Timeless Beauty. Land of the Rising Sun at the Turn of the Century

The Golden Age of Travel neatly overlaps with the reign of the Emperor Meiji, which began in 1868 with the overthrow of a feudal order that had kept Japan secluded from the outside world for more than 200 years. In the ensuing four-and-a-half decades, Japan became a less remote and more attractive destination for the international traveler and a popular subject for photographers, both Japanese and foreign.

In 536 pages, this book presents more than 700 vintage images of Japan, texts by a specialist in early Japanese photography, and extensive commentary through thematic sections exploring traditions as varied as tea, silk and Buddhism, as well as itineraries across five regions, all of which guide the reader through this captivating land.

Our travels take us from the enchanting vistas of Nagasaki to the seagirt shrine of Miyajima, long esteemed among the "Three Views" considered the most beautiful in Japan; from the rambling streets of Kobe to the energetic bustle of Osaka; from the cornucopia of historic sights in the ancient cities of Kyoto and Nara to the twin delights of shopping and sex in the vibrant modern port of Yokohama; from the timeless beauty of Mount Fuji and the mountainside scenery of nearby Hakone to the urban melange of Japan’s modern capital, where the traditions of Edo and the modernity of Tokyo co-existed; and, finally, from the jewel-like architecture of Nikkō set amidst forests and waterfalls to the islet-studded bay of Matsushima, until our journey ends in the remote wilds of Hokkaido, home to the indigenous Ainu.

The authors:

Sebastian Dobson is an independent scholar of the history of early photography in Japan and East Asia. He lectures widely in Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan, and his publications include encyclopedia entries, book reviews, numerous articles and catalogue essays for exhibitions hosted in Boston, Singapore and Tokyo.

Sabine Arqué is a photo researcher, editor, and author. She has collaborated on numerous publications on the themes of travel, the history of tourism, and photography.

'a mixture of artistic sensibility and imagery that leaves nothing to the imagination'  - The Telegraph

In early modern Japan, thousands of sexually explicit paintings, prints, and illustrated books with texts were produced. These were euphemistically called ‘spring pictures’ (shunga) and were originally created by the artists of the ukiyo-e school of the floating world to advertise brothels in 17th-century Yoshiwara, including the celebrated artists Utamaro and Hokusai.

This catalogue of an exhibition in 2013/4 at the British Museum aims to answer some key questions about what shunga is and why was it produced. Erotic Japanese art was heavily suppressed in Japan from the 1870s onwards and it is only in the last twenty years or so has it been possible to publish unexpurgated examples in Japan. 

Drawing on the latest scholarship and featuring over 400 images of works from major public and private collections, this book sheds new light on this unique art form within Japanese social and cultural history.

About the author:

Timothy Clark, Head of Japanese Section, British Museum

Nippon Nests. Today’s most exceptional Japanese homes

So rich and unique is traditional Japanese architecture that it’s nearly impossible to improve upon. Yet contemporary Japanese designers and architects keep finding fresh approaches to refurbish and take inspiration from the ways of old. Whether it’s a pristinely preserved traditional house or a sleek modern apartment, the best Japanese homes share a love of cleverly designed spaces and warm materials like wood, brick, and bamboo.

From a thatched roof farmhouse occupied by a Zen priest to Tadao Ando’s experimental 4x4 House, from Shigeru Ban’s conceptual Shutter House to a beautiful domestic homage to bamboo, this elegant compendium traverses the multifaceted landscape of Japanese living today.

Enriched by 170 brand new, unpublished photographs, this edition takes you on breathtaking journey through the Land of the Rising Sun — complete with a list of addresses, should you wish to undertake this journey to Japan’s most fascinating inns and homes yourself. An insightful glossary of key terms, such as tatami, shoji, and noren, will also help you come to grips with all elements of Japan’s unique aesthetic of Eastern minimalism.

The photographer

Swiss photographer Reto Guntli, based in Zurich, regularly travels the world shooting for international magazines. He has published numerous books and contributed to such TASCHEN publications as Inside Asia, Living in Japan, Living in Bali, Great Escapes Asia and Great Escapes Europe.

The authors

Author, art collector, calligrapher, and restorer of old houses, Alex Kerr has lived in Japan and Thailand since 1964. As a writer, he is known for Lost Japan (1996), Dogs and Demons (2001), and Another Kyoto (2016).

Kathy Arlyn Sokol is a writer, interviewer, and award-winning narrator. Her published works include Rasta Time, based on her exclusive interview with Bob Marley, and Another Kyoto, co-written with Alex Kerr, on the secrets of the ancient city. She presently resides in Udaipur in Rajasthan, India.

The editor

Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN from 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.

About the series:

TASCHEN is 40! Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible publishing, helping bookworms around the world curate their own library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia at an unbeatable price. Today we celebrate 40 years of incredible books by staying true to our company credo. The 40 series presents new editions of some of the stars of our program — now more compact, friendly in price, and still realized with the same commitment to impeccable production.

An in-depth exploration of the sometimes charming, sometimes gruesome feline creatures and ghosts of Japan. Davisson illuminates the vast realm of kaibyō, or supernatural cats, with historical and modern cultural context. Lushly illustrated in full colour with dozens of ukiyo-e prints and drawings. A must-have book for the Japanophile and cat-lover alike! First in a forthcoming series about the supernatural animals of Japan.

"Kaibyō: The Supernatural Cats of Japan is an extremely diverting and stunningly produced celebration of the phantom feline in its myriad of manifestations ― some alluring, others humorous and many outright terrifying. Award-winning translator, writer, lecturer, manga scholar, Japanese folklore expert and author of Yūrei: The Japanese Ghost, Zach Davisson is the ideal guide to this furred and fanged underworld. An expertly researched and engagingly penned text is embellished by the inclusion of an intriguing selection of uncanny cat tales by other authors and centuries’ old legends newly translated by Mr. Davisson. The publishers must be congratulated for creating a book of extraordinary lavishness. Although a paperback release, no expense has been spared in an exquisitely designed book brimming with a toothsome array of full-colour artwork reproductions."

― review by Scot D. Ryersson and Michael Orlando Yaccarino, co-authors of Infinite Variety: The Life and Legend of the Marchesa Casati and The Marchesa Casati: Portraits of a Muse

About the Author:

Zack Davisson is an award-winning translator, writer, and scholar of Japanese folklore and ghosts. He is the author of Yūrei: The Japanese Ghost (Chin Music Press), translator of Eisner Award-winning and Harvey-nominated Shigeru Mizuki’s Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan, and a 2014 nominee of the Japanese-US Friendship Commission Translation Prize. Other translation works include the famous folklore comic Kitaro (Drawn and Quarterly) and the works of Satoshi Kon (Dark Horse).

Station to Station. A historic trail through the heart of Japan, as told by two legendary woodblock artists

This XXL edition reprints Keisai Eisen and Utagawa Hiroshige’s legendary series The Sixty-Nine Stations along the Kisokaidō, a stunning representation of the historic route between Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Sourced from one of the finest surviving first editions, this vivid tapestry of 19th-century Japan is in equal parts a major artifact of its imperial past and a masterwork of woodblock practice.

The Kisokaidō route through Japan was ordained in the early 1600s by the country’s then-ruler Tokugawa Ieyasu, who decreed that staging posts be installed along the length of the arduous passage between Edo (present-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Inns, shops, and restaurants were established to provide sustenance and lodging to weary travelers. In 1835, renowned woodblock print artist Keisai Eisen was commissioned to create a series of works to chart the Kisokaidō journey. After producing 24 prints, Eisen was replaced by Utagawa Hiroshige, who completed the series of 70 prints in 1838.

Both Eisen and Hiroshige were master print practitioners. In The Sixty-Nine Stations along the Kisokaidō, we find the artists’ distinct styles as much as their shared expertise. From the busy starting post of Nihonbashi to the castle town of Iwamurata, Eisen opts for a more muted palette but excels in figuration, particularly of glamorous women, and relishes snapshots of activity along the route, from shoeing a horse to winnowing rice. Hiroshige demonstrates his mastery of landscape with grandiose and evocative scenes, whether it’s the peaceful banks of the Ota River, the forbidding Wada Pass, or a moonlit ascent between Yawata and Mochizuki.

Taken as a whole, The Sixty-Nine Stations collection represents not only a masterpiece of woodblock practice, including bold compositions and an experimental use of color, but also a charming tapestry of 19th-century Japan, long before the specter of industrialization. This TASCHEN XXL edition revives the series with due scale and splendor. Sourced from the only-known set of a near-complete run of the first edition of the series, this legendary publication is reproduced in optimum quality, bound in the Japanese tradition and with uncut paper. A perfect companion piece to TASCHEN’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, it is at once a visual delight and a major artifact from the bygone era of Imperial Japan.

The editor and author:

Andreas Marks studied East Asian art history at the University of Bonn and obtained his PhD in Japanese studies from Leiden University with a thesis on 19th-century actor prints. From 2008 to 2013 he was director and chief curator of the Clark Center for Japanese Art in Hanford, California, and since 2013 has been the Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese and Korean Art, head of the Department of Japanese and Korean Art, and director of the Clark Center for Japanese Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

The author:

Rhiannon Paget studied at Tokyo University of the Arts and received her doctorate in Japanese Art History from the University of Sydney, Australia. The curator of Asian art at the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida, she has published research on Japanese woodblock prints, textiles, board games, and nihonga.

Woodblock Wonders. A visual history of 200 Japanese masterpieces

The Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon with no Western equivalent, one where breathtaking landscapes exist alongside blush-inducing erotica; where demons and otherworldly creatures torment the living; and where sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, and courtesans are rock stars. This XXL book lifts the veil on a much-loved but little-understood art, revealing the stories and people behind the 200 most exceptional prints from 1680–1938. Drawing from the finest impressions in museums and private collections around the world, it features the work of 89 artists as well as 17 fold-outs.

From Edouard Manet’s portrait of naturalist writer Émile Zola sitting among his Japanese art finds to Van Gogh’s meticulous copies of the Hiroshige prints he devotedly collected, 19th-century pioneers of European modernism made no secret of their love of Japanese art. In all its sensuality, freedom, and effervescence, the woodblock print is single-handedly credited with the wave of japonaiserie that first enthralled France and, later, all of Europe — but often remains misunderstood as an “exotic” artifact that helped inspire Western creativity.

The fact is that the Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon of which there exists no Western equivalent. Some of the most disruptive ideas in modern art — including, as Karl Marx put it, that “all that is solid melts into air” — were invented in Japan in the 1700s and expressed like never before in the designs of such masters as Hokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige in the early 19th century.

This book lifts the veil on a much-loved but little-understood art form by presenting the 200 most exceptional Japanese woodblock prints in their historical context. Ranging from the 17th-century development of decadent ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” to the decline and later resurgence of prints in the early 20th century, the images collected in this edition make up an unmatched record not only of a unique genre in art history, but also of the shifting mores and cultural development of Japan.

From mystical mountains to snowy passes, samurai swordsmen to sex workers in shop windows, each piece is explored as a work of art in its own right, revealing the stories and people behind the motifs. We discover the four pillars of the woodblock print — beauties, actors, landscapes, and bird-and-flower compositions — alongside depictions of sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, or enticing courtesans — rock stars who populated the “floating world” and whose fan bases fueled the frenzied production of woodblock prints. We delve into the horrifying and the obscure in prints where demons, ghosts, man-eaters, and otherworldly creatures torment the living —stunning images that continue to influence Japanese manga, film, and video games to this day. We witness how, in their incredible breadth, from everyday scenes to erotica, the martial to the mythological, these works are united by the technical mastery and infallible eye of their creators and how, with tremendous ingenuity and tongue-in-cheek wit, publishers and artists alike fought to circumvent government censorship.

Three years in the making, this XXL edition presents reproductions of the finest extant impressions from the vaults of museums and private collections across the globe — many newly photographed, especially for this project. Some 17 stunning fold-outs invite us to study even the subtlest details, while extensive descriptions guide us through this frantic period in Japanese art history.

Features:

- The work of 89 artists, from the world-renowned to the unfamiliar
- 7 chapters organized chronologically to trace the history of the medium from 1680 to 1938
- 17 fold-outs, which had to be hand-folded due to their size and specifications
- Exclusive reproductions from museums and private collections
- An appendix listing all artists and works

The author:

Andreas Marks studied East Asian art history at the University of Bonn and obtained his PhD in Japanese studies from Leiden University with a thesis on 19th-century actor prints. From 2008 to 2013 he was director and chief curator of the Clark Center for Japanese Art in Hanford, California, and since 2013 has been the Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese and Korean Art, head of the Department of Japanese and Korean Art, and director of the Clark Center for Japanese Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

A fascinating journey through the world of anime and manga, their genres and styles, roots and creators.

An accessible, informative and fascinating journey through the world of anime and manga, their genres and styles (from the most commercial to the most cutting-edge), their roots and their creators. With a wealth of iconographic content, this book will be the reference book for anyone interested in discovering the diversity and originality of manga and anime.

About the Authors:

Philip Brophy is a musician, filmmaker, writer and academic.
Carlo Chatrian is a film critic and consultant for several film festivals.
Jonathan Clements is the author of Schoolgirl Milky Crisis: Adventures in Anime and co-author of The Anime Encyclopedia.
Luca Della Casa is a selector of anime and Asian films for Bologna’s Future Film Festival.
Stephane Delorme is Editor-in-chief of Cahiers du cinéma.
Davide Di Giorgio is a film critic and author of a Japanese animation column for the webmagazine Sentieri Selvaggi.
Daniele Dottorini is a film critic, lecturer and consultant for several film festivals.
Stefano Gariglio works in movie subtitling and is a member of the neo(N)eiga cultural association.
Paul Gravett is a critic, lecturer, curator and historian specializing in international comic art.
Erwan Higuinen is a journalist and film critic for Libération, Cahiers du cinéma and Les Inrockuptibles.
Fabrizio Liberti is film programmer for Italian television channel Rai Uno.
Helen McCarthy is the author of The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga and co-author of The Anime Encyclopedia.
Fabrizio Modina is a multitalented creative and an internationally renowned collector of toys.
Giona A.Nazzaro is a film critic and programmer at the Festival dei Popoli, Florence.
Maria Roberta Novielli teaches Japanese cinema at the University Ca’ Foscari, Venice.
Grazia Paganelli is a film critic and film programmer at the National Museum of Cinema, Turin.
Gianni Rondolino is an internationally renowned cinema historian and columnist for La Stampa.
Michel Roudevitch is a cartoonist, screenwriter, animator and director who has worked in the animated cinema industry since the Sixties.
Mario A. Rumor is editor of MANGA! magazine.
Stephen Sarrazin is a film and media art critic, curator and professor.
David Surman teaches Computer Game Design at the University of Wales, Newport.

Nippon Nests. Today’s most exceptional Japanese homes

Japanese homes are refuges of tranquillity, crafted in a unique domestic aesthetic of Eastern minimalism. Traditional architecture features alongside cutting-edge contemporary dwellings in this collection of homes, with many never-before-seen photographs. Turn to the rising sun and discover the fluid simplicity of these spaces where Zen philosophy breathes.

So rich and unique is traditional Japanese architecture that it’s nearly impossible to improve upon. Yet contemporary Japanese designers and architects keep finding fresh approaches to refurbish and take inspiration from the ways of old. Whether it’s a pristinely preserved traditional house or a sleek modern apartment, the best Japanese homes share a love of cleverly designed spaces and warm materials like wood, brick, and bamboo.

From a thatched roof farmhouse occupied by a Zen priest to Tadao Ando’s experimental 4x4 House, from Shigeru Ban’s conceptual Shutter House to a beautiful domestic homage to bamboo, this elegant compendium traverses the multifaceted landscape of Japanese living today.

Enriched by 170 brand new, unpublished photographs, this re-edition takes you on breathtaking journey through the Land of the Rising Sun — complete with a list of addresses, should you wish to undertake this journey to Japan’s most fascinating inns and homes yourself. An insightful glossary of key terms, such as tatami, shoji, and noren, will also help you come to grips with all elements of Japan’s unique aesthetic of Eastern minimalism.

The photographer:

Swiss photographer Reto Guntli, based in Zurich, regularly travels the world shooting for international magazines. He has published numerous books and contributed to such TASCHEN publications as Inside Asia, Living in Japan, Living in Bali, Great Escapes Asia and Great Escapes Europe.

The authors:

Author, art collector, calligrapher, and restorer of old houses, Alex Kerr has lived in Japan and Thailand since 1964. As a writer, he is known for Lost Japan (1996), Dogs and Demons (2001), and Another Kyoto (2016).

Kathy Arlyn Sokol is a writer, interviewer, and award-winning narrator. Her published works include Rasta Time, based on her exclusive interview with Bob Marley, and Another Kyoto, co-written with Alex Kerr, on the secrets of the ancient city. She presently resides in Udaipur in Rajasthan, India.

The editor:

Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN from 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.

About the series:

Bibliotheca Universalis — Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!

Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing. Bibliotheca Universalis brings together more than 100 of our all-time favourite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.

Bookworm’s delight — never bore, always excite!

Думаєте про татуювання в японському стилі? Хочете уникнути постійної помилки?

"Japanese Tattoos" — це погляд зсередини на світ японських «ірезумі» (татуювань).

«Японські татуювання» пояснює образи японських татуювань, щоб читачі могли уникнути чорнила, яке вони не розуміють, або, що ще гірше, вони можуть пошкодувати. Ця багата фотографіями книга також простежить історію японського татуювання, помістивши іконографію та символи «кандзі» у належний контекст, щоб читачі могли краще знати, що вони означають, і глибше розуміти «ірезумі».

Представлені татуювання варіюються від традиційних татуювань «теборі» (тицяння рукою) і татуювань «кандзі» до натхненних аніме та сучасних творів, а також усього між ними. Вперше японське татуювання буде поєднано у візуально привабливий, інформативний та авторитетний спосіб.

Окрім понад 350 фотографій татуювань, у "Japanese Tattoos" також будуть інтерв’ю з японськими майстрами татуювань на різні теми. Більше того, будуть проведені інтерв’ю з клієнтами, яких зазвичай не помічають у подібних книжках, що дозволить їм обговорити, що для них означають їхні японські татуювання.

Ті, хто прочитає цей інформативний посібник із татуювань, матимуть більше знань про японські татуювання, якщо вони захочуть написати чорнило або просто цікавляться японським мистецтвом і культурою.

__________

Погортати книгу Japanese Tattoos: History. Culture. Design на Google Books

Шунга зображує еротичне вираження пари, що переживає задоволення та біль, а також красу їхніх тіл за допомогою найкращої японської техніки ксилографії. Це різновид укійо-е, яка особливо була в моді серед людей в період Едо (17-19 століття). Майже всі митці укійо-е робили сюнга в якийсь момент своєї кар’єри.

У цій великій книзі на 586 сторінках представлені різноманітні роботи шунга майстрів митців укійо-е, таких як Хокусай Кацусіка, Утамаро Кітагава, Кунійоші Утагава, Кійонага Торі та Айсен Кейсай.

Магія Кадзуя Ткаока, арт-директора цієї книги, і наша успішна назва Хокусай Манга роблять цю книгу унікальною колекцією шунга.

Japanese Erotica in Contemporary Art is a comprehensive exploration of contemporary erotic arts in Japan, covering more than 50 artists. 

Featuring work ranging from illustrations, dolls, contemporary art, comics, anime, and much more. Also included are bilingual overviews and expositions of the latest Japanese erotic art, with detailed analysis on each category. For this reason, this book is recommended for both men and women, art lover, Japanese subculture maniacs, "Gothic" and "Lolita" enthusiasts, and Anime fans. 

Featuring art by: Simon Yotsuya; Takato Yamamoto; Akira Uno; Hajime Sorayama; Junko Mizuno; Suehiro Maruo; Makiko Sugawa; Yoshifumi Hayashi; and many more.

Following the great success of Japanese Erotica in Contemporary Art, this second volume showcases even more cutting-edge underground artwork by 47 Japanese artists. 

New categories such as "Fetish Photography," "Steampunk," "Hyperrealism" and "Decadence Photography" introduce the latest preoccupations of Japanese erotic and fantasy artists, pushing the limits of the first volume by presenting ever more surreal, grotesque and gothic themes - while retaining an uncanny beauty. 

Gorgeously designed and comprehensive in scope, Erotica in Japanese Contemporary Art Vol. 2 is an essential addition to the collections of erotic art fans around the world.

Красиво оформлена та візуально вражаюча книга про японське еротичне мистецтво, шунга

Японське еротичне мистецтво або шунга має довгу історію, з тисячами високоякісних картин, гравюр та ілюстрованих книг, створених як знаменитими, так і анонімними художниками, переважно з кінця XVII до XIX століття. Часто відвертий, але також ніжний, чуттєвий і жартівливий, навіть повчальний, shunga – евфемізм, що означає «образ весни» – відзначає всі грані людської сексуальності. Надзвичайно популярні в японському суспільстві, такі зображення вважалися цілком природними та є вираженням витонченої культури «плаваючого світу», яка прагне до насолоди, якою славиться Японія періоду Едо, коли було створено багато з цих творів.

Твори шунга подобалися всім верствам суспільства, від самураїв до звичайних новоспечених пар, особливо після того, як поява ксилографічного друку зробила їх доступними за ціною – можна було навіть брати книги шунга в бібліотеках. Майже кожен художник знаменитої школи ukiyo-e, включаючи Хокусая, Утамаро та Кунійоші, створив сюнга, демонструючи блискучу уяву, великі технічні досягнення та оригінальність.

У приголомшливому розмаїтті зображень, взятих із його власної неперевершеної колекції, Офер Шаган показує нам повний спектр сексуальних практик і самовираження, включаючи оголеність і одяг, вуайєризм, богів, монстрів і тварин, оргазм, перелюб і ревнощі, і багато іншого. Ця книга, організована тематично, висвітлює символи та мотиви, часто приховані на тлі мистецтва, які є вирішальними для правильного розуміння та оцінки цього жанру.

Довгий час шунга залишалася табуйованою та виключеною з наукової сфери, але ця амбітна книга з передмовою професора Ендрю Герстла зі Школи східних і африканських досліджень Лондонського університету повертає ці чудові твори мистецтва на належне їм місце в історії японського мистецтва, культури та суспільства.

Завдяки понад 1200 ілюстрацій, усі спеціально сфотографовані та багато з яких рідко або ніколи раніше не публікувалися, ця чудово створена книга досліджує інтимне багатство шунга так, як це не робило жодне інше видання.

Про автора:

Офер Шаган написав кілька книг про аспекти своєї колекції, включно з Мудмі Ікат з Таїланду та Мистецтво та історія Південно-Східної Азії, а також понад сотню статей у періодичних виданнях, що стосуються історії, культури та мистецтва, включаючи обширні праці про шунга.

У цій книзі багато вперше. Вперше російською видається книга присвячена Японській відвертій гравюрі Сюнга. Вперше у виданні представлено понад 700 творів. Коли ми їх відбирали із тритисячної колекції, йшли справжні редакційно-мистецтвознавчі баталії. До книги увійшли найцікавіші, найзначніші та рідкісні роботи. Вперше проведено атрибуцію деяких гравюр та книг. Хвалитися не добре, але це справді круто!

Про Сюнга

З моменту створення цих хвилюючих образів минули сотні років, проте японська еротична гравюра продовжує приковувати погляди глядачів у всьому світі.

Можна довго сперечатися про те, хто вперше взявся за зображення на папері, у глині ​​чи мармурі сексуальних сцен. Їх можна виявити ще на фресках Стародавнього Риму або на античних вазах Греції. Вся Європа в епоху Відродження не гидувала картинками, що піднімають тонус. Та чому тільки Європа? Щось подібне було характерним і для древнього Перу. А що вже сказати про Індію, де Камасутра є своєрідною абеткою для чоловіків і жінок! Славився цим мистецтвом і Китай. Але якщо запитати знавця цього жанру про найефектніші зразки образотворчого мистецтва, то відповідь буде однозначною: на цьому терені найуспішніше попрацювали майстри ксилографії Японії XVII-XIX століть.

Не натякаємо на сексуальну розбещеність японських майстрів культури. Справа в тому, що взаємини статей у всій їхній різноманітності в Японії завжди сприймалися як щось природне, причому не обмежене суто сімейними рамками в японській релігії - синтоїзмі - не вдасться знайти нічого, що кидало б похмуру тінь на секс.

Навіть древні міфи, присвячені космогонічним процесам, нерідко насичені суто сексуальними подробицями. Візьмемо, наприклад, опис процесу зародження світу, викладений у найдавнішому писемному пам'ятнику Японії – «Кодзики», датованим 712 роком. Результатом цього цілком безневинного, з погляду японця, божественного інцесту і стала поява Японського архіпелагу, а разом з ним і всього світу, в якому ми живемо. У країні здавна існував (і досі зберігається!) фалічний культ, пов'язаний із прославленням богині родючості.

Сюнга в дослівному перекладі означає весняні картинки. Чому японці дали таку назву малюнкам? Найвірогідніше, цей термін був запозичений у китайців. Але у Японії він прижився. Можливо, це з характерним цього народу чітким відчуттям зміни пір року. Саме навесні під теплим сонячним промінням не тільки оживає природа, а й загострюються людські почуття, емоції переповнюють душу.

Книжки-альбоми сюнга спочатку вважалися найкращим та неодмінним подарунком молодятам з боку батьків, родичів чи друзів. Частина гравюр у книжці зображала дуже реалістичні ситуації, інша була більш фантазійною, де коханці приймали воістину неможливі пози, доступні, мабуть, лише досвідченим акробатам.

Книгами сюнга в країні захоплювалися всі поголовно, незалежно від матеріального чи соціального статусу, люди похилого віку та молодь, чоловіки та жінки. Уряд Японії не раз намагався позбавити свій народ настільки дешевої та доступної розваги. Однак це призводило лише до зростання хитрощів учасників торгових угод.

Серед книг сюнга безліч шедеврів таких іменитих та талановитих майстрів гравюри, як Моронобу Хісікава, Хокусаї Кацусіка, Іссе Міягава, Сігенобу Янагава, Утамаро Кітагава, Ейсен Томіока.

Автори графічних аркушів гранично відверто, з найдрібнішими анатомічними подробицями зображували моменти інтимних контактів між чоловіками та жінками, чоловіками та чоловіками, жінками та жінками, людьми та тваринами (наприклад, восьминогами, тиграми), жінками, чоловіками та потойбічними істотами…

Сюнга цілком обґрунтовано може вважатися прабатьком таких сучасних жанрів мистецтва, що широко поширилися по сучасному світу, як аніме та манга.

The beauty of the Japanese garden lies in its combination of natural and artificial beauty. It represents the unique aesthetic taste of the Japanese people, mainly because of the distinct seasons of the insular country. Under the influence of religion, culture, history and customs, Japanese landscapes feature delicacy in design and elaboration in materials. An exquisite garden often reflects ideas in literature, calligraphy, paintings, ikebana and teaism, becoming an art work that assembles the essence of Japanese culture. We thus can find the zen implied in the design of Japanese gardens. The concept of Zen could be found throughout their designs. In their works, a narrow space could turn into a deep, richly-layered, savoring and meaningful landscape that was poetic and somewhat zenic.

This book consists of three chapters, Japanese gardens, public landscapes and interior landscapes, including the outstanding works of Japanses landscape designers, and giving full expression to the essence of Japanese landscape. May the book a source of inspiration to all the lovers of landscaping design.