The Arts of Japan

A Concise History of Japanese Art

Swann, Peter C.Kodansha International · 1979

Cover of A Concise History of Japanese Art

A general survey of Japanese art, including textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy as well as more traditional forms, explores the cultural and religious influences that have shaped its development

Details

Title
A Concise History of Japanese Art
Publication Date
1979
Language
English
Media
Print
Page Count
332
Format
Hardcover
ISBN 13
978-0870113772
Publisher
Kodansha International
Author
Swann, Peter C.

Blurb

This revised, compact edition moves through each major art period, and shows how aesthetic sensibilities – such as that derived from Zen – were transformed over the centuries and brought to life in great masterpieces. Included is a map of Japan , a bibliography, index, and black and white photos which illustrate the text.

When this book was first published in 1958, British critic G.M. Butcher called it “nearly indispensable to anyone approaching the arts of Japan for the first time.”

Table of Contents

  • Preface
    7
  • Map of Japan
    12
  • Introduction
    13
  • Japanese Art to the Sixth Century
    21
  • The Asuka or Suiko Period
    35
  • The Nara Period
    58
  • The Early Heian Period
    92
  • The Late Heian Period or Fujiwara Period
    107
  • The Kamakura Period
    125
  • The Ashikaga or Muromachi Period
    172
  • The Momoyama Period
    211
  • The Tokugawa Period
    238
  • Notes
    319
  • Bibliography
    323
  • Index
    326