Time Life Great Ages of Man Early Japan Shogun Samurai Ancient Medieval Ceramics

Description

Time-Life Great Ages of Man Series – Early Japan.
NOTE
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CONDITION: Light shelf wear, otherwise in Very Good to Like New condition. Seemingly never read or only lightly browsed. Pages are pristine; clean, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound.
PLEASE SEE IMAGES BELOW FOR JACKET DESCRIPTION(S) AND FOR PAGES OF PICTURES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK.
DESCRIPTION:
Hardcover: 192 pages. Publisher: Time-Life Books Inc. (1968). Dimensions: 10¾ x 8¾ x ¾ inches, 1¾ pounds.
The “Great Ages of Man” series was released in the mid-1960’s. Each volume undertakes to describe the major events that happened in one specific time period (or “age”) in the development of mankind’s civilization(s). The volumes are richly illustrated, and designed as an introduction to the time frame covered. Especially compelling are the artists interpretations or recreations of what various ancient civilizations would have looked like – their architecture, homes, monuments, cities, daily life, jewelry, food, family life, dwellings, occupations, etc. As just one instance, the ruins of Babylon and Ur, Athens and Rome hint at the incredible richness of those fabled cities. The artist’s recreations in this series are simply mind-numbing. This is as close as you can be to actually having been there. Equally noteworthy are the photographic collections of artifacts and relics attributed to the specific age, really exceptional.
The entire series is truly a magnificent introduction to the history of the era. If you could have just one book (or series of books) to introduce the history of humankind, this would have to be it. The overviews are concise and well-written. Together with the illustration and pictures they impart a wonderful mental and emotional “picture” of what life must have been like in various civilizations and at various times. Done in a style so wonderfully characteristic of Time-Life’s publications, these are over-sized “coffee table” type books full of impressive imagery. The pictures of the world’s greatest art and architecture alone are worth the cost of these books. But don’t get the impression that these volumes are “fluff”. While a particular volume might not quite take the place as a university degree, the material is well-written,
This particular volume is entitled “Early Japan”. The contents include:
CHAPTER ONE
: A Country of Contradictions. [Picture Essay: A Venerated Land. A View of Early Japan (700-1700 A.D.) Protector or Destroyer: A Sea that Holds the Islands’ Fate. The Beauty and Bounty of a Well-Watered Countryside. Temples and Shrines that Reflect a Unique Reverence for Nature. Mount Fuji: A Serene Volcano: Graceful Symbol of a Nation’s Ideal.]. Japanese Esthetics: A Distinctive Sword Guard. Royal Burials: Hollow-Eyed Clay Figurines. A Seventh Century Nosey Caricature (from the Golden Hall at Horyuji). Geomancy: Ancient Chinese Divination (An Evil-Proof Plan).
CHAPTER TWO
: The Elegant Society. [Picture Essay: Tales of Courtly Love. Twelfth Century Calligraphy. Prince Genji. A Ruinous Love Affair that Led to Misery. A Birthday Ceremony Tinged with Irony. Karou: “Fragrant Captain” and a Young Coquette. Sweet Music to Captivate a Troubled Heart. A Diplomatic Game of “Go” to Win a Princess’ Hand.]. A Fierce Protector: A Twelfth Century Wooden Tomb Guardian (Statuette). The Master Quarters of the Fujiwara Family (Quarters for the Emperor). A Lofty Ninth Century Monastery at Mount Muro.
CHAPTER THREE
: Rise of the Samurai. [Picture Essay: The Way of the Warrior. A Man of War: The Armor-Clad Samurai. Underpinings: Basic Steps in Self-Defense (A Cotton Breechclout, A Short-Sleeved Kimono, Billowing Pantaloons, Sturdy Shinguards. Disposable Thigh Guards, Metal-Cased Sleeves, A Sheath for the Torso, Broad Shoulder Guards, An Iron Collar, A Cotton Skullcap, A Glowering Mask, A Visored Helment. An Exquisite Brocade.Multiu-Colored Stitching of a Braided Silk Armor Cord. Iron Rib Protection for the Head: The Helment. A Life-Long Condition of Battle Readiness. A Warlord’s Sleeve: Engraved, Gilded Armor from a Twelfth Century Minamoto. ] A Twelfth Century Painting of a Mounted Samurai: The Battle of the Taira and Minamoto Clans. A Thirteenth Century Map: A Feudal Estate (Owned by Two Samurai Brothers). Japan’s First Shogun: Minamoto Yoritomo (a Thirteenth Century Wooden Statuette). Japan’s Shifting Capital City: The Imperial Residence.
CHAPTER FOUR
: Monks and Men-At-Arms. Japanese Buddhism: A Twelfth-Century Healing Buddha. Testing A New Samurai Sword on a Criminal Cadaver. Zen Enlightenment: A Picture of the Unseeable. [Picture Essay: The World in a Garden. Islands of Rock in a Calm Sea of Sand: The Zen Buddhist Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto. In the Solemn Beauty of Sand Against Foliage, Gardens that Were Inspired by Zen Ink Paintings: The Garden of the Silver Pavilion in Kyoto. Clipped Azalea Bushes in a Seventeenth Century Sand Garden. The Hidden Symbolism of a Sacred Grove: Kyoto’s Saihoji Garden. The Teahouse Garden – A Retrea t from the World: Kyoto’s Ura-Senke. A Priest’s Studfy and a Garden to Refresh the Spirit: Kyoto’s Sixteenth Century Zen Diasenin Monastery. Scenic Wonders for Aristocratic Excursions].
CHAPTER FIVE
: The Country at War. A Muromachi Mountain Landscape Painting. Tatami: Floor Mats in Koto’s Fifteenth Century Aristocratic Mansions. The Fine Art of Serving Tea. [Picture Essay: Designs for Living. Sliding Screens of Translucent Paper. Chopsticks. Festive Sweets. Hishaku: A Ceremonial Wooden Dipper. Chasen: Tea Whisks. Zori: Woven Slippers. Tatmi: Woven Interlocking Floor Mats. A Rustic Woven Raincape. A Collapsible Bamboo Parasol.]
CHAPTER SIX
: Through European Eyes. A Painted Screen of a Rice-Planting Ceremony. A Sixteenth-Century Japanese Painting of a Portuguese Ship. Fifth Century Japanese Building Techniques. [Picture Essay: A Poetic Slice of Life. A Monk: Poetical Competition Judge.. A Screen Depicting a Textile Worker. A Screen Depicting a Picture Framer. A Screen Depicting a Tree Peddler. A Screen Depicting a Basket Peddler. A Screen Depicting a Stone Mason. A Screen Depicting a Carpenter. A Screen Depicting a Brazier Seller. A Screen Depicting a Cooper (Barrel Maker). A Screen Depicting a Monkey Trainer. A Screen Depicting Dragon Parade Dancers and a Drummer.].
CHAPTER SEVEN
: The Nation United. Sixteenth Century Military Leader/Great Unifier Hideyoshi. Militant Monks and the Temple at Honganji. The Portuguese in Asia 1510-1569. Christianity in Japan 1549-1640. [Picture Essay: A Feudal Lord’s Fortress of Beauty. White Heron Castle: An Impregnable Many-Roofed Tower. An Uphill Course to the Castle. Strongpoints to Repel the Enemy: Outer Works and Donjon Strongpoints. Secret Exits, An Iron-Plated Door. Musha Bashiri: A Hall to Arm the “Running Soldiers”. The Princess Apartment: Rooms for Pleasant Living in a Stronghold. Beneath Every Decoration, Iron Shields. The Ornate Tower that Stood for Feudalism. ].
CHAPTER EIGHT
: A Closed Japan. European Missionaries; Jesuits, Franciscans – A Painting. Hideyoshi’s 17th Century Fan Map of Japanese Conquests in China and Korea. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu; Unifiers of Japan (16th-17th Century). [Picture Essay: Kabuki – A Theatre of Escapism. The Strange Conventions of a Theatrical Convention Based on Music, Dancing, and Stylized Acting. Sukeroku: The Entrance of the Hero: An Impressive Display of Courage, Manly Grace, and Wild Bravado. The Heroine: Agemaki, a Courtesan Whose Beauty and Refinement have Won Her the Love of Sukeroku. Tomokirimaru: In a Tableau of Frozen Action, Dramatic Poses Designed to Draw Attention to a Significant Turn of Events. Sukeroku and Ikyu: The Formalized Violence of a Duel to the Death, a Conflict Conveyed in the Measured Sequence of Dance-Like Motions. The Closing Moments of the Play: The Hero’s Narrow Escape and Happy Reunion with His Brave Mistress.]. Early Japanese Civilization: Crossroad Civilizations Between East and West: India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Western Exploration and Colonization. Chronology: A Listing of Significant Events in the History of Early Japan: Politics and Warefare – Arts and Religion. (Archaic – Early Historic – Nara – Heian – Kamakura – Ashikaga – Country at War – Tokugawa.
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ABOUT US
: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Europe and Central Asia several times a year. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as some other worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient jewelry and gemstones. Prior to our retirement we traveled to Russia every year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia. From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for.
My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.
Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.