Japanese costume and textile arts / Seiroku Noma

This informative book, with 43 illustrations in full color and 149 in black and white, describes the development of Japanese textile art in relation to the social background of the times. The author discusses two outstanding forerunners of the modern kimono: the kosode and the costumes of the Noh theatre. Examples of costume art and types of textiles, decorating techniques, and designs--all these are discussed here in a book of scholarly excellence and fascinating interest.

Seiroku Noma (1902-1966) graduated from the former Tokyo Imperial University where he specialized in art history. He served as Curator in Chief at Tokyo National Museum and is author of two additional books entitled: The Japanese Sense of Beauty -- Haniwa, and The Arts of Japan.

The kimono and its setting -- Land and climate -- Japanese-style dress -- The beauty of the kimono -- Rise of the kosode -- The kosode revolution -- Kosode and feminine beauty -- Overthrow of tradition -- Noh costume -- Shogunal patronage -- Types of Noh costume -- Kyogen costume -- Toward kabuki costume -- The passage of time -- Early kabuki -- Exotic textiles -- Yabo and Iki -- Simplification and refinement -- Changing tastes -- Katami-gawari and kata-suso -- Composite, allover, and large designs -- Scattered motifs -- Stripes and checks -- Pictorial designs -- Techniques and motifs of Japanese textiles -- Surihaku and Nuihaku -- Tsujigahana and tie-dyeing -- Embroidery -- Dyeing and printing -- Chaya-zome and Yuzen -- Kirihame and Zogan -- Hand-painted designs -- Colors and their names -- Abstract motifs -- Figurative motifs.