Synopses & Reviews
Ikebana and tea, karate and calligraphy-what do these traditional Japanese arts have in common? All represent different forms of training and practice, but all stem from shared principles of spiritual practice, moving meditation, and beauty. With practical examples and easy-to-follow exercises, this book concisely introduces 45 living concepts of the Way, from "wabi" and the "immovable mind" to "respect" and "duty," explaining their traditional Japanese roots and also how to incorporate them into our daily lives for greater serenity, concentration, and creativity.
H. E. Davey is Director of the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts.
Review
"It is most helpful that Davey is a competent and well-organized writer, as no one of lesser ability could take on this massive subject in such a meaningful wayLiving the Japanese Arts and Ways serves as a reminder to seasoned marital artists of what originally led them to study a particular "way"in the first place, and of its importance in their daily lives."
Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Volume 12, Number 3, 2003
Review
Winner of Spirituality &Health Magazine's BEST Spiritual Books Awards 2003
Review
"Davey uses words with clarity and simplicity to describe the non-word realm of practicing these arts--calligraphy martial arts, tea ceremonies, painting-- and the spiritual meaning of such practiceDavey is thoroughly steeped in Japanese culture and able to respectfully introduce and explain how those sensibilities are intractable woven through the artsthe book is a wonderful complement for practitioners of meditation, especially Zen." -Publishers Weekly, October 28, 2002
Review
"Connecting with the deepest possibilities in Japanese arts is a tall order, Davey is one Westerner able to deliver." -ForeWord Magazine
Review
"In this masterful work, H.E. Davey explicates the five central attributes at the heart of the Japanese arts and Ways: harmony, asymmetrical balance, artlessness, impermanence, and unity with the universe. These are all evident in bonsai, tea ceremony, yoga, ikebana, the martial arts, and calligraphy. With lyricism and a deep love for the aesthetics and spirituality of these arts, the author discusses 45 concepts of the Japanese Ways, many of which have Taoist roots...The author's discussion of the spiritual dimension that permeates all of these endeavors is salutary and impressive." --Spirituality and Health Magazine, February 2003
Synopsis
Ikebana and tea, karate and calligraphy-- all traditional Japanese arts and practices share certain ideals and techniques to achieve the same goals: serenity, mind/body harmony, awareness, and a sense of connection to the universe. In the spirit of D. T. Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture, this provocative text concisely introduces 45 living concepts of the Japanese Ways, from the "wabi" aesthetic of beauty and the "immovable mind" to "respect" and "stillness in motion," explaining their Taoist and Japanese roots. Practical examples and easy-to-follow exercises show how to incorporate the Ways into our daily lives, meditations, and personal value systems.
Synopsis
Ikenana and tea, karate and calligraphy-- all traditional Japanese arts and ways share certain ideals and practices to achieve the same goal: greater serenity, concentration, and mind/body harmony. With practical examples and easy-to-follow- exercises, this book concisely introduces 45 living concepts of the Way, from "wabi" and the "immovable mind" to "respect" and "duty," explaining their traditional Japanese roots nd also how to incorporate them into our daily lives and personal value systems. An excellent primer to Eastern art, philosophy, and spiritual practice.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-210).
About the Author
H. E. Davey teaches traditional Japanese art and is Director of the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts. An accomplished practitioner and teacher of numerous Japanese arts, he holds the highest rank in Ranseki Sho Juku calligraphy and exhibits annually in Japan. He also writes frequently for the Internet magazine and Japanese arts journal Michi Online.