Author : Jennifer Lea Anderson
Publisher : SUNY Press
Page : 376 pages
File Size : 24,96 MB
Release : 1991-01-01
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780791407493
Enchanting and enigmatic, chanoyu (Japanese tea ritual) has puzzled western observers since the sixteenth century. Here is a book written by a tea practitioner that explains why over twenty million modern Japanese -- and a small but dedicated group of non-Japanese -- follow "The Way of Tea." Meticulously researched, An Introduction to Japanese Tea Ritual is clearly written and illustrated, and includes an extensive glossary.
Author : S. Katsumata
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 219 pages
File Size : 37,61 MB
Release : 2013-05-13
Category : Travel
ISBN : 1136654216
First published in 1937 this is a collection of articles written by the author under the pseudonym 'Waseda Eisaku' for the Japan Tourist Bureau's magazine over twenty five years. Intended to satisfy the intellectual curiosity of cultivated tourists from abroad by giving the insider's view of all things Japanese, it was published as a book just before the outbreak of World War II. Writing in the first person, Katsumata becomes both guide and confidante, writing about his own travel experiences in Japan and about Japanese customs and practices that interest him, such as traditional incense ceremonies, or fishing with rod and creel. This personal approach results in an unusual selection of topics and itineraries including tray landscapes, old Japanese clocks, hot springs, Japanese humour, sumo wrestling, pines in Japanese scenery, the Japanese sun flag and Buddhist temple bells. The author not only describes, but draws the reader into his own experiences - his joy on buying an antiquarian book he cannot really afford, the monotony he feels when travelling too long through snowy landscapes, the delight he takes in telling you that the best bait for carp fishing is sweet potato. Katsumata's unconventional choice of subjects and his informal and individualistic writing style make this a refreshingly different guide to Japan, and a valuable record of the period in which it was written.
Author : David C. Lewis
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 36,96 MB
Release : 2017-09-22
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 1317194373
Are Japanese people religious – and, if so, in what ways? David Lewis addresses this question from the perspective of ordinary Japanese people in the context of their life cycles, and explores why they engage in religious activities. He not only discusses how Japanese people engage in different religious practices as they encounter new events in their lives but also analyses the attitudes and motivations behind their behaviour. Activities such as fortune-telling, religious rites in the workplace, ancestral rites and visits to shrines and temples are actually engaged in by many people who view themselves as ‘non- religious’ but express their motivations in terms other than the conventional ‘religious’ ones. This book outlines the religious options available, and assesses why people choose particular religious activities at various times in their lives or in specific circumstances. The author challenges some widespread assumptions about religion in urban and industrial contexts and also shows how some of the underlying motivations behind Japanese behaviour are expressed both in religious and non-religious forms.
Author : Issotei Nishikawa
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 105 pages
File Size : 17,13 MB
Release : 2013-01-11
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 1136208836
First published in 2005. Japanese flower arrangement is much more than an elegant amusement - it is an expression of what the Japanese call furyu - to turn away from strife, and to lose oneself in the joys of peace and nature. It is the opposite of that other key aspect of Japanese culture - Bushido, the way of the warrior. The virtues of Bushido are persistence, fidelity, endurance, bravery and activity - those of furyu are subtlety, gentleness, restraint and repose. That they see no inconsistency or contradiction between these two ways of living is one of the most interesting characteristics of the Japanese people. This volume is a succinct and comprehensive guide to the history, theory and practice of this exquisite art. It explains the three fundamental forms of Japanese flower arrangement - Shin, Gyo and So, as well as the proper arrangement of the tokonoma, the alcove where the flowers are displayed. It explains how one has to 'see' the expressions and emotions in blossoms and branches to achieve the most harmonious combinations, and gives the history of the art going back to the Ashikaga Shogunate, describing the two great classical schools of Japanese flower arrangement - the formal (rikkwa) and the natural (nageire) styles. It also deals with two new schools - the heaven-earthman (ten-chi-jin) and literati (bunjin-ike) styles - concluding with an illustrated chapter on how to arrange flowers. This is a book full of timeless serenity and beauty.
Author : Sandra Buckley
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
Page : 665 pages
File Size : 43,10 MB
Release : 2009
Category : Foreign Language Study
ISBN : 041548152X
This encyclopedia covers culture from the end of the Imperialist period in 1945 right up to date to reflect the vibrant nature of contemporary Japanese society and culture.
Author : Mira Locher
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
Page : 718 pages
File Size : 40,35 MB
Release : 2012-04-17
Category : Architecture
ISBN : 1462906060
By examining the Japanese history of buildings and building designs from prehistory to modern day, lovers of Japan will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of this island country. Simplicity, sensitivity to the natural environment, and the use of natural materials are the hallmarks of Japanese architecture. The Art of Japanese Architecture provides a broad overview of traditional Japanese architecture in its historical and cultural context. It begins with a discussion of prehistoric dwellings and concludes with a description of modern Japanese buildings. Important historical influences and trends--notably the introduction of Buddhist culture from Korea and China, the development of feudalism, and the influence of modern Western styles of building--are all discussed in detail as facets of Japanese design. Through all of these changes, a restrained architectural tradition developed in marked contrast to an exuberant tradition characterized by monumentality and the use of bold colors. The book provides tremendous insights into the dynamic nature of Japanese architecture and how it reflects an underlying diversity within Japanese culture. The book is profusely illustrated with over 370 color photographs, woodblock prints, maps, diagrams, and specially commissioned watercolors.
Author :
Publisher :
Page : 512 pages
File Size : 50,78 MB
Release : 1905
Category : Art
ISBN :
Author : Mechtild MERTZ
Publisher : Kaiseisha press
Page : 258 pages
File Size : 35,23 MB
Release : 2016-03-01
Category : Wood
ISBN : 4860993233
Japan is known to be a country of wood and "wood culture". Written sources on the practical aspect of traditional woodcraft, however, are scarce. For this reason it was decided to undertake a study based on in-depth interviews of craftsmen who are specialised in various fields of traditional woodworking. From the data thus obtained it was possible to study the materials used, the techniques, the nomenclature, the aesthetics and the culture prevailing in the various fields of woodcraft. As a result both the technical and the symbolic and aesthetic properties of wood and woodworking become apparent, as seen from the point of view of Japanese craftsmen who owe their skill and expertise to traditions passed from one generation to the next. As such, this study contributes towards opening a new field of research for art historians, ethnobotanists, archaeologists and japanologists by supplying them with new means and tools to supplement their own. Apart from that, the present study, focusing on wood in all its aspects as it does, ties in with an academic trend that has been developing in Japan over the past few decades.
Author : Daniel Sosnoski
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
Page : 118 pages
File Size : 33,70 MB
Release : 2013-05-21
Category : Travel
ISBN : 1462911536
Featuring full-color photographs and illustrations thoughout, this book presents a comprehensive guide to Japanese culture. The richness of Japan's history is renowned worldwide, and the cultural heritage that its society has produced and handed down to future generations is one of Japan's greatest accomplishments. Introduction to Japanese Culture presents an overview, through 68 original and informative essays, of Japan's most notable cultural achievements, including: Holidays and Festivals--Learn how the Japanese celebrate shogatsu (New Year's Day), hanami (the Cherry Blossom Festival), and more. Drama and Art--Discover yakimono (pottery), shodo(calligraphy), haiku poetry, kabuki, and karate Cuisine--Open your eyes to foods from kome (rice) to raw fish. Home and Recreation--Explore subjects ranging from board games like "Go" to origami, kimonos, and Japanese gardens. The Japan of today is a modern, 21st-century society in nearly every regard. Even so, the elements of an earlier age are clearly visible in the country's arts, festivals, and customs. This book focuses on the essential constants that remain in present-day Japan and their counterparts in Western culture. Edited by Daniel Sosnoski, an American writer who has lived in Japan since 1985, these well-researched articles, color photographs, and line illustrations provide a compact guide to aspects of Japan that may puzzle the outside observer at first. Introduction to Japanese Culture is a wonderfully informative primer on the cultural make-up and behaviors of the Japanese, and is certain to fascinate students, tourists, and anyone who seeks to know and understand Japanese culture, etiquette, and history.
Author :
Publisher :
Page : 352 pages
File Size : 14,9 MB
Release : 1922
Category : Anthropology
ISBN :
