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Zen in Japanese Culture: A Visual Journey through Art, Design, and Life
A visual journey through Zen’s influence on Japanese life, from calligraphy to the martial arts Formed by a convergence of the Buddha’s teachings with Taoism and local tradition, Zen has had a profound impact on the art and culture of Japan. As a philosophy, Zen promotes a recognition of emptiness and impermanence. As an aesthetic, it is marked by striking simplicity and a reverence for space. It operates on the principle of wabi-sabi , the harmony found in all things transient and imperfect. Countless Japanese artists, artisans, and designers have engaged with the Zen tradition, their work the fruit of its wisdom.
Author Gavin Blair has spent nearly two decades as a writer and journalist in Japan. In these pages, he shows how Zen has found expression in all aspects of Japanese culture, be it the tea ceremony, origami, or bonsai. Gorgeous full-color photographs highlight the simple beauty of the Zen aesthetic, from the hanging noren curtains that adorn entrances and doorways, to the intricate craftwork of a wagasa umbrella. Together these images speak to the quiet power of Zen.
Above all, Zen is an invitation to contemplate the mind, to cultivate harmony with nature and ease through understanding. This book is for any reader who is curious about Japanese culture and the Zen tradition. 120 full-color illustrations
Author Gavin Blair has spent nearly two decades as a writer and journalist in Japan. In these pages, he shows how Zen has found expression in all aspects of Japanese culture, be it the tea ceremony, origami, or bonsai. Gorgeous full-color photographs highlight the simple beauty of the Zen aesthetic, from the hanging noren curtains that adorn entrances and doorways, to the intricate craftwork of a wagasa umbrella. Together these images speak to the quiet power of Zen.
Above all, Zen is an invitation to contemplate the mind, to cultivate harmony with nature and ease through understanding. This book is for any reader who is curious about Japanese culture and the Zen tradition. 120 full-color illustrations
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
Published September 10, 2019
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December 27, 2020
Un bel libro documentario su come lo zen influisce sulla vita quotidiana in Giappone. Nonostante la cultura zen nasca in Cina e India riesce ad approdare in Giappone e ad instaurarsi in quasi tutti gli aspetti di questo paese tanto affascinante quanto incomprensibile e misterioso. In queste pagine si parla di arte, di cultura, guerra, design, cibo.
Viene trattato in modo molto chiaro ogni aspetto estetico o culturale. Si parla di concetti base come l'wabi sabi, dove si elogia la perfezione dell'imperfezione, sia riguardo agli oggetti materiali, sia riguardo alle persone. Si parla di origami, l'arte di piegare la carta e creare oggetti e figure bellissime; di ikebana, l'arte di creare composizioni perfette con i fiori; di samurai; di minimalismo nella vita e nel cibo; di templi, giardini in pietra e abitazioni. Un altro passo avanti verso la conoscenza del Giappone. Consigliato.
Viene trattato in modo molto chiaro ogni aspetto estetico o culturale. Si parla di concetti base come l'wabi sabi, dove si elogia la perfezione dell'imperfezione, sia riguardo agli oggetti materiali, sia riguardo alle persone. Si parla di origami, l'arte di piegare la carta e creare oggetti e figure bellissime; di ikebana, l'arte di creare composizioni perfette con i fiori; di samurai; di minimalismo nella vita e nel cibo; di templi, giardini in pietra e abitazioni. Un altro passo avanti verso la conoscenza del Giappone. Consigliato.
Displaying 1 of 1 review