Art & Architecture
“All material in nature, the mountains and the streams and the air and we, are made of Light which has been spent, and this crumpled mass called material casts a shadow, and the shadow belongs to Light.”—Louis I. Kahn, Between Silence and Light
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The Art of Japanese Joinery
This lively introduction to Japanese joinery not only delves lovingly into the unique history and development of Japanese carpentry, but also reveals many secrets of Japanese joinery. Presenting 48 joints, selected from among the several hundred known and used today, this visually exciting book will please anyone who has ever been moved by the sheer beauty of wood. With the clear isometric projections complementing the 64 pages of stunning… Read More
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Between Silence and Light
Spirit in the Architecture of Louis I. Kahn
In the development of contemporary architecture, no one has had a greater influence than Louis I. Kahn, whose many buildings include the Salk Institute, the Yale Study Center, and the Exeter Library. He is remembered, however, not only as a master builder, but also as one of the most important and creative thinkers of the twentieth century. For Kahn, the study of architecture was the study of human beings, their… Read More
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The Elements of Japanese Design
A Handbook of Family Crests, Heraldry & Symbolism
The Elements of Japanese Design is a library of traditional Japanese design motifs in the form of more than 2,700 family crests ( mon) compiled and drawn by a Kyoto publisher and bookseller early in the twentieth century, and selected and interpreted by John Dower, a leading American scholar of Japan. First used for identification on the battlefield beginning in the twelfth century, mon developed into symbols of… Read More
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Enso
Zen Circles of Enlightenment
The ensō is one of the most prevalent images of Zen art, and it has become a kind of symbol of the clean and strong Japanese aesthetic. It has been subject to a rich variety of interpretations—seen as everything from a rice cake to a symbol of infinity. But regardless of how it is understood, the ensō is above all an expression of the mind of the artist who brushes… Read More
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Feng-shui
The Ancient Wisdom of Harmonious Living for Modern Times
The first complete, in-depth course in the traditional Chinese art of harmonious design for interiors, buildings, and sites—including instructions for making your own geomantic compass for feng-shui readings. Deeply rooted in Taoist and shamanic origins, feng-shui is not simply a list of directives for building auspicious structures or arranging interiors for good luck. It is the art of reading the patterns of the universe and… Read More
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The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols
The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols is a portal into the rich, multifaceted, and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. Robert Beer provides a deep and encompassing insight into the vast array of symbols and attributes that appear within the complex iconography of Tibetan Buddhism. The succinct descriptions that accompany his detailed line drawings reveal the origins, meanings, and functions of these symbols. Beer unravels the multiple layers… Read More
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Hearing with the Eye
Photographs from Point Lobos
These magical photographs of ordinary land- and waterscapes all share a mysterious quality of presence that calls into question any distinction we might make between ourselves and the natural world. They thus represent the renowned nature photographer–Zen master’s teaching on the interconnectedness of all things. The sixty-one astonishingly beautiful color images are accompanied by John Daido Loori’s commentary on a text by the most famous of all historic Zen masters,… Read More
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How to Wrap Five Eggs
Traditional Japanese Packaging
Traditional Japanese packaging is an art form that applies sophisticated design and natural aesthetics to simple objects. In this elegant presentation of the baskets, boxes, wrappers, and containers that were used in ordinary, day-to-day life, we are offered a stunning example of a time before mass production. Largely constructed of bamboo, rice straw, hemp twine, paper, and leaves, all of the objects shown here are made from natural materials. Through… Read More
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Images of Enlightenment
Tibetan Art in Practice
One of the most striking aspects of Tibetan Buddhism is its wealth of visual imagery. Ranging from the tranquility of a serenely poised meditator to the dynamic energy of apparently wrathful figures, this vivid and diverse imagery often leaves Western observers as puzzled as they are fascinated. Who are these figures, and what do they mean? Images of Enlightenment answers the need for a clear and straightforward guide to… Read More
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Inside Japanese Ceramics
A Primer of Materials, Techniques, and Traditions
This practical and supremely useful manual is the first comprehensive, hands-on introduction to Japanese ceramics. The Japanese ceramics tradition is without compare in its technical and stylistic diversity, its expressive content, and the level of appreciation it enjoys, both in Japan and around the world. Inside Japanese Ceramics focuses on tools, materials, and procedures, and how all of these have influenced the way traditional Japanese ceramics look and… Read More
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