Symbols of Japan: Thematic Motifs in Art and Design

Abstract

. . . It is in nature of man to both think and express himself symbolically. Moreover, 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 to a striking degree has insured that country continues to enjoy a cultural life meaningfully enriched by use of symbols. So begins Merrily Baird's definitive guide to symbols of Japan. Begining with a brief but insightful explanation of development of symbols throughout Japanese history, book looks at thematic motifs encountered in both classical fine arts and applied arts. The motifs are organized according to broad thematic categories such as the cosmos, heaven and earth and of land and 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 reader a wealth of visual information to enrich expert commentary on each subject. Beautiful objects of a variety of media are represented: painting, sculpture, woodblock prints, netsuke and inro. The book is culmination of more than twenty years of research by 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 withJapanese culture and those newly introduced to its rich complexities. In this indispensable guide to Japanese symbols, author, Merrily Baird, offers reader most lucid study of 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 U.S., Europe, and Japan. The book is organized to allow collectors of East Asian Art and students of to both research specific symbols and read broadly on such diverse topics as plants and flowers, animals of land and sea, demons and dieties, among others. As beautiful as it is informative, Symbols of Japan is destined to be cornerstore of every art and design library.

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