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Paperback Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens: Design Principles, Aesthetic Values Book

ISBN: 4770015410

ISBN13: 9784770015419

Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens: Design Principles Aesthetic Values

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Format: Paperback

Condition: Very Good

$8.59
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Book Overview

The art of the Japanese garden is a 1,500-year-old landscape design tradition that is still evolving, still instructive. Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens explains the fundamental principles of this tradition and describes how those principles may be applied to a much wider range of environments than exists in Japan.

In the first section the author draws on his own experience as an apprentice to a master gardener in Kyoto, as well as his considerable knowledge of Japanese classical texts, to present the garden design process in terms of three primary aesthetic considerations:

Scenic effects-reproductions of appealing natural landscape forms.

Sensory effects-varieties of scale, framing, rhythm, motion, and spatial quality.

Cultural effects-the incorporation of allusions to classical literature, poetry, and painting.

The final section comprises a complete translation of a classic gardening manual used by Buddhist monks in medieval Japan. Its rules for planting trees and setting rocks still make good design sense today, and the author includes numerous garden descriptions as examples of how ancient masters practiced their craft.

This clear, authoritative work, fully illustrated with diagrams and photographs, elucidates much about the Japanese compositional sense. But at the same time it is a plea for a more holistic approach to landscape design-a recognition that a garden should conform to certain natural principles as well as meet the emotional needs of those who view it.

Customer Reviews

4 customer ratings | 3 reviews

Rated 5 stars
The Best Book on Japanese Garden Design Theory

I first found this book over twenty years ago and have not found another that comes close to giving the reader as comprehensive an understanding of Japanese garden design. At first, I read the book from cover to cover. However, because of its depth it is best to re-read the book (the second and all subsequent times) in sections. A more thorough and complete understanding is achieved. It is true that this book is not an easy...

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Rated 5 stars
An invaluable and in-depth resource

I have, over the years, collected a number of books on the art of Japanese Gardens. Most rely on glossy photos and provide very little written content on the complexities of Japanese garden composition. What sets this work apart is its depth and focus on unraveling the underlying design principles and its intent on providing a deeper understanding into the art of Japanese gardening. If you were looking for a purely visual...

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Rated 5 stars
Inspiration and perspiration for an aspiring garden designer

Of all the books we consulted, read, and reread before we began to design and create our own Japanese-style garden -- really, just a small front yard of a rowhouse on a pretty street on Capitol Hill -- Slawson's book was the most useful. Why? Not because it's easy reading! Understanding what the author is trying to say requires careful and slow reading (and rereading) of almost every sentence. It's effort well spent!...

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