Elements Of Japanese Design: Handbook Of Family Crests, Heraldry & Symbolism

Book Description

The Elements of Japanese Design is a library of traditional Japanese design motifs in the form of more than 2,700 family crests ( mon) compiled and drawn by a Kyoto publisher and bookseller early in the twentieth century, and selected and interpreted by John Dower, a leading American scholar of Japan. First used for identification on the battlefield beginning in the twelfth century, mon developed into symbols of family pride and fortune and quintessential expressions of the Japanese design sensibility—especially in their economy of means, exquisite detailing, and boldness of composition. The motifs employed in these family crests are also a fascinating window into the symbolic system of traditional Japan, which drew from a rich palette of natural phenomena, plants, animals, abstract devices, and manmade objects. This book will be a source of pleasure and inspiration to anyone interested in the basic elements of Japanese design, and of valuable information to anyone wishing to know more about the remarkable culture that produced it.

Customer Reviews:

for Artists and craftsmen - a true delight.......2006-08-11

Incredibly indepth coverage of Japanese family crests; a wealth of information on the subject. Detailed designs give rise to much inspiration to artists and crafters who enjoy Japanese history and culture.

Elements of Japanese Design:Handbook of Family Crests, Heraldry & Symbolism.......2005-08-29

Thank You, for such a great book it has helped my research and photography tremendously. The information given is quite helpful. Thank You Again, E.Ortiz

It's more than what you think it is!.......2002-10-05

I didn't realize the true value of this book until a year after I had initially read it.

It's a great book about Japanese crests. The pictures are clear and very sharp. There are a lot of kamon in the book, but not as many as others, so I put the book down...my mistake!

The book is filled with descriptions of the meanings and significance of each kamon! Mr. Dower writes of where the crest orginated when it is used, what season it is associated with, what meaning it has if associated with other motifs, etc. With the text and pictures one can actually recognize and understand the symbolism in Japanese art, kimono, etc. I can now tell what season it is in Japan by just looking at the kimono people wear or the tapestry hung on the wall (if the people who wear the kimono, hung the tapestry, etc. understand the symbolism...which many now don't :(...)!

There is also a short history of the kamon in the beginning :) The story of how the author came upon the illustrations for the crests is very interesting, too!

But...this book will not tell you the surnames that go with the crest. Granted, it will tell you of some of the really famous names that go with some of famous kamon, but not all of them.

I think this book is a must for anyone who is really interested in Japanese culture. (The other books on kamon I have are just for people interested in kamon.) I have loved it so much that the binding is coming apart...

Dower's book a classic.......2001-05-13

John Dower's study of Japanese crests and heraldry benefits from the same lucid writing and impeccable research that this MIT historian has brought to all of his work, including his recent National Book Award study of postwar Japan. The illustrations are excellent and the introduction, in particular, should be required reading for all those interested in Japanese history, heraldry, and samurai practices. It is just as valuable for those with a more generic interest in how heraldry has been used over time and across cultures.

The Elements of Japanese Design.......2000-08-17

A great book for someone who wants information on Kamon. In the first few pages there is a history of Mon. The Mon are separated by type and a short description is given of each. This is an excellent reference book.

Book Description

Seinfeld. For more than 33 million viewers, the Emmy Award-winning television show has become a Thursday night ritual. Now, even though the show has ended, Jerry Seinfeld's distinct brand of humor can still be yours.

Ted L. Nancy's first book, Letters from a Nut, with an introduction by Jerry Seinfeld, now has more than 225,000 copies in print. In More Letters From a Nut, master-prankster Nancy shares even more sidesplittingly funny letters he has written and the unbelievable true responses he has received.

Customer Reviews:

Simple Comedy.......2006-11-30

Having already read Ted L. Nancy's first volume, I was more than excited to read more outrageous letters. Similar to the Laszlo Letters (but much better), Ted L. Nancy writes zany letters to all sorts of organizations (companies, governments, the military, hotels and more) to make his hilarious requests. Though they are, of course, outlandish, but that's the entertainment.

Equally as entertaining are some of the response letters. Because most aren't totally sure that Ted L. Nancy is fake, they have to diplomatically word their letters -- great stuff.

Jerry Seinfeld has written the forward to both books by Nancy, causing many to speculate that he is the real author. Check out the wikipedia page on Ted Nancy for more details, but I'm not completely convinced that Seinfeld is the real author. Nevertheless, More Letters From a Nut continues the great tradition from before, and also makes for great comedy when read aloud. Enjoy it!

Another Winner.......2006-08-01

More hilarious satire (in letter form) from "Ted L. Nancy" who writes these jaw-droppingly unbelievable letters to corporations, governments, businesses and individuals, and the most remarkable part is, more often than not he gets a reply from these poor souls who try to piece together the meaning of Nancy's deadpan inquires about such inanities as the wearing of costumes on public buses, a hotel's policy on dealing with a chronic bedwetter who wishes to check in. A very funny book in a goofy collection.

Pretty Good.......2006-06-25

More Letters from a Nut was fairly funny. There were a few laugh out loud moments (like the inquiry as to whether the US Treasury was going to be putting Lincoln's bottom half instead of his portrait on the five dollar bill - gotta love that!) Overall, though, I thought the letters were too far fetched to even be slightly plausible - and being plausible (to a degree) is what makes a premise like this work.

I felt Paul Rosa's Idiot Letters was much funnier. I haven't read the first Letters from a Nut, though. Maybe it will be better...

What a nut.......2005-07-07

Ted L. Nancy is such a card!

God bless his little soul, this is an amazing heart-warming novel. You should definitely read this.

Very very funny.......2005-03-10

Letters from a Nut is clearly without a doubt the funniest book ever writtern.

More Letters from a Nut is hugely funny, but not as funny.

Either way, this book will give you hours of belly laughs.

Extra Nutty! Even More Letters from a Nut!

Average customer rating:

Hilarious!
Funny book and series!
Nutcase giving the Chills
Funniest thing i have ever read
THE funniest book that I've EVER read!

Extra Nutty! Even More Letters from a Nut!
Ted Nancy
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Essays | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0312261551

Book Description

Welcome to the world of Ted L. Nancy.Some have called him inspired, some have called him a goofball, and many have wondered who Ted really is.All we know is that Ted loves to write and it shows-EXTRA NUTTY! is chock full of nut, a record of real live correspondence from America's favorite pen pal to a cross-section of this great nation.EXTRA NUTTY is bursting with all new letters showing Ted at his looniest.Take, for example, this:Dear Business Permits Dept.: I want to apply for a business permit in your fine city....I operate the SOUP SLEEP RESTAURANTS. You can either order soup or sleep. A hostess will greet you and you would say, "I'd like to sleep." She will lead you to a table where you can catch a few winks.Or this:Dear Helena Ocean Dog Licensing Dept:I will stage the play "MARK TWAIN WITH TOURETTE'S SYNDROME."....Let me know what arrangements I need to make to store my anchovie tank at your seaport.Thank you. I await large crowds.Or even this:Dear Kmart: I have invented a male underpants liner....This liner fits right in your shorts and can be thrown away after 15 weeks. I have been wearing the same pair of underwear for 105 days now and although they feel a little stretchy they are perfectly clean.Ted's unique way of looking at the world-and how the world responds to Ted's schemes--is captured here in this extra nutty, hugely hilarious collection.AUTHORBIO: Ted L. Nancy is an enthusiastic and busy citizen who lives in Thousand Oaks, California.

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious! .......2006-12-04

Ted L. Nancy (if that is your real name) strikes for a third time with his mischievous Extra Nutty! Even More Letters From a Nut! edition. These are more frivolous correspondences posing some of the most whimsical requests and awkward commentaries imaginable to unsuspecting recipients. He goes a bit further in this book than he did in the first Letters from a Nut publication, so expect the laugh meter to increase by a few decibels. Again, the victims respond, clueless of the gag just inflicted upon them. Some, however, respond with whimsical correspondence.

This is a great book that ,unfortunately, after you've read it once, you probably wont want to revisit for sometime to come. Nonetheless, it is worth the purchase.

Funny book and series!.......2006-06-14

This book was just as funny if not funnier than the original title. I'm the kind of person who doesn't laught at TV shows or movies unless I'm with a group, but when reading alone, I found myself cracking up quite often. Ted has quite a random mind and comes up with the wierdest, akwardest, funniest letters ever; to which the companies actually reply! Usually, I don't enjoy reading, but this book just brought it to life. Probably in my top 10 of all time.

Nutcase giving the Chills.......2006-02-21

I liked the Concept of Ted Nancy way of thinking. I found that after reading the first 20 letters, I already knew the rest of the book. I expected to see some companies respond with a nutty answer, which doesn't happen to often.

Funniest thing i have ever read.......2005-10-06

I bought all books in this series within a few weeks after discovering them. Hands down the funniest stuff I have ever read.

THE funniest book that I've EVER read!.......2005-09-10

Need I say more? My only complaint is that he is now too popular to write any more letters and too many people will catch on and try and send humorous letters back (that would undoubtedly pale in comparison), instead of a serious response.

Average customer rating:

Even More Letters From a Nut

Manufacturer: St. Martins Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

More Letters from a Nut

ASIN: B000FA3CRS

2 TED L. NANCY Books - 1) Letters from a Nut / 2) More Letters from a Nut - (Un-boxed Set)

Average customer rating:

2 TED L. NANCY Books - 1) Letters from a Nut / 2) More Letters from a Nut - (Un-boxed Set)
Ted L. Nancy
Manufacturer: BANTAM BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UQTC44

Product Description

2 TED L. NANCY Books - 1) Letters from a Nut / 2) More Letters from a Nut - (Un-boxed Set), in either Hard or Softcover, (See Seller Condition Comments), Shipped in one package to save on shipping costs.

Average customer rating:

More Letters from a Nut
Ted L Nancy
Manufacturer: Ebury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGVUQS

Average customer rating:

More Letters from a Nut
Ted L Nancy
Manufacturer: EBURY PRESS (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K7YL3K

Customer Reviews:

Digital Cinema.......2007-08-06

I found myself thinking, "The stuff that is in this book is outdated." The cameras that he says are new were true for the time but not now.

This book did a great job of explaining to me, the history in cinematography. And again for me, if I was interested in history it would have been a decent book, hence the moose 3. However, I am new and getting into this field of digital cinema and I didn't find it as useful as I would have liked. I think this kind of stuff really is better learned on line and from websites and web blogs.

I read up on Mr. McKernan and apparently he is looked at in high regard for his quality and wealth of information. So that in it-self must make the book at least half good. I did enjoy learning some of the lingo. It was an easy to read and understand book. It was laid out in a fashion I could follow. It taught me things like interlacing and frame rate, camera choice (for its time), film is digital, small info about final cut, and a host of other things that will be helpful I am sure.

I believe the greatest piece of info in the book for me was chapter 10 on the indie films. This is more along the lines of what I was hoping to get in this book, but then again, it was only dedicated seven pages. So I got somewhat of an overview of independent film making. The book itself read as an overview, as each of the chapters were only allotted a mere 8-10 pages each. Not a lot of information can be conveyed to help someone learn if the first few pages of the eight are given to the history.

This is a history book for the class room of those pursuing digital cinema, not a book for someone interested in learning the hear and now of digital cinema, for that you need the internet.

Its appears to be the case in both book reviews that they are dated and the technology is far behind now. I will look more closely in my future obligation of book reviews, or perhaps I would lean to internet site reviews.

A comprehensive must-read for anyone in the movie biz today.......2005-10-15

In clear understandable style, with supporting interviews from industry pros, Brian has brought together the essential technological chops to understand the digital transformation that will soon impact almost every aspect of movie production and distribution. This is not a how-to guide, nor a product critique. It is a book that will jump start anyones move into a digital strategy. It also ties together historical context with the rapid evolution of HD and digital cinema while introducing readers to the companies and people making things happen. It is an excellent background to more arcane topics such as compression, color space and display technologies. It is a great prerequisite for more practical guides such as Scott Billups "Digital Moviemaking.
Thank you Mr. McKernan!

An excellent and informative book on digital cinema!.......2005-05-04

This book is excellent in describing the new revolution in digital cinema. I found it to be extremely helpful, descriptive, and informative. It is wonderfully worded and written with knowledge. I believe this book to be one of the best out there when it comes to this topic. A must-read for directors, producers, etc.

A Must Read for Digital MovieMakers!.......2005-04-27

This is a good introduction to all the big changes happening in moviemaking and movie projection.
Those changes all involve the move from film to digital that's allowing people who don't have millions of
dollars to make movies anyway with "prosumer" cameras-provided they know what they're doing and have
a good script.

I especially like Chapter Five, which explains all the latest digital cinema cameras-both the expensive ones and the ones indy filmmakers are using to break into the industry.

The book also has interviews with different filmmakers that gives a varied picture of how digital is enabling indys to make inexpensive movies while also enabling big studio filmmakers to make even more amazing big, expensive movies.

If you ever wanted to make a movie, now is the time. Anyone who's into filmmaking and digital media should read this book.

Digital Cinema : The Revolution in Cinematography, Post-Production, and Distribution

Average customer rating:

Digital Cinema : The Revolution in Cinematography, Post-Production, and Distribution
Brian McKernan
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGCIS2

Book Description

Suzuki Flute School, Flute Part - Volume 2 of 11. Suzuki Method Core Materials available for piano, violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, harp, guitar, and recorder.

Average customer rating:

Fun for the whole family

Good times if you have good eyes

This will keep you busy for a while

The Giant 1001 Puzzle Book (Other)
Random House
Manufacturer: Random House Puzzles & Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Puzzles | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Everything Crossword and Puzzle Book; Hours of brain-teasing fun-crossword puzzles, acrostics, hidden words and more, for puzzlers at all levels

Are You Smart, or What? A Bizarre Book of Games & Fun for Everyone

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Puzzle Book #2 (Uncle John Presents)

Book of Puzzles & Brain Teasers

Boggle Brainbusters: The Ultimate Word-Search Puzzle Book

ASIN: 0812936558
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Book Description

No fewer than 1001 mind-bending puzzles have been specially created for this book. From quick puzzles that will take a couple of minutes to logic problems that will need hours of work, each puzzle is graded into three levels of difficulty. Attractively presented in full color, the book includes picture puzzles, mazes, math tests, lateral thinking and visual reasoning puzzles, plus spatial problems. This is a cornucopia of conundrums that includes a special selection of tsunami puzzles by a famous japanese puzzle constructor that will have you racking your brain for hours.

Customer Reviews:

Fun for the whole family.......2006-06-02

My two teenage girls love this book! Having done many of the puzzles myself I can wholeheartedly recommend it. It's great fun for teens and adults!

Good times if you have good eyes.......2006-03-07

I was a little disappointed when I recieved this puzzle book. I realize that there are 1001 puzzles but I never thought the print wound be so small. I can not use it.

This will keep you busy for a while.......2005-11-27

This book packs a lot of entertainment for people of all ages.
As the title suggests ,there are 1001 puzzles.That is not to suggest that there is no similarity in these puzzles.There are several of each type and usually of different difficulty.Each puzzle has one,two or three dots giving an idea of difficulty.In a family the younger will find the 1-dot puzzles much more to their level,while those who really like a challenge will prefer the 3-dot ones.
There are all sorts of puzzles such as;identify the differences,.connect-the-dots,mazes,lateral thinking,fit togethers,cog puzzles,scales puzzles,matchstick,cubes,dominos,paths,matching pairs,silhouettes,arrows,all kinds of square puzzles,and on and on.
Another very interesting thing about this book is that it was published in 2004,and contains many ,about 25,Sukodu puzzles.This shows that these puzzles are not Japanese in origin as so many of the books that came out in the Sukodu craze in 2005,suggests.The only thing new is the name Sukodu.In this book they are called,Nine Numbers,and come in three levels of difficulty.
This is the type of book that can be left for different people to pick up and thumb through,find a puzzle that grabs their interest and have a go at it.There is no reason to do them in order.Also, you will find some types of puzzles,you prefer more than others,so pick and choose as you like.
Included in the book,is a complete set of answers.
I was so impressed with this book that I bought one for a neighbor friend and his kids,and two more for my sons and their families.No doubt it will provide endless hours of enjoyment and will give their minds good exercise.I always enjoy seeing the excitement of a kid when they solve a puzzle.
I must also point out that the book is excellent in quality in all respects.The paper is very heavy.Printing and color is super;and on top of that the construction is so good it will take a tremendous amount of use and even abuse.If a soft pencil is used ,marks can be erased and puzzles can be done again later or by others.
Quite frankly,I am amazes that such a high quality book can be sold at such a reasonable cost.The publishers should be proud of this book and puzzlers will surely appreciate it.
For a puzzle book with lots of variety,suitable for all ages and difficulty;It would be hard to find a bettr choice.
No OMNIHEURIST (puzzle solver) should pass this one up.

Average customer rating:

Giant 1001 Puzzle Book

Manufacturer: CARLTON BOOKS (Pref
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GXBSV6

Book Description

Focusing on children's and educational media, this book addresses how the traditional forum of television has been extended to include such new media as audio and video cassette recorders, Walkmen, Discmen, and personal computers, with all the opportunities they offer for games, communication, and incentives for learning. Issues addressed include whether children need television, the Internet and multimedia, television features and formats, violence, adolescents and their media worlds, and music on television.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books