Zen Gardens: The Complete Works of Shunmyo Masuno, Japan's Leading Garden Designer - Hardcover

Mira Locher

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 4805311940 ISBN 13: 9784805311943

Publisher: Tuttle Shokai Inc, 2012

"Shunmyo Masuno, Japan's leading garden designer, is at once Japan's most highly acclaimed landscape architect and an 18th-generation Zen Buddhist priest, presiding over daily ceremonies at the Kenkoji Temple in Yokohama. He is celebrated for his unique ability to blend strikingly contemporary elements with the traditional design vernacular. He has worked in ultramodern urban hotels and in some of Japan's most famous classic gardens. In each project, his work as a designer is inseparable from his Buddhist practice. Each becomes a Zen garden, ""a special spiritual place where the mind dwells."" This beautiful book, illustrated with more than 400 drawings and color photographs, is the first complete retrospective of Masuno's work to be published in English. It presents 37 major gardens around the world in a wide variety of types and settings: traditional and contemporary, urban and rural, public spaces and private residences, and including temple, office, hotel and campus venues. Masuno achieved fame for his work in Japan, but he is becoming increasingly known internationally, and in 2011 completed his first commission in the United States which is shown here. The book, divided into three chapters, covers: ""Traditional Zen Gardens,"" ""Contemporary Zen Gardens"" and ""Zen Gardens outside Japan."" Illustrated with photographs and architectural plans or sketches, each garden is described and analyzed by author Mira Locher, herself an architect and a scholar well versed in Japanese culture. Celebrating the accomplishments of a major, world-class designer, Zen Gardens also serves as something of a master class in Japanese garden design and appreciation: how to perceive a Japanese garden, how to understand one, even how to make one yourself. Like one of Masuno's gardens, the book can be a place for contemplation and mindful repose.

Product Description:

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Review:

There is something about Japanese gardens that wraps me in serene calmness. I find them as close to perfection as any garden style can be. This much is true of Shunmyo's work and a lot more besides. All the classic Japanese elements are brought together in an accomplished way. This book includes traditional Japanese garden in the 21st century, modern gardens and essence of Zen and gardens outside Japan. 38 gardens are featured with a slight emphasis on traditional gardens in the 21st century. There is also information on the design and construction process of one of the featured gardens with small but detailed photos. A dialogue with the garden creator adds further insight. The text offers plenty of insight into garden making and it is beautifully illustrated with appropriate and clear photos. You'll see all aspects of the garden, site plans which show you the design. In this book you can simply admire the gardens or you could use it to create a design of your own. This is an exquisite book, perfect for all lovers of Japanese gardens. Great for a gift or for yourself. --yarnsandfabrics/crafts, october, 2012

• Publisher: Tuttle Shokai Inc
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 4805311940
• ISBN 13: 9784805311943
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224