This book is a must-read for anyone interested in traditional Japanese cultural arts. All of H.E. Davey's works are well written and include numerous drawings and photos for easier comprehension of the presented techniques, but the real beauty of the texts is that they demystify these foreign art forms. Understanding such art forms can be a real challenge without the right resources, but this book... makes it simple with clear explanations and easy-to-practice techniques. The best part about this book though, is that it's three books in one:
1) "Brush Meditation" (An introduction to Japanese calligraphy)
2) "The Japanese Way of the Flower" (A guide to Ikebana flower arrangement)
3) "Living the Japanese Arts & Ways" (Methods for reaching your full potential in life)
Even if you're not directly interested in calligraphy or flower arrangement, anyone and everyone can benefit from increased relaxation, concentration, and coordination imparted by the various concepts in "Living the Japanese Arts and Ways." All in all, this is an excellent resource for several different Japanese cultural arts, and with three books wrapped into one, it's a real bargain too.
About the Reviewer: Kyle Kurpinski is a teacher of more than one classical Japanese art and the author of "How to Defeat Your Own Clone: And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution." He is also a leading U. S. cell biologist.
1) "Brush Meditation" (An introduction to Japanese calligraphy)
2) "The Japanese Way of the Flower" (A guide to Ikebana flower arrangement)
3) "Living the Japanese Arts & Ways" (Methods for reaching your full potential in life)
Even if you're not directly interested in calligraphy or flower arrangement, anyone and everyone can benefit from increased relaxation, concentration, and coordination imparted by the various concepts in "Living the Japanese Arts and Ways." All in all, this is an excellent resource for several different Japanese cultural arts, and with three books wrapped into one, it's a real bargain too.
About the Reviewer: Kyle Kurpinski is a teacher of more than one classical Japanese art and the author of "How to Defeat Your Own Clone: And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution." He is also a leading U. S. cell biologist.
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H. E. Davey, in "The Japanese Way of the Artist," both describes the various "Ways" of the artist, and deftly identifies how these arts transform one who diligently practices them. This anthology of three previous works makes available the broad strokes, as well as the practical details, of the Japanese arts. Davey's writing is highly accessible and remarkably accurate and insightful. This is an important source for understanding the Japanese and their artistic "Ways."
About the Reviewer: Dr. Robert E. Carter, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy for Canada’s Trent University, has authored numerous works on Japanese spirituality and meditation, including "The Japanese Arts & Self-Cultivation," "Encounter with Enlightenment: A Study of Japanese Ethics," and "Becoming Bamboo: Western and Eastern Explorations of the Meaning of Life."
About the Reviewer: Dr. Robert E. Carter, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy for Canada’s Trent University, has authored numerous works on Japanese spirituality and meditation, including "The Japanese Arts & Self-Cultivation," "Encounter with Enlightenment: A Study of Japanese Ethics," and "Becoming Bamboo: Western and Eastern Explorations of the Meaning of Life."
