Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 406205938X ISBN 13: 9784062059381

Publisher: Kodansha International, 1993

Synopsis

A current and comprehensive source of information on contemporary Japanese society, history, and culture. This monumental work is packed with data on the economy, government, and politics of Japan, as well as articles on Japanese art, culture, and history. In addition to the main entries and over 4,000 fullcolor illustrations, nearly 100 feature articles and pictorial essays expand on subjects of particular interest. Features 4,000 color photos and illustrations 2 million words in 12,000 entries Easy-to-use reader's guide to entries 20 pages of maps 14 page bibliography of major works on Japan Japanese-English bilingual title entries and index

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Here are the first two paragraphs of the article on origami, consistuting about one-fourth of the whole. Below is a graphic of the page on which the article begins. origami

Folded paper; also the art of folding paper to form shaped figures and ornamental objects. Origami ranges from a simple form of child's play to a complex art form. It is used in certain Japanese ceremonies and rituals, as well as for practical, educational, and entertainment purposes.

Background --Origami as a form of entertainment was not practiced during ancient times when paper was scarce and hence very valuable; it probably began during the Heian period (794-1185). Origami with only folding and no cutting developed first in the Muromachi period (1333-1568). In the Edo period (1600-1868) other techniques of folding, cutting, and dyeing paper were developed. By the Taisho period (1912-26) patterns for some 150 different kinds of origami figures had been established. Contemporary origami is distinguished from paper cutting, paper sculpture, and kumigami (paper assembling). The new art of creative origami does not, generally speaking, use cutting or coloring techniques, and the main pattern of expression is cubic.

About this edition

• Publisher: Kodansha International
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 406205938X
• ISBN 13: 9784062059381
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 1924
• Editor: Alan Campbell, David S. Noble