Chinese Art
Chinese Art

Author: Roger Fry

Publisher:

Published: 1925

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13:

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Our object in producing this book is to supply information about Chinese art that is at once authoritative and introductory. To many it may seem curious that no previous volume of the kind exists ; but to those who know the extreme difficulty of a detailed study of even one part of Chinese art, with its enormous periods and its close relationship to Eastern ideas, it may rather seem curious that anyone should attempt such a summary. We should not have given way to the desire to make such a book had we not known how valuable it would be if properly produced, and had we not felt that we had hit upon the right plan. -- Preface.

Japan Encyclopedia
Japan Encyclopedia

Author: Louis-Frédéric

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 1130

ISBN-13: 9780674017535

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"Knowing Japan and the Japanese better," Louis Frédéric states in the introduction to this encyclopedia, "is one of the necessities of modern life." The Japanese have a profound knowledge of every aspect and detail of Western societies. Unfortunately, we in the West cannot say the same about our knowledge of Japan. We tend to see Japan through a veil of exoticism, as a land of ancient customs and exquisite arts; or we view it as a powerful contributor to the global economy, the source of cutting-edge electronics and innovative management techniques. To go beyond these clichés, we must begin to see how apparently contradictory aspects of modern Japanese culture spring from the country's evolution through more than two millennia of history. This richly detailed yet concise encyclopedia is a guide to the full range of Japanese history and civilization, from the dawn of its prehistory to today, providing clear and accessible information on society and institutions, commerce and industry, sciences, sports, and politics, with particular emphasis on religion, material culture, and the arts. The volume is enhanced by maps and illustrations, along with a detailed chronology of more than 2,000 years of Japanese history and a comprehensive bibliography. Cross-references and an index help the reader trace themes from one article to the next. Japan Encyclopedia will be an indispensable one-volume reference for students, scholars, travelers, journalists, and anyone who wishes to learn more about the past and present of this great world civilization.

Enchanted by Lohans
Enchanted by Lohans

Author: Minna Törmä

Publisher: Hong Kong University Press

Published: 2013-08-01

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 9888139843

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Finnish-Swedish art historian Osvald Sirén (1879–1966) was one of the pioneers of Chinese art scholarship in the West. This biography focuses on his four major voyages to East Asia: 1918, 1921–23, 1929–30 and 1935. This was a pivotal period in Chinese archaeology, art studies and formation of Western collections of Chinese art. Sirén gained international renown as a scholar of Italian art, particularly with his books on Leonardo da Vinci and Giotto. But when he was almost 40 years old, he was captivated by Chinese art (paintings of Lohans in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston) to such an extent that he decided to start his career anew, in a way. He has left his mark in several fi elds in Chinese art studies: architecture, sculpture, painting and garden art. The study charts Sirén’s itineraries during his travels in Japan, Korea and China; it introduces the various people in those countries as well as in Europe and North America who defined the field in its early stages and were influential as collectors and dealers. It also explores the impact of theosophical ideas in his work.