Customer Reviews

Art and Culture of Japan (Abrams Discoveries)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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This book was originally written in French and then translated into English. Considering the subject of this book is Japan, that's probably not the best way to go about things. Many of the Japanese words introduced in this book are written as they would be transcribed in French, not English, leading to possible confusion. In addition, the translation is at times not very good. The text gets quite clunky and seems poorly organized in places. The one thing this book has going for it is the abundance of high quality photographs. Visually, this book is stunning, filled with lots of slick, high-gloss images. So buy this book for the pictures, but if you're actually going to read it, beware the information. There are many other books that are much better.

In The Art and Culture of Japan, the author describes the greater aspects of Japanese past and present art and culture. He touches on a wide array of cultural diffences and even explores the art of rock gardens. In this book, there is enough information on gardening to fulfill my horticultural needs and wants. He lividly descibes the samuri and their code of honor, while offering a view on the way that the Shinto religion functions and their main beliefs. The only quam I have with this book is the lack of an in-depth look at the everyday life and funtions of the peasant life in ancient Japan.

Though it is true this book does not go into great depth about Japan and its culture; nevertheless, it is a good basic guide of Japan for the average person who is not seeking a more academic approach to the topic. Chapters include the realm of the Kami, a buddhist civilization, the way of the warrior, the way of Zen and numerous other interesting sections.

It also has a section for those seeking further reading on the subject. The photographs are clear, in color and beautiful. In conclusion, this book is for anyone who desires an overview of the art and culture of Japan.

Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Tanto-Jutsu Official Manual---Bushi Satori Ryu).