
Bushell, Raymond. COLLECTORS' NETSUKE.
New York Weatherhill 1971 0802724469 First edition Hardcover Fine /VG+
199 pp. Approx. 10.5 x 8in. An important contribution to netsuke literature: here a leading collector speaks directly to his fellow connoisseurs, presenting discoveries, insights and opinions deriving from over two decades of study and research. Treated in depth are such subjects as copying anf forgery, age and authenticity, commercialism, materials and techniques, signatures, criteria of quality, and many other questions that have become of increasing concern to the serious collector as the prices of netsuke around the world continue to soar. Nor does the book ignore the interests of the general reader and art lover, constituting as it does a penetrating appraisal of the netsuke as an art form. Its visual delights are equally outstanding: 700 photographs showing 354 choice netsuke in color and a large number of carvers' signatures. A detailed glossary-index further increases the book's usefulness as a reference tool.
Appears unread. Long split to the front of the original laminate dust jacket. Printed gold wrapper band is creased with one inch closed tear, rear. Pictorial cardboard slipcase is rubbed at extremities.
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85.00 USD
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84 |
Bushell, Raymond. INRO HANDBOOK: STUDIES OF NETSUKE, INRO, AND LACQUER.
New York Weatherhill 1979 0834801353 Hardcover New
264 pp. Approx. 10 x 7.5in. For collectors who have discovered the delights of such miniature Japanese art forms as the inro and the netsuke, this authoritative and enlightening book offers a wealth of valuable information. That it also affords entry to a world of fascinating design and superb craftsmanship goes without saying. In addition to illustrating in color and discussing in detail 108 distinguished inro and their accompanying netsuke, as well as 18 related miniature objects, it presents highly informative essays on the making of inro, on pearl shell inlays, and, in particular on the materials and techniques of lacquer art, the last of these with 62 color photos. It also furnishes an extensive list of lacquer artists' signatures with 386 photos. It is refreshing to have an author tell his readers not only what his book is but also what it is not. In his introduction Bushell says: "This book is addressed to the collector of inro, netsuke, and other forms of miniature Japanese art, with emphasis on works in lacquer. Its purpose is specific and limited. It is not a comprehensive study of lacquer. It is not a historical survey, a technical analysis, a comparative examination, or a compendium of terms and definitions. In point of time it is limited to the Tokugawa, Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods. In point of craft it is limited to the later development of precise and sophisticated techniques, with their brilliant decorative effects." Bushell points out that he is not making an unnecessary emotional appeal in praise of lacquer. His objective is far more practical. This book is the product of his efforts to understand the structure underlying the beauty of lacquer art and to provide clear and simple explanations. Because other books on the subject had not satisfied him, he undertook his own basic research, and here he presents the information he acquired through painstaking study with master lacquer craftsmen and other authorities.
New. Some light shelfwear.
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29.95 USD
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85 |
Cameron, Lindsley. THE MUSIC OF LIGHT: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF HIKARI AND KENZABURO OE.
Free Press 1998 0684824094 Advance Uncorrected Proofs Paperback Very Good+
202 pp. Approx. 5.5 x 8.25in. 10 oz.The fascinating story of Hikari Oe, the brain-damaged son who inspired the Nobel Prize-winning work of novelist Kenzaburo Oe, and the only savant composer in the world.Hikari Oe was born with a herniated brain, a condition so severe that the only treatment available was an operation that would save his life but leave him permanently brain damaged. Now thirty-four, Hikari has an I.Q. of 65, limited language and motor skills, and an inability to express emotions clearly. But he can remember every piece of music he has ever heard, and has composed classical-style chamber music that has broken sales records and delighted hundreds of thousands of listeners around the world. Meanwhile his father, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kenzaburo Oe, has written novels with characters inspired by Hikari.Based on exclusive access to the Oe family, as well as interviews with brain specialists, music critics, and performers of Hikari's music, The Music of Light utilizes astute, original reporting and an exploration of Kenzaburo's writing to analyze the only known savant composer in history. It is a remarkable and inspiring tale that reminds us of the miraculous possibilities of the human brain, and of a family's mutual devotion.
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6.00 USD
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88 |
Candlin, Enid Saunders. BREACH IN THE WALL: A MEMOIR OF OLD CHINA.
Paragon House 1988 0913729957 Paperback Very Good+
340 pp. The daughter of a wealthy tea merchant in Shanghai, Mrs. Candlin was privileged to live in China during one of those rare, transitional epochs. In the early twentieth century China witnessed the twilight of the oldest civilization on earth, the waning of the romantic colonial era, and the exciting beginnings of a new world. In this compelling pause in Chinese history, when gossip of a twelfth century poet seemed as alive as the bustling streets of Shanghai, Enid Candlin discovered and became enchanted with China. With a rare blend of intellectual curiosity, vivacity and resilience, she investigated her world and the world responded by laying before her its cities and walls, its poems and paintings, its stories and history.
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6.00 USD
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Ch'an Master Sheng-yen. COMPLETE ENLIGHTENMENT: ZEN COMMENTS ON THE SUTRA OF COMPLETE ENLIGHTENMENT.
Shambhala 1999 1570624003 Paperback Fine
320 pp. Approx. 6 x 9in. 16 oz.Complete Enlightenmentis the first authoritative translation and commentary on The Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, a central text that shaped the development of East Asian Buddhism and Ch'an (Chinese Zen). The text is set in the form of a transcription of discussions between the Buddha and the twelve enlightened beings(bodhisattvas), who question him on all aspects of spiritual practice.This new translation preserves all the liveliness and nuance of the text in the original Chinese. The sutra's ancient wisdom is brought to life by the commentaries of Master Sheng-yen, one of the most revered living Buddhist masters in the Ch'an lineage. This is truly a manual for the spiritual journey toward complete enlightenment, providing the key to the deep, poetic, and practical meanings of the scripture."With skill and authority, Master Sheng-yen's new commentary uses the sutra as a means of elucidating the essentials of Ch'an practice. His commentary bears eloquent witness to the vitality of Ch'an tradition in our day. It is an excellent place to begin for anyone who wishes to learn what that tradition is all about." Peter N. Gregory, Professor of Buddhist Studies, University of Illinois
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100 |
Chin, Annping. FOUR SISTERS OF HOFEI: A HISTORY.
Scribner 2002 068487377X Hardcover Near Fine in Near Fine Dust Jacket
310 pp. Four Sisters of Hofei is an intimate encounter with Chinese history, told through the collective memory and stories of four sisters born between 1908 and 1924, and with the benefit of the extraordinary knowledge of Yale historian Annping Chin. Now in their late eighties and early nineties, the Chang sisters lived through a century of historic change in China. In this extraordinary work, assembled with the benefit of letter, diaries, family histories, poetry, journals, and interviews, Annping Chin shapes the story of this family into a riveting chronicle that provides uncanny insight into the old China and its transition to the new.From their father, the Chang sister inherited reason and a belief in the virtues of modern education. From their mother they learned about the human spirit and the art of finding an appropriate path. Their nurse-nannies, uneducated widows from the Hofei countryside, contributed their own traditional beliefs and opinions on modern ways. As the sisters grew up, one broke with tradition to marry an actor, one survived the most violent political years of Communist rule, one married one of China's greatest novelists, and one, raised separately by her devout Buddhist great-aunt, was taught to be a rigorous practitioner of China's classical arts.The Chang sisters' prolific correspondence provides a rare glimpse of private life in China during the twentieth century, as well as a chronicle of the country from prosperity to persecution, from foreign wars to Cultural Revolution. In Chin's expert prose, Four Sisters of Hofei is an intensely person story that illustrates the complex history of a complex land.
Appears unread. Label conceals gift inscription on inside front endpaper. Price clipped from inner flap of jacket.
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