Japanese Tattoo Art Design Book - Buddhist Imagery Books

JAPANESE CULTURE REFERENCE BOOKS

Drawing Daruma

Size: 8.5” x 11.5” - Pages: 125 - Published: 2006 (reprint) - Price: $58 - Binding:
Softcover

This is a great reference book on Daruma. Daruma (or Dharma, Bodhidharma) is the father of Zen buddhism (chan buddhism in China). He lived sometime during the 5th or 6th century AD. Legends about him vary but most agree that he achieved Satori (enlightenment) after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes. During that time his arms and legs atrophied, shriveled up and fell off. Some say he cut off his eyelids as well - in anger at himself for dozing off, and they fell to the ground and sprouted into China's first green tea plants.

You cannot visit Japan without seeing countless lucky Daruma dolls, little round red guys at all the temples and in many of the shops and homes. They are also called Okiagari Koboshi or tumbler dolls. Because of their shape, if pushed or knocked, they spring back up making they emblems for persistence, optimism and determination. Traditionally you have one Daruma doll in your home. They are eyeless when you purchase them. You make a wish and draw in one of the eyes, if the wish come true you draw in the other, if not you wait. If you want, at the end of the year, you can return to the temple and burn the doll. This purification ritual is to let the god of that temple know that you are not giving up the pursuit of your wish but are going to take another path to make it come true. Very cool.

This book includes tons of sketches and sumi-e ink drawings, as well as several full color renditions. Most are portraits of Daruma or Daruma dolls. Special pages devoted to sketches of his ears, eyes, lips, beard, nose and eyebrows. Very thorough! This book is printed on thick, high quality paper. Text in Japanese, reads right to left, Japanese style.

Tattoo Girls Design Book vol. 1

Size: 6” x 8” - Pages: 95 - Published: 2003 - Price: $35 - Binding: Softcover

This book is called Tattoo Girls Design Book vol. 1 put out by the people who do Tattoo girls magazine here in Japan . It includes 300 small photos of girly tattoos - butterflies, cherry blossoms, tribal, fantasy, birds - not all traditional Japanese imagery but a survey of what Japanese think is "girly". There is a section on how a tattoo is made - for the first timers and a shop guide in the back. Text is in Japanese.

A History of Japanese Body Suit Tattooing

Size: 8.5” x 11” - Pages: 224 - Published: 2006 - Price: $60 - Binding: Softcover

This is a new copy of A History of Japanese Body Suit Tattooing by Mark Poysden and Marco Bratt. THIS IS MY FAVORITE REFERENCE BOOK ON JAPANESE TATTOOING - INCREDIBLE READ. This book chronicles the development of Japanese tattooing and the social and political forces that helped influence the art and it's significance in Japanese culture. There is a huge chapter on the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) and their tattoos. The second half is devoted to Japanese Imagery and gives detailed explinations about the significance of a huge assortment of popular Japanese imagery like dragons, koi, cherry blossoms, kintaro....all in all a well researched reference book. Text is in English and the photographs are mind blowing, very well done and a must have for any collector of tattoo art.

Kingyo - Japanese Goldfish

Size: 6” x 9” - Pages: 385 - Published: 2003 - Price: $65 - Binding: Softcover

This auction is for a new copy of Yuzen Graphics 2, a great full color book of outer kimono designs and images. This book includes over 267 full color prints all appx. 2" x 4". The descriptions/text and sample headings are all in Japanese AND English so it is very user friendly. Images include butterflies, cranes, peacocks, swallows, tigers, foo dogs, onis like gods of thunder and lightning, bamboo, plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, and assorted flowers - all done in brilliant colors. This book is really good for both central image and background tattoo work and the color schematics are very eyec-atching and very Japanese. Great resource book for anyone interested in classic Japanese imagery.

Japanese Komainu (foo dogs)

Size: 6” x 8” - Pages: 128 - Published: 2006 - Price: $38 - Binding: Softcover

This is an amazing book. I have been waiting for a book to be published devoted to FOO DOGS or KOMAINU as the statues guarding the temples are called in Japanese. Not only have they finally done it, they translated the text so it is printed in both English and Japanese. The photos in the book are of statues, not illustrations. The book focuses on foo dogs guarding different temples and their history. It outlines the history and purpose of foo dogs in Asian culture and illustrates differences between the Edo lion and the Naniwa foo dog. Photos are dated so you can see the growth and development of these statues. All in all a very cool resource.

Samurai Armor Design

Size: 6” x 9” - Pages: 330 - Published: 2008 - Price: $65 - Binding: Softcover

This is an amazing book by the people that did the Kingyo and Noh book I have in other auctions (PIE) - if you are going to make one new acquisition this month, this should be it. It is called Samurai Armor Designs and includes 330 pages of armor, helmets and kimono, with occasional swords and accessories thrown in for good measure. Includes full color, full page photos with descriptions in both English and Japanese. Predominately photos - this is more of a coffee table book - excellent reference for artists.

Heroes of the Suikoden 1 by Masayuki Miyata

Size: 8.5” x 11.5” - Pages: 160 - Published: 2002 - Price: $55 - Binding: Softcover

This is a book I just picked up for myself the artwork is amazing. It is by Masayuki Miyata and is his rendition of the stories from the Heroes of the Suikoden - many images of spying, fighting, rape, plundering and pillaging. The stories of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden goes back to an old Chinese novel about 108 honorable bandits similar to Robin Hood and his merry men. At the beginning of the 19th century it became very popular in Japan and became one of the favorite subjects of Japanese prints.Horiyoshi III published a collection based on these warriors. Miyata's artwork is simple but very compelling. Text is in Japanese but minimal, predominately full color images. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. Great ideas for non-tradition Japanese-esque tattoos.

Ito Hikozo Illustrations (Kick Ass Samurai)

Size: 8.5” x 12” - Pages: 200 - Published: 2006 - Price: $58 - Binding: Softcover

This is the coolest book I've found in a while! It is by Hikozo Ito and it is some of the most incredible pen and ink illustration I have ever seen. His depictions of the Heroes of the Suikoden are mind blowing - many images of spying, fighting, ninjas warriors - all done with intense attention to detail. The story of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden goes back to an old Chinese novel about 108 honorable bandits similar to Robin Hood and his merry men. At the beginning of the 19th century it became very popular in Japan and became one of the favorite subjects of Japanese prints. Horiyoshi III published a collection based on these warriors. Text is in Japanese but minimal, predominately monochrome images printed on high quality paper. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. 1000's of great ideas Japanese style tattoos.

Heroes of the Suikoden 2 by Masayuki Miyata

Size: 8.5” x 11.5” - Pages: 160 - Published: 2002 - Price: $55 - Binding: Softcover

This is a book I just picked up for myself the artwork is amazing. It is by Masayuki Miyata and is his rendition of one of the stories from the Heroes of the Suikoden - many images of spying, fighting, rape, plundering and pillaging. The stories of the 108 heroes of the Suikoden goes back to an old Chinese novel about 108 honorable bandits similar to Robin Hood and his merry men. At the beginning of the 19th century it became very popular in Japan and became one of the favorite subjects of Japanese prints.Horiyoshi III published a collection based on these warriors. Miyata's artwork is simple but very compelling. This book is softcover, appx. 8.5" x 11.5" and160 pages. Text is in Japanese but minimal, predominately full color images. Great for collectors of Japanese art or Suikoden enthusiasts. Great ideas for non-tradition Japanese-esque tattoos.

Antique Japanese Advertisement Posters

Size: 4” x 6” - Pages: 260 - Published: 2003 - Price: $25 - Binding: Softcover

This is a great little book I found full of full page, full color posters from the 30's and 40's....some date back to 1911. The people and graphics in these posters are really great....they capture the trends of the time and, while reminiscent of Western culture in many ways, still retain a strong element of that which is truly Japanese....the assimilation of two very different cultures, even back in the 30's is fascinating. Pictures are much more vivid in the book! Really a great little find.

Antique Sapporo Beer Posters

Size: 6” x 6” - Pages: 50 - Published: 2000 - Price: $30 - Binding: Softcover

This is a great little book on beer posters from Sapporo beer, dating from 1908 - 1930, put out by the Sapporo beer museum. This book is a great collection of advertisement art. Perfect for the beer enthusiast or collector of Japanese kitch.

Traditional Japanese Hairstyles

Size: 4” x 6” - Pages: 270 - Published: 2000 - Price: $25 - Binding: Softcover

This book is called Tradition Japanese Coiffures - a great little book of full color photos of the elaborate hairstyles worn with kimono - both modern day styles as well as antique. It is a great reference book for hairstylist, artist interested in traditional Japanese imagery and collectors of Asian photography and culture. Text is in Japanese and the book reads right to left, Japanese style.

Japanese Crest Designs

Size: 6” x 9” - Pages: 400 - Published: 2005 - Price: $60 - Binding: Softcover

This is a great new book out by the same people who did the Kingyo (Japanese Goldfish) and Niwatori (Japanese Rooster) books. It is a complete reference guide to Japanese family crests including hundreds of examples and photographs of how they are used in daily life here (in kimono, artwork, laterns, noren, food, ceremonies etc.). The photographs are compelling and really bring meaning to the crests themselves. Incredibly well done. It is 400 pages....a total monster! There is an introduction in English but the remaining text is in Japanese and minimal.

Family Crests of Japan

Size: 8” x 8.5” - Pages: 154 - Published: 2001 - Price: $45 - Binding: Softcover

This is a great book for people wanting to know background information on Japanese family crests. The seals make great single image tattoos and come with an explanation in English for what the symbols means in Japan and to the family that adopted it to represent them. Also a good resource book for symbols in art and history. Again the text is in English making this an excellent resource book.

Edo Shirushi Banten

Size: 4” x 6” - Pages: 255 - Published: 2006 - Price: $25 - Binding: Softcover

This is a great compilation of photos of Shirushi Banten - the short coats used in the Edo period that originated with the Iroha 48 firebrigades organized in 1718. The coats were dyed with a design that identified their brigade and position. Now they are worn at festivals and different neighborhood throughout Japan still have a unique design. The book includes photos of these festivals, coat designs and patterns, a few ukiyo-e/woodblocks featuring firefighters, and a lot of images of the different graphics on the back of the coats. These graphics are great for tattoo design.

Japanese Family Crest Designs

Size: 4” x 6” - Pages: 318 - Published: 2004 - Price: $25 - Binding: Softcover

This is a great little collection of family crests done by the same people who did the KIMONO PATTERN DESIGN BOOK SERIES. This book consists of page after page of monochrome images of family crests and symbols. 15 images to a page make this collection a treasure. Definitely a must have for those interested in traditional Japanese art and design....text in Japanese.