With a shared reverence for the arts of Japan, T. Richard Fishbein and his wife, Estelle P. Bender assembled an outstanding and diverse collection of paintings of the Edo period (1615 – 1868). The Poetry of Nature offers an in-depth look at more than forty works from their collection that together trace the development of the major schools and movements of the era — Rinpa, Nanga, Zen, Maruyama-Shijō, and Ukiyo-e — from their roots in Heian court culture and the Kano and Tosa artistic lineages that preceded them. Insightful essays by John T. Carpenter and Midori Oka reveal a unifying theme — the celebration of the natural world — expressed in varied forms, from the bold, graphic manner of Rinpa to the muted sensitivity of Nanga. Lavishly illustrated, these works draw particular focus to the unique intertwinement of poetry and the pictorial arts that is fundamental to the Japanese tradition. In addition to providing new readings and translations of Japanese and Chinese poems, The Poetry of Nature sheds new light on the ways in which Edo artists used verse to transform their paintings into a hybrid literary and visual art. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Verdana}

This enthralling collection brings together over 50 ancient tales from Japanese folklore, gathered and retold by 19th century traveler and naturalist Richard Gordon Smith. During his journeys around Japan, Smith recorded ancient Japanese myths and legends in his personal diaries. The result is a fascinating collection of historical legends from all over Japan, with themes including ghosts, unrequited love, Shinto landscape, tree and ocean spirits, samurai culture and tales driven by Bushido and Buddhist ethics. Gordon Smith's writing combines a realist style with supernatural elements, resulting in an anthology of 'magic realist' tales which will bewitch and captivate readers. ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus World Mythology series brings together captivating retellings of myths and legends from different oral traditions, from Greek and Roman to Norse and Native American, offering rich insight into their cultures and beliefs.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition organized by the Asian Art Museum, Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, and Kyoto National Museum and presented at the Asian Art Museum--Chong-Moon Lee Center, Dec. 3, 2005-Feb. 26, 2006--T.p. verso.