The Ideals of the East: With Special Reference to the Art of Japan (Stone Bridge Classics)

Written at the turn of the 20th century, this work suggests an appreciation of a Japanese sense of beauty, values and way of thinking by introducing the history of Japanese art. Contents 5 Prefatory Note 7 Introduction 9 The Range of Ideals 17 The Primitive Art of Japan 25 Confucianism—Northern China 31 Laoism and Taoism—Southern China 41 Buddhism and Indian Art 51 The Asuka Period 63 The Nara Period 77 The Heian Period 87 The Fujiwara Period 95 The Kamakura Period 103 Ashikaga Period 109 Toyotomi and Early Tokugawa Period 121 Later Tokugawa Period 127 The Meiji Period 133 The Vista 149 Chronology of Asian Art 155 The 1904 book that famously declared “Asia is one” was among the first studies in English to reference Zen as it explored the roots of Japanese beauty. Like the author’s __The Book of Tea,__ this volume emphasized the spiritual ideals of Asian, and especially Japanese, art. **Kakuzo Okakura** (1863–1913) was an administrator and scholar whose writings helped shape the West’s early views of Japan and Asia. In late 19th century when the East was accepting Western culture as enlightenment, the author suggests an appreciation of the Japanese sense of beauty, values, and ways of thinking by introducing the history of Japanese art The classic work on Japanese beauty and values as seen in Japanese art and culture