The Art and Architecture of Japan (The Yale University Press Pelican History of Art) [Paperback]

Robert Treat Paine (Author), Alexander Soper (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0300053339 | ISBN-13: 978-0300053333 | Publication Date: November 25, 1992 | Edition: 3

Once slighted as mere copying from China, the arts of Japan are now seen as a unique alternation of advances and withdrawals. At times the islanders produced Chinese-style works of great beauty, unmatched on the continent. When they chose to be independent, their art differs at every level. Sculpture, and even more painting, are concrete, sensuous, and emotional, speaking directly to all. All that was most native in architectural taste survived the periods of Chinese monumentality - huge temples and gridiron city plans - with little change. The rambling, wood-paper-and-bamboo dwelling re-emerged 1000 years ago, almost as it may still be seen today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 522 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 3 edition (November 25, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300053339
• ISBN-13: 978-0300053333
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #531,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authoritative, scholarly work on a focused subject., October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art and Architecture of Japan (The Yale University Press Pelican History of Art) (Paperback)

I purchased this book in my never ending pursuit of sholarly discourse on Japanese Buddhist sculpture. It is one thing to study sculpture and painting. It is quite another to understand it in the context of history and the architecture that housed it. Enlightening, to say the least, and meaningful reading. Its coverage of Buddhism and Buddhist art in Japan is noteworthy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Japanese art - A bird's eye view, November 30, 2009

By 

Manuel Del Rio Rodriguez "Galician Bookworm" (Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Architecture of Japan (The Yale University Press Pelican History of Art) (Paperback)

'The Art and Architecture of Japan' is an interesting overview of the three main artistic fields: sculpture, painting and architecture. It is divided into two parts, the first one touching the first two, the second totally devoted to buildings. They have been written by different historians.

For a general and synthetic view, it is a very good book. It's main problem is the fact that all its pictures are in black and white. The original text is also a bit old, but it has been tweaked and revised, and put up-to-date with notes (specially the second part). I give it 4 and not 5 stars because of the pictures, which in an art book (and more so with Japanese art, extremely colourful), you lose a lot from the use of B & W. If you can get it cheap, it is still a great general guide.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A History of Japanese Art through the Edo Period, January 28, 2011

By 

Steven Domingue (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art and Architecture of Japan (The Yale University Press Pelican History of Art) (Paperback)

"The Art and Architecture of Japan" by Paine and Soper has much information about Japanese art and architecture from prehistoric times through the Edo period ending 1867. The text contains information about a great many works, artists, styles and influences. It is good as a reference work or a textbook for this information.
I disagree with a statement I have seen in a travel guide that this book is a good introduction to Japanese art. Although the book contains a lot of information, I do not believe it would help someone with little experience of Japanese art to appreciate it. For many points made by the authors and for many works described there is no photograph. When there is a photograph, it is in black and white so that one does not see the colorful beauty that many works have. The book does not include information about more contemporary developments in Japanese art. Only the visual arts are discussed.
On the other hand, as an account of the history of early Japanese art the book is very informative and well organized. For readers with more than a casual interest in Japanese art, I recommend it.