Kannon, by Kano Hogai (1883) [Public Domain Image]

The Ideals of the East

with Special Reference to the Art of Japan

by Kakuzo Okakura

[1904]

This is a short but very concise introduction to Asian art by the author of The Book of Tea. Written from a Japanese perspective, and focusing on Japanese art, one of the major themes is the relationship between spirituality, particularly Buddhism, and the evolution of Asian art.

Title Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Range of Ideals
The Primitive Art of Japan
Confucianism--Northern China
Laoism and Taoism--Southern China
Buddhism and Indian Art
The Asuka Period: 550 to 700 A.D.
The Nara Period: 700 to 800 A.D.
The Heian Period: 800 to 900 A.D.
The Fujiwara Period: 900 to 1200 A.D.
The Kamakura Period: 1200-1400 A.D.
Ashikaga Period: 1400-1600 A.D.
Toyotomi and Early Tokugawa Period: 1600-1700 A.D.
Later Tokugawa Period: 1700-1850 A.D.
The Meiji Period: 1850 to the Present Day
The Vista