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Malaysian Batik: Reinventing a Tradition , traces the history of batik, the materials, methods and motifs of the block-stamped and hand drawn methods, and the ways in which Malaysian batik has been transformed into a craft with international appeal. Batik is more than wax and dye applied to a length of cloth. It is an art form practiced by people around Asia. With its its bolder, abstract designs and its brighter palette, Malaysian batik is a distinctly different type of batik that has brought an exciting new dimension to this ancient method of fabric art.Historically seen as a craft, batik making in Malaysia today has segued into more of an art form, both in its creation and its uses. Historically, batik fabric was fashioned into sarongs to be worn by people across all walks of life. More often now batik fabrics are used for lifestyle products, as art pieces and, above all, for contemporary high fashion. The pieces that are created display an originality of composition and design, an effective use of color, a high level of technical expertise and a flair for working in the medium that are the hallmarks of great works of art. Many of the recent advances in Malaysian batik are due to the initiatives of the Yayasan Budi Penyayang, which has revitalized the Malaysian batik industry by adapting it to suit fashion needs and utilized the Asian fashion industry to promote and display its beauty.

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This Samurai history, filled with dozens of woodblock prints and photographs, is an authoritative text on Japan's most fearsome warriors. Through fascinating stories and full-color historical images that show the samurai in mesmerizing detail, military historian Stephen Turnbull provides an invaluable guide to an enduring legacy.The earliest samurai warriors were actually aristocratic mounted archers, not swordsmen. Only as the archer gave way to the mounted spearman did swordsmanship come into play. Turnbull details how the history and the legacy of the samurai developed over centuries into a multifaceted, richly elaborate tapestry of martial and societal traditions.From the first recorded use of the word samurai in the eighth century to the final wars waged in resistance to the Meiji government in the late nineteenth century, this Japanese history book recounts the complex history of these warriors and demonstrates why the samurai continue to fascinate the world today.

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Become a Better Martial Artist by Applying Lessons from the World's Greatest Military Strategists from Sun Tzu to Von Clausewitz Lessons in the Art of War investigates the theories and philosophies of the most prominent military thinkers in Asia and Europe and examines the combat roots of a variety of fighting styles from traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts to the fighting arts of the ancient Greeks and modern Israelis. It also demonstrates how the martial arts, whether Asian or Western in origin, were historically about brutal fighting, often to the death, and how ancient attitudes and beliefs can be adapted for success in today's MMA steel cage, judo or karate tournament as they were in ancient armies.Including an introduction to Asian and Western military thought, chapters include:The Nature and Conduct of CombatWhat is Combat?Preparing for BattleElements of Tactics and StrategyImposing Your WillDestroying the Enemy ForceStrength of the Defensive PositionFailureMoral Quality of CourageSecuring Victory

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This book of Geisha culture and history features beautiful antique photographs and a wealth of information.Geisha have the odd distinction of being both legendary and real, and this book helps clarify those differences. Myth by nature is monolithic, transcending history and individuals, whereas the reality is a variety of geisha communities in different areas of Japan, Status hierarchies among communities in the same city, and of course differences among individual geisha.The Life of Geisha illustrates the fascinating world of Japan's powerful and seductive geishas, a fading yet beautiful world that has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. This striking book contains full-color woodblock prints made during Japan's famous Edo Period, historic and contemporary photographs of geisha life, and images of the «floating world,» Japan's mysterious artistic subculture.The accompanying text includes evocative Japanese poems and haikus. All celebrate the beauty and creativity of the geisha, who with her exquisitely detailed costume, elaborate makeup and hairstyle, and artfully ritualized behavior, chastely beguiles and entertains Japan's most powerful men.

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The international market for antique Chinese furniture is booming, and masterpieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties are now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. <i>Chinese Furniture</i> is a survey of these collectibles&#8212;from the very best hardwood pieces featured to standard softwood specimens still available on the Asian market.<br><br>This antique furniture book presents an overview of carving styles, wood types, regional variations, class distinctions and restoration techniques. It includes detailed chapters on various types of wooden furniture cover chairs, stools and benches, tables and desks, beds, cabinets and bookshelves, doors and screens and household accessories.<br><br>With this renewed interest in antique furniture, a forgery market has emerged. Thousands of factories in southern China are churning out brand new or refurbished furniture and passing them off as Chinese antiques. <i>Chinese Furniture</i> unearths these forgeries and serves as an indispensable reference guide for collectors of antique wood furniture.

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Collecting Japanese Antiques is an excellent overview of the uniquely Japanese aesthetic and how it relates to Japanese culture. From the time Japan started trading with the West in the sixteenth century, Japanese arts and crafts have intrigued and delighted Westerners, especially lacquer, screens, swords and porcelain. Antique hunters will benefit from the practical and cautionary advice in this book; newcomers will appreciate information on the basics of collecting Japanese antiques; while other sections might reawaken interest in experienced collectors. Striking photographs throughout make this art and antiques book a must for collectors and lovers of Japanese art. Chapters include:Japan's Art HeritageCollecting for Fun and with WisdomScreens and ScrollsUkiyo-e and Other PrintsSagemonoCeramicsFurnitureTextilesLacquerwareCloisonneSculpture and MetalworkSwords and ArmorTea Ceremony UtensilsDollsFlower Baskets

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This lighthearted guide to Japanese sumo is a great introduction to the sport for westerners.Author J.A. Sargeant, sports editor for the English-language, Asahi Evening News, realized that there were many foreigners who would enjoy Sumo more if they knew more of the essential facts about it. Utilizing his knowledge and first-hand information on the sport, he produced this sumo book to meet this need.Written in the humorous, easy-to-read fashion with which the many readers of his sports column will be pleasantly familiar. Mr. Sargeant has also given us a picture of the excitement of the sport, as well as technical aspects that are apt to escape the uninitiated eye.

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"One of the finest compact books on sumo today."&#151;Sumo WorldCompletely updated by the well known sumo authority David Shapiro, Sumo: A Pocket Guide describes the history, rules, rituals and techniques of sumo, the wrestlers' training and even their diets. Covering such topics as «life in the stables,» «psychological warfare,» and the "spoils of victory,&#8221; this compact sumo guide brings to life this cultural pastime that is so much more than a sport. This volume also includes a list of stables and some of the best chanko&#150;nabe restaurants in Tokyo.Shapiro brings to the updated edition many years of Japanese language, sumo research, and coverage. The result is a handy, up&#150;to&#150;date, and authoritative guide to sumo that provides everything one needs to understand, appreciate, and enjoy this fascinating sport.

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The art of Japanese woodblock printing, known as <i>ukiyo-e</i> («pictures of the floating world»), reflects the rich history and way of life in Japan hundreds of years ago. <i>Ukiyo-e: The Art of the Japanese Print</i> takes a thematic approach to this iconic Japanese art form, considering prints by subject matter: geisha and courtesans, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, erotica, nature, historical subjects and even images of foreigners in Japan.<br><br>An artist himself, author Frederick Harris&#8212;a well-known American collector who lived in Japan for 50 years&#8212;pays special attention to the methods and materials employed in Japanese printmaking. The book traces the evolution of <i>ukiyo-e</i> from its origins in metropolitan Edo (Tokyo) art culture as black and white illustrations, to delicate two-color prints and multicolored designs. Advice to admirers on how to collect, care for, view and buy Japanese <i>ukiyo-e</i> woodblock prints rounds out this book of charming, carefully selected prints.

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Featuring over 450 archival photographs and line drawings, Chinese Dress traces the evolution of Chinese clothing from court and formal costumes to the fashions of modern China. A comprehensive and sumptuously illustrated book, Chinese Dress is the essential reference for costume historians, fashion designers and collectors, as well as lovers of beautiful clothes everywhere. Chapters include:Dress of the Qing Manchu Rulers 1644-1911Dress of the Manchu Consorts 1644-1911Attire of Mandarins and MerchantsAttire of Chinese WomenRepublican Dress 1912-1949Clothing of the Lower ClassesClothing for ChildrenDress in New China 1950-2006From Imperial robes to foot binding to the cheongsam, Chinese Dress spotlights traditional Chinese dress against a background of historical, cultural and social change, opening a fascinating window for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of China, Chinese culture and Chinese fashion history.

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