At the heart of this book are twenty-eight real-life animals and the myths and literature
paintings drawings textiles and ceramics they have inspired some of the most celebrated
Japanese artists and writers to create. Since the dawn of Japanese folklore and religion the
Japanese soul has cultivated a special connection with nature and wildlife in part due to the
natural abundance of the Japanese archipelago. Every animal from the frightening crow to the
sublime crane is sacred occupying a central place in Japanese mythology literature arts
and crafts. In this text-rich art book readers will find twenty-eight real-life animals
including the fox frog cat monkey and firefly described in texts combining haikus tales
and anecdotes from everyday life and illustrated with objects produced by the some of the most
celebrated Japanese artists and craftsmen. Readers will see just how central animals -from the
most fleeting to the most majestic from the wildest to the most domesticated -are to Japanese
legends and literature but also in the latest manga and animated films. In some cases the
animals are transformed and endowed with human attributes in others through a representative
selection of Japanese art -paintings prints fashion and common Japanese objects such as
netsuke (miniature sculptures)- they appear lovingly portrayed in their natural element:
typical animals of the countryside mountains forests rivers and sea and even today's
cities. While most of the animals in this Japanese bestiary are good omens even ones a tad
mischievous downright evil or uniquely sacred such as the sika deer or the crane all are
invested with strong symbolism and have become extremely popular in a country where everything
is ephemeral and transient yet everything remains. Japanese Bestiary is an ideal book for
anyone interested in Japanese drawing and painting animal illustrations and wildlife art and
literature.
