Japanese garden design

Once introduced to Japan's aesthetic sensibilities and philosophical underpinnings, Westerners often develop an appreciation of Japan's traditional gardens. Keane's handsome, explanatory survey, however, offers garden lovers who simply fail to see beauty in Japanese landscapes a rich resource for comprehending this ancient art form. Beautifully written descriptions illuminate historical development, religious and societal associations, and relationships between garden design and other Japanese arts. And Keane's great affinity with his subject, after immersion in Japanese life and the creation of gardens in Japan, affords him the ability to reveal countless subtleties in the acclaimed gardens pictured. In this fascinating commentary, Keane, a thoroughly engaging, insightful observer, clarifies the essence of what occurs when the elements of Japanese design intermingle to form a near perfect realm. --Alice Joyce

A landscape architect and garden designer working in Japan, Keane here offers a history of the Japanese garden over 20 centuries, showing how society, politics, religion, art, and the tea ceremony have contributed to the structure and elements of these beautiful retreats. He also includes chapters on design principles and techniques, explaining, for instance, how individual aspects such as rock, sand, plants, and bridges embody the symbolism of the gardens. This comprehensive book includes not only excellent full-color photography but detailed plans of the various types of gardens. An extensive glossary, a bibliography of books in English and Japanese, and numerous maps are also offered. The text concludes with a timetable mapping the evolution of the garden alongside events in Japanese culture and world history. Recommended for public and academic libraries.‘Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.