Legend in Japanese Art

About this book

A painted fan shows a crane, a tortoise or a warrior carrying an unfamiliar object. Each detail may be the key to a story. Henri Joly explains how to recognise the figures and symbols that fill Japanese decorative art.

Part reference work, part guide to mythology, the book traces gods, heroes, animals, plants and emblems across paintings, prints and crafted objects. Its entries connect visible details to Chinese and Japanese traditions, making crowded compositions easier to read. Joly wrote from the perspective of an early collector, but his illustrated explanations remain valuable when an image seems to contain a story just beyond reach.