Three Volumes of Traditional Wave Designs
Printed in the ‘Hamonshu’, these patterns were used to adorn swords, ceramics, and other decorative and religious objects.
In 1903, Mori Yuzan, a little-known Japanese artist from Kyoto, created a design work comprised of three volumes and entitled Hamonshu. It presents various traditional Japanese wave designs that could be used by local artisans to adorn swords, ceramics, and other decorative and religious objects.
Thanks to the Internet, the book is reliving its youth through a digital version that is now available on the Internet Archive website.
TRENDING
-
Gashadokuro, the Legend of the Starving Skeleton
This mythical creature, with a thirst for blood and revenge, has been a fearsome presence in Japanese popular culture for centuries.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
The Tradition of the Black Eggs of Mount Hakone
In the volcanic valley of Owakudani, curious looking black eggs with beneficial properties are cooked in the sulphurous waters.
-
Colour Photos of Yakuza Tattoos from the Meiji Period
19th-century photographs have captured the usually hidden tattoos that covered the bodies of the members of Japanese organised crime gangs.
-
‘YUGEN’ at Art Fair Tokyo: Illumination through Obscurity
In this exhibition curated by Tara Londi, eight international artists gave their rendition of the fundamental Japanese aesthetic concept.