ART
Addiss, Stephen. Japanese Ghosts & Demons: Art of the Supernatural. George Braziller (2001). ISBN 978-0807611265.
The art is Edo period woodblock prints, however, it provides a good overview of the folklore which inspired it.
Anderson, Charlotte & Vilhar, Gorazd. Matsuri: World of Japanese Festivals. Shufu No Tomo-Sha (1995). ISBN 978-4079760669.
Beautiful photo essay of festival celebrations, people and costumes.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Asian Games: The Art of Contest. Asia Society (2004). ISBN 978-0878480999.
This lavish exhibition publication describes a variety of games from all over Asia.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Japanese Masterworks from the Price Collection. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (2007). ISBN 978-0934686051.
Mostly Edo period and later, but it was a terrific exhibition, so I bought the companion book.
Baten, Lea. Playthings and Pastimes in Japanese Prints. Weatherhill (1995). ISBN 978-0834803442
Edo-period woodblock prints depicting games and play.
Buisson, Dominique & Macdonald Elizabeth. The Art of Japanese Paper : Masks, Lanterns, Kites, Dolls. Diane Publishing Company (1999). ISBN 978-07881605921. Photo essays on a variety of traditional paper crafts.
Hauge, Victor & Takako. Folk Traditions in Japanese Art. Kodansha America, Inc. (1979). ISBN 978-0870113604.
Hempel, Rose. The Heian Civilization of Japan. Phaidon (1983), ISBN 978-0714822952.
Extensive text accompanied by plenty of good color plates describe the Heian aesthetic.
Hickman, Money L. Japan’s Golden Age: Momoyama. Yale University Press (2002). ISBN 978-0300094077.
Originally published to accompany a museum exhibition, it features paintings, textiles, lacquer, armor and other 16th and early 17th century works.
Hutt, Julia & Alexander, Helene. Ogi: A History of the Japanese Fan. Dauphin Publishing, LTD. (1992). ISBN 978-1872357089. The title says it all. Much of the contents post-dates 1600, but it provides a good overview. Start here, then begin combing other art books and websites for period fans and fan paintings.
Japan Society. From the Suntory Museum of Art-Autumn Grasses and Water: Motifs in Japanese Art. Japan (1983). ISBN 978-0913304174.
Japan Society. Japanese Theatre In The World. Japan Society (1997). ISBN 978-0913304440.
Kakudo, Yoshiko. Art of Japan. Chronicle Books (1991). ISBN 978-0811800402
Put out by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, featuring works from its permanent collection.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Momoyama, Japanese art in the age of grandeur. Metropolitan Museum of Art (1975). ISBN 978-0870991257.
Exhibition catalogue from the mid 70's, mostly in B&W.
Murase, Miyeko. Bridge of Dreams: The Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese Art. Metropolitan Museum of Art (2000). ISBN 0810965518.
Murase, Miyeko; Nakahashi, Gratia Williams & Wada, Stephanie. Jewel Rivers: Japanese Art from the Burke Collection. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1994). ISBN 978-0810965515.
Noma, Seiroku. The Arts of Japan, Vols. 1 & 2. Kodansha International (1966), ISBN 978-0870113352 and 978-0870113369.
A classic overview of Japanese art in two volumes.
Okudaira, Hideo. Emaki: Japanese Picture Scrolls. Charles E. Tuttle Co. (1962). ASIN B0000CLOZO.
Excerpts of narrative picture scrolls, many dating from before 1600.
Okamoto, Yoshitomo. The Namban Art of Japan (New York: Weatherhill/Heibonsha, 1972). ISBN 978-0834810082
Rosenfield, John M. The Japanese Courtier: Painting, Calligraphy, and Poetry from the Fogg Art Museum. Santa Barbara Museum (1980). ISBN 978-0899510354.
Smith, Bradley. Japan: A History In Art. Gemini-Smith; Revised edition (1964). ISBN 978-0385032407.
Tokugawa, Yoshinobu & Okochi, Sadeo. The Tokugawa Collection: No Robes and Masks. Japan Society (1976). ISBN 978-0913304082.
Impressive presentation of Noh costumes and masks from the Tokugawa Collection. Noh costumes represent a significant number of surviving period garments. Well worth a look if one is interested in either theatre or period clothing styles.
Woodson, Yoko, et. al. Lords of the Samurai: Legacy of a Daimyo Family. Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (2009). ISBN 978-0939117475.
Exhibition publication to accompany the San Francisco showing of art and artifacts of the Hosokawa family from the feudal period through modern times. Includes textiles, arms and armor, ceramics and other material culture.
Wyatt, James C. Y. & Ford, Barbara Brennan. East Asian Lacquer The Florence and Herbert Irving Collection. Metropolitan Museum of Art (1991). ISBN 978-0810964068.
Yashiro, Yukio. 2000 Years of Japanese Art. Harry N. Abrams, Inc (1959). ASIN B001F3ERYQ.
HEIBONSHA SURVEY OF ART SERIES:
This and the Arts of Japan series were put out in the 1970s by the same publisher. They average 150 pages in length with B&W and color plates and informative texts in English by Japanese authors.
Doi, Tsygiyoshi. Momoyama Decorative Painting (Vol. 14 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1977).
ISBN 978-0834810242.
Fukuyama, Toshio. Heian Temples Byodo-In and Chuson-Ji (Vol. 9 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1976).
ISBN 978-0834810235.
Hayashi, Ryoichi. The Silk Road and the Shoso-in (Vol. 6 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1975)
ISBN 978-0834810228.
Ienaga, Saburo. Painting in the Yamato Style (Vol 10 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1973). ISBN 978-0834810167.
Mikami, Tsugio. The Art of Japanese Ceramics (Vol. 29 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1979). ISBN 978-0834810006.
Muraoka, Kageo & Okamura Kichiemon. Folk Arts and Crafts of Japan (Vol. 26 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1973). ISBN 978-0834810099.
Noma, Seiroku. Japanese Costume and Textile Arts (Vol.16 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1974).
ISBN 978-0834810266.
Okamoto, Yoshitomo. Namban Art of Japan. Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1972). ISBN 978-0834810082.
Yamane, Yuzo. Momoyama Genre Painting (Vol. 17 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1973) ISBN 978-0834810129.
Yoshikawa, Itsuji. Major Themes in Japanese Art (Vol.1 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1976). ISBN 978-0834810037.
ARTS OF JAPAN SERIES:
Kageyama, Haruki. The Arts of Shinto (Vol. 4, Arts of Japan). Weatherhill/Shibundo (1973). ISBN 978-0834827073.
Mizoguchi, Saburo. Design Motifs (Vol. 1, Arts of Japan). Weatherhill/Shibundo (1973). ISBN 978-0834827004.
Okudaira, Hideo. Narrative Picture Scrolls (Vol. 5, Arts of Japan). Weatherhill/Shibundo (1973). ISBN 978-0834827110.
FOLK ART:
Buisson, Dominique & Macdonald Elizabeth. The Art of Japanese Paper : Masks, Lanterns, Kites, Dolls. DIANE Publishing Company (1999).
ISBN 978-0788160592.
Hauge, Victor & Takako. Folk Traditions in Japanese Art. Kodansha America, Inc. (1979). ISBN 978-0870113604.
Muraoka, Kageo & Okamura Kichiemon. Folk Arts and Crafts of Japan (Vol. 26 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1973). ISBN 978-0834810099.
DESIGN:
Allen, Jeanne. Designer’s Guide to Japanese Patterns. Chronicle Books (1988) ISBN 978-0877014935.
Allen, Jeanne. Designer’s Guide to Japanese Patterns 2. Chronicle Books (1988) ISBN 978-0877015499.
Allen, Jeanne. Designer’s Guide to Japanese Patterns 3. Chronicle Books (1987). ISBN 978-0877016069.
Allen, Jeanne. Designer’s Guide to Samurai Patterns. Chronicle Books (1989). ISBN 978-0877017301.
This and the title above are two small paperback collections of decorative patterns and motifs from a variety of Japanese sources. Unfortunately the identification of pattern souces is not terribly detailed. It helps to know what one is looking at.
D’Adetta, Joseph. Traditional Japanese Design Motifs. Dover Publications (1984). ISBN 978-0486246291. One of Dover's inexpensive "coloring book" publications.
Japan Society. From the Suntory Museum of Art-Autumn Grasses and Water: Motifs in Japanese Art. Japan (1983). ISBN 978-0913304174.
Matsuya Company. Japanese Design Motifs. Dover Press (1972). ISBN 978-0486228747.
Published in the 19th century by a dry goods company so that customers could order merchandise with their crests on it. No way to tell what periods they are from or who may have historically used such mon, but a nice place to get design ideas.
Orban-Szontagh, Madeleine. Japanese Floral Patterns and Motifs. Dover Publications (1990). ISBN 978-0486263304.
One of Dover's inexpensive "coloring book" publications.
Mizoguchi, Saburo. Design Motifs (Vol. 1, Arts of Japan). Weatherhill/Shibundo (1973). ISBN 978-0834827004.
PHOTO ESSAYS:
Anderson, Charlotte & Vilhar, Gorazd. Matsuri: World of Japanese Festivals. Shufu No Tomo-Sha (1995). ISBN 978-4079760669.
Keene, Donald. Living Japan. Doubleday (1962).
GAMES AND PASTIMES:
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Asian Games: The Art of Contest. Asia Society (2004). ISBN 978-0878480999.
Baten, Lea. Playthings and Pastimes in Japanese Prints. Weatherhill (1995). ISBN 978-0834803442.
Malm, William P. Japanese Music and Musical Instruments. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1959).
Modegi, Masaaki. The Making of Japanese Kites. Japan Publications Trading Co., Ltd. (2007) ISBN 978-4889962222.
Streeter, Tal. The Art of the Japanese Kite. Weatherhill (1974). ISBN 978-0834800885.
FOOD, INCENSE AND TEA:
Morita, Kiyoko. The Book of Incense. Kodansha International (1992). ISBN 978-4770015570.
Okakura, Kazuko. The Book of Tea. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1995). ISBN 978-0804800693.
Ohshi, Sadako. Tea Culture of Japan. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery (2009.) ISBN 978-0300146929.
Rath, Eric. Food and Fantasy In Early Modern Japan. University of California Press (2010). ISBN 978-0520262270.
Rath, Eric and Assmann, Stephanie. Japanese Foodways, Past and Present. University of Illinois Press (2010). ISBN 978-0252077524.
Sadler, A.L. The Japanese Tea Ceremony: Cha-No-Yu. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (2008). ISBN 978-4805309148.
Sen, Shoshitsu XV, V. Dixon Morris, translator. The Japanese Way of Tea From Its Origins in China to Sen Rikyu. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press (1998). ISBN 978-0824819903.
Tanaka, Seno. The Tea Ceremony. Kodansha International (1977). ISBN 978-0517530399.
Yu, Lu, Francis Ross Carpenter, translator. The Classic of Tea. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., (1974.) ISBN 978-0316534505.
THEATRE:
Ortolani, Benito & Leiter, Samuel. Japanese Theatre In The World. Japan Society (1997). ISBN 978-0913304440.
Takeda, Sharon Sadako, et. al. Miracles and Mischief: Noh and Kyogen Theatre in Japan. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2002). ISBN
978-0875871882. A sumptuous and informative banquet on Noh and Kyogen, with beautiful photographs of costumes, masks and props as well as detailed information on how they are used, what the plays are like and so forth.
Tokugawa, Yoshinobu & Okochi, Sadeo. The Tokugawa Collection: No Robes and Masks. Japan Society (1976). ISBN 978-0913304082.
More beautiful Noh costumes presented in a large format with lots of color plates.
Tourist Library. Japanese Noh Plays. Board of Tourist Industry, Japanese Government Railways (1934). This and the title directly below are part of a series of small, paperbound pamphlets in English marketed to tourists by the Japanese government.
Tourist Library. Japanese Drama. Maruzen Company (1935).
HISTORY:
Conlan, Thomas D. In Little Need of Divine Intervention: Takezaki Suenaga’s Scrolls of the Mongol Invasions of Japan. Cornell University East Asia Series (2001). ISBN 978-1885445131.
De Bary, Wm. Theodore, et al. Sources of Japanese Tradition, Volume One: From Earliest Times to 1600. Columbia University Press (2001). ISBN 978-0231121392.
Hall, John Whitney. Japan From Prehistory to Modern Times. University of Michigan Center for Japanese Studies (1991). ISBN 978-0939512546.
Lidin, Olaf. Tanegashima: the arrival of Europe in Japan (Copenhagen, The Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, 2002). ISBN 978-8791114120.
Lamarre, Thomas. Uncovering Heian Japan: An Archaeology of Sensation and Inscription. Duke University Press (2000). ISBN 0822325187.
Lidin, Olaf G. Tanegashima: The Arrival of Europe In Japan. NIAS Press (2002). ISBN 978-8791114120.
Milton, Giles. Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan. Penguin (2002). ISBN 978-0142003787.
Morris, Ivan. The World of the Shining Prince. Penguin (1985). ISBN 978-0140550832.
Sansom, George. A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford University Press (2007) ISBN 978-0804705233.
Souryi, Pierre Francois. The World Turned Upside Down: Medieval Japanese Society. Columbia University Press (2001). ISBN 978-0231118422.
CHRONICLES:
Aston, W.G., translator. Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1972). ISBN 978-0804836746.
Cooper, Michael, Ed. Joao Rodrigues's Account of Sixteenth Century Japan (Hakluyt Society Series 3, Volume 7) (Hackluyt Society, 2002). ISBN 978-0904180732
Frois, Luis, SJ and Reff, Daniel T. The First European Description of Japan, 1585: A Critical English Language Edition of Striking Contrasts in the Customs of Europe and Japan by Luis Frois, S.J. (Routledge, 2015). ISBN 978-0415727570
Gill, Robin D. Topsy-turvy 1585 (Paraverse Press, 2004). (This is an earlier translation in English of Frois’ Striking Contrasts.) ISBN 978-0974261812
Perkins, George W., translator. The Clear Mirror: A Chronicle of the Japanese Court During the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). Stanford University Press (1998). ISBN 978-0804729536.
Varley, H. Paul. A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinno Shotoki of Kitabatake Chikafusa. Columbia University Press (1980).
ISBN 978-02310494054.
DIARIES:
Bowring, Richard, translator. The Diary of Lady Murasaki. Penguin Books (1996). ISBN 978-0140435764.
This official diary by the author of The Tale of Genji was instigated by her mentor, Fujiwara Michinaga. Political expediency notwithstanding, it provides insight into life in the Imperial household during the Heian period.
Hulvey, S. Yumiko, translator. Sacred Rites in Moonlight: Ben no Naishi Nikki. Cornell University East Asia Series (2005). ISBN 978-1885445223.
Ben no Naishi was one of the guardians of the Imperial regalia. This 13th c. diary describes her official duties and preserves poetic exchanges with her Emperor.
Morris, Ivan, translator. As I Crossed A Bridge of Dreams. Penguin Books (1975). ISBN 978-0140442823.
Morris, Ivan, translator. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon. Columbia University Press (1991). ISBN 978-0231073370.
Heian mean girl Sei Shonagon wrote like a modern blogger. Entries veer from poetic to peeved to catty and back again. Probably my favorite diary.
Omori, Annie Shepley & Doi, Koichi. Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan. Houghton Mifflin, 1920.
I'm a sucker for old books, even when there are more modern translations available. This 1920 edition contains the diaries of Murasaki Shikibu, Izumi Shikibu and the Sarashina diary (identified above as As I Crossed A Bridge Of Dreams).
Seidensticker, Edward, translator. The Gossamer Years (Kagero Nikki). Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1990). ISBN 978-0804811231.
Whitehouse, Wilfrid & Eizo Yanagisawa, translators. Lady Nijo’s Own Story. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1974). ISBN 978-0804811170.
Another diary from the Kamakura period, Nijo's story relates her personal relationships, particularly with Emperor Go Fukakusa. Reading this in tandem with Sacred Rites In Moonlight and The Clear Mirror is an interesting exercise, as all three are contemporaneous.
LITERATURE, POETRY AND TALES:
Carter, Steven D., translator. Traditional Japanese Poetry: An Anthology. Stanford University Press (2003). ISBN 978-0804715621.
Harris, H.J., translator. The Tales of Ise. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1972). ISBN 978-0804833387.
Japanese Classics Translation Committee. 1000 Poems from the Manyoshu. Dover Publications. (2005) ISBN 978- 0486439594.
McCullogh, Helen, translator. Kokin Wakashu, with Tosa Nikki and Shinsen Waka. Stanford University Press (1996). ISBN 978-0804712583.
McCullogh, Helen, translator. The Tale of the Heike. Stanford University Press (2002). ISBN 978-0804714181.
Japan's medieval epic retells the events of the Genpei Wars.
Porter, William N., translator. The Tosa Diary by Ki no Tsurayuki. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1981). ASIN B008DYDUUW.
Shikibu, Murasaki/Reichhold, Jane & Kawamura Hatsue, translators. A String of Flowers, Untied: Love Poems From The Tale of Genji. Stonebridge Press (2008). ISBN 978-1880656624.
Shikibu, Murasaki/Tyler, Royall, translator. The Tale of Genji. Viking Penguin (2001). ISBN 978-0670030200.
The two volume translation, copiously annotated for the modern reader.
Tyler, Royall. Japanese Tales. Pantheon Books (1987). ISBN 978-0375714511.
A good collection of stories, many from before 1600, on a variety of subjects.
Ury, Marian. Tales of Times Now Past: Sixty Two Stories from a Medieval Japanese Collection. University of Michigan Center For Japanese Studies (1993). ISBN 978-0939512614.
Watson, Burton, translator. Po Chu I: Selected Poems. Oxford University Press (2000). ISBN 978-0231118385.
Wu Cheng'en, Kherdian, David, translator. Monkey: A Journey To The West. Shambhala Classics (1992). ISBN 978-1590302583.
An abridged translation of the 16th c. Chinese allegory about a supernatural simian trickster and his adventures.
RELIGION and FOLKLORE:
Addiss, Stephen. Japanese Ghosts & Demons: Art of the Supernatural. George Braziller (2001). ISBN 978-0807611265.
Armstrong, Karen. Buddha. Penguin (2004). ISBN 978-0143034360.
Aston, W.G., translator. Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc. (1972). ISBN 978-0804809849.
Nelson, John K. A Year In The Life Of A Shinto Shrine. University of Washington Press (1997). ISBN 978-0295975009.
Tyler, Royall. Japanese Tales. Pantheon Books (1987). ISBN 978-0375714511.
Varley, H. Paul. A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinno Shotoki of Kitabatake Chikafusa. Columbia University Press (1980).
ISBN 978-0231049405.
COSTUME AND TEXTILES:
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Four Centuries of Fashion: Classical Kimono from the Kyoto National Museum. Asian Art Museum (1997).
ISBN 978-0939117093.
Dalby, Liza Crihfield. Kimono: Fashioning Culture. University of Washington Press (2001). ISBN 978-0295981550
A study of the evolution of traditional Japanese dress by anthropologist Liza Dalby. The chapter on kasane no irome (the color combinations worn by women of the Heian court) is particularly valuable.
Hutt, Julia & Alexander, Helene. Ogi: A History of the Japanese Fan. Dauphin Publising, LTD. (1992). ISBN 978-1872357089.
Kawamura, Machiko and Kurihara, Hiro. Jidai Ishô no Nuikata. Tokyo Genryu-sha Joint Stock Company (1984). ISBN 978-4773984057.
The Holy Grail for Japanese costumers as it contains pattern schematics for a number of historical costumes. If you can convert metric to inches, you can get away without not being able to read the Japanese text. (TEXT IS IN JAPANESE!)
Kennedy, Alan. Japanese Costume: History and Tradition. Editions Adam Biro (1990). ISBN 978-2876600836.
Gorgeous, though not as complete as the title would lead one to believe. The concentration is on kosode, noh costumes and kesa.
Kuniharu, Goshima. The Tale of Genji: The Day of the Rokujyo-in. Kyoto Costume Museum. ISBN 978-4916094285. Life in Genji's palace as depicted in the Kyoto Costume Museum's "doll house" reproduction. (TEXT IS IN JAPANESE!)
Matsumoto, Kaneo. Jodai Gire: 7th and 8th century Textiles in Japan from the Shoso-in and Horyu-ji. Shikosha Publishing (1984).
ISBN 978-4879400123. This bilingual edition features full color photos and extensive notes in English and Japanese on surviving early textiles in the Shoso-in Repository and the Horyu-ji temple collection.
Minnich, Helen Benton. Japanese Costume and the Makers of Its Elegant Tradition. Charles E. Tuttle Co. (1963).
Don't trust an ukiyo-e print to accurately depict clothing from the Heian period. That said, it's not a bad overview of Japanese costume divided by historical era.
Noma, Seiroku. Japanese Costume and Textile Arts (Vol.16 Heibonsha Survey of Japanese Art). Weatherhill/Heibonsha (1974).
ISBN 978-0834810266. I go back to this great little book again and again. It's a great introduction to the development of textile decoration during the SCA period and after and I can't recommend it enough for helping one develop an eye for period styles.
Stinchecum, Amanda Meyer. Kosode: 16th-19th Century Textiles From The Nomura Collection. Japan Society/Kodansha International (1984). ISBN 978-0913304181. Lavish color plates of kosode preserved by an early 20th century collector. The appendices in the back provide excellent information on common silk weaves, what plants produce what color dyes, the difference in dimensions between a 16th c. kosode and a modern kimono, and an extensive glossary.
Takeda, Sharon Sadako, et. al. Miracles and Mischief: Noh and Kyogen Theatre in Japan. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (2002). ISBN 978-0875871882.
Tokugawa, Yoshinobu & Okochi, Sadeo. The Tokugawa Collection: No Robes and Masks. Japan Society (1976). ISBN 978-0913304082
Wada, Yoshiko Iwamoto; Rice, Mary Kellogg & Barton, Jane J. Shibori: The Inventive Art of Japanese Shaped Resist Dyeing. Kodansha International (1999). ISBN 978-4770023995. This is an excellent introduction to the art of shibori, chockful of B&W and color photographs, plus instructions on how to replicate the various techniques.
Yang, Sunny & Narasin, Rochelle. Textile Art of Japan. Shunfunotomo Co. Ltd. (2000). ISBN 978-4889960617.
A basic introduction with lots of pretty color photos. It has the virtue of being relatively easy to find.
Post-1600 AD Clothing:
Gluckman, Dale Carolyn & Takeda, Sharon Sadako. When Art Became Fashion: Kosode in Edo-Period Japan. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1992). ISBN 9780875871646.
Stevens, Rebecca A. T. & Wada, Yoshiko Iwamoto. The Kimono Inspiration: Art and Art to Wear In America. Pomegranate Books (1996). ISBN 978-0876545980.
Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Joseph