The first half of the book introduces seventy-five important patterns, as depicted on a variety of objects. Seeing the "lotus blossom" or "flowing water" patterns, for instance, on antiques including brocaded kabuki robes, lacquerware trays, and metal sword guards throws into relief the patterns themselves, rather than the objects, making possible a new level of understanding and enjoyment. The informative text describes how each pattern arose, and the significance it had in terms of art, religion, and even politics. The reader has a sense of being empowered to look at any Japanese art, craft or design form with a new and educated eye.

The second half of the book shows a rich and dynamic selection of more than one thousand family crests. Crests are very stylized motifs whose variety and artistry are remarkable. With a minimum of lines, they are able to express the essence of such forms as a pair of facing crows with wings outstretched; the rounded back of a monkey viewed from behind as it sits hunched over, alone; or the elegant single counter-clockwise whorl. Despite being hundreds of years old, they are extremely modern in their sensibility.

Lavishly illustrated with over 450 color plates, and with text and photos alike by experts in the traditional Japanese arts, Snow, Wave, Pine is a treasurehouse of information for anyone interested in design forms or in Japanese culture.

From the Publisher
Partial List of Full-Color Photos (pattern followed by objects on which it appears)

*Autumn Flowers
lacquer tray
makie perfume box
karaori No robe, 18th c.
hand-drum
teapot

*Rabbit-Ear Iris
vase
detail of kataginu
tea bowl
shells
makie inkstone case by Ogata Korin, 17-18th c.; National Treasure

*Wisteria
detail of makie chest, 18th c.
detail of No robe

*Rice Plant
sword guard
lacquer cosmetics box

*Eulalia
kataori No robe, 18th c.
kosode short-sleeved kimono

makie smoking equipment holder

*Maple Leaf
makie comb and hairpin
detail of nuihaku No robe

*Arabesque
lacquer box
kariginu No robe
teapot
wax-resist dyed cloth

*Chrysanthemum
tiered food box
sake bottle
sake keg
lidded lacquer bowl
fan
comb and hairpin

*Paulownia
plate
wooden hibachi brazier
lacquer pillow
tea bowl
comb
kariginu No robe
kosode short-sleeved kimono

*Bamboo
makie mirror case; Important Cultural Property
atsuita No robe; 18th c.
fan

lidded makie bowl
lidded rice bowl
lacquer pitcher

*Plum Blossom
lidded makie bowl
plate
teapot
sake cup holder
noren shop curtain
tea-leaf container by Nonomura Ninsei, 17th c.; Important Cultural Property

*Hydrangea
lidded jar
detail of makie box, 17th-18th c.
maiginu No robe, 17th-18th c.

*Grape
smoking equipment holder
jar
lid of makie box

*Chinese Bellflower
lacquer tray
plate
mirror case
katabira summer kimono, 18th c.

*Camellia
makie tray
noren shop curtain
plate
plate
plate

*Peony
vase
plate, 17th c.
comb
detail of obi sash
detail of uchikake kabuki robe

*Ivy
choken No robe, 18th c.
comb and hairpin
lacquer bowl
water jug
lacquer plate
smoking equipment holder

*Pine
single-panel screen
sake bottle
smoking equipment tray
portable food chest

*Cherry Blossom
fan
detail of kitsuke kabuki robe
lid of tiered food box
gold lacquer sake cup
kosode short-sleeved No robe

*Flower-and-Bird
lidded jar

comb
lidded lacquer bowl
mirror; National Treasure
lidded jar

*Dragon
obigoromo kabuki robe
relief on portable shrine
ceramic decorative tile
plate
bowl for traditional Japanese sweets
bowl
ceramic decorative tile; 18th c.
bowl for traditional Japanese sweets
lidded rice bowl

*Tiger
plate
makie incense case, 17th-18th c.
makie inkstone case
yoten kabuki robe

*Lion
atsuita No robe, 17th c.
plate
plate
soba noodle cup
plate
letter box

*Dog
detail of hand towel
detail of obi sash
tea cup
tea cup
plate

*Rat
makie inro medicine container
rice bowl
plate
bowl

*Rabbit
plate
lid of smoking equipment case
plate
kosode short-sleeved kimono

*Crane
lid of makie bowl
plate
sake bowl
plate
comb
plate
lidded rice bowl

*Mandarin Duck
plate
makie sake cup
lacquer tray

*Chicken
detail of wrapping cloth, 18th c.
plate

*Sparrow surihaku No robe
bowl

*Bush Warbler
rice bowl
plate
plate

*Swallow
comb

haori and kitsuke kabuki robe
detail of yukata cotton summer kimono

*Bat
kabuki robe
plate
cigarette case
No hair band

*Phoenix
tsutsugaki-dyed cloth
plate
makie writing-paper box, 17th-19th c.

*Peacock
incense container
makie box
plate

*Plover
makie tiered food box, 18th c.
long-sleeved kabuki robe
sake cup basin
plate

*Wild Goose
makie incense container
detail of hand towel
plate
unlined kimono, 18th c.

*Heron
bowl
cup
detail of kosode short-sleeved kimono, 19th c.

*Hawk
lacquer bowl
plate

*Turtle
metal fitting
tsutsugaki-dyed cloth
plate
lacquer tiered food box

*Goldfish
plate
bowl
plate
inro medicine container
lacquer tray
ceramic inkstone
round makie inkstone case

*Sea Bream
wooden mold
ornament from a portable shrine
plate
plate

*Lobster
uchikake kabuki robe
plate
tea bowl

*Crab
No hair band
bowl
sword guard, 16th c.
makie inkstone case, 16th c.

*Seashell
kataori No robe, 18th c.
smoking equipment holder
makie tiered food box

*Butterfly
detail of obi sash
detail of kabuki robe
detail of obi sash
rice bowl
comb
makie box
inro medicine container

*Dragonfly
plate
inlaid mother-of-pearl inkstone case
sword guard
sword guard
tobacco pouch
tea bowl

*Flowing Water
makie sake holder
traditional Japanese sweets
makie pitcher
fan
fan

*Wave
fusuma sliding doors
fan
fan
jinbaori
hand-drum
makie tiered food box, 18th c.

*Overlapping Waves
coins
bow
geta clogs
detail of obi sash
smoking equipment tray
chopstick rests

*Snow
smoking equipment tray
lidded rice tea bowl
sword guard by Hirata Shunkan, 1828
No robe

*Cloud
detail of kabuki robe
detail of kabuki robe
detail of kabuki robe
detail of kabuki robe

*Moon
biwa five-stringed lute
detail of noren shop curtain
sword guard, 19th c.

*Mountain
detail of obi sash
fan
plate
sake bottle
plate

*Musical Instrument
sword guard, 17th c.
long-sleeved kabuki robe
detail of wrapping cloth

*Folding Fan
sword guards, 17th-19th c.
comb and hairpin
paper stencil

*Wheel
makie
detail of obi sash
sword guard
kitsuke kabuki robe

*Arrow Feather
comb
plate
sword guard, 15th-16th c.
haori and kitsuke kabuki robe

*Boat
vase
makie hand-drum
sho reed instrument
comb
plate

*Bridge
jug
comb
detail of katabira summer kimono
detail of kabuki robe

*Treasures
plate

*Stripes
tobacco pouch

lidded lacquer bowl
lidded rice bowl

*Plaid
tobacco pouch
tobacco pouch
soba noodle cup
kitsuke kabuki robe

*Checks
soba noodle bowl
makie bowl
smoking equipment tray
kosode short-sleeved kimono

*Overlapping Circles
sandals
bowl
tray
bowl
hibachi hand warmer
lidded tea bowl and saucer

*Tatewaku
detail of kabuki robe
detail of kabuki robe
detail of kabuki robe
inro medicine container

*Rhombus
detail of kabuki robe
detail of noren shop curtain
lacquer bowl
head of pipe

*Triangle
hand-drum bag
atsuita No robe, 17th-19th c.

*Tortoise Shell
sake cup basin
sake bottle

*Hemp Leaf
smoking equipment tray

*Auspicious Patterns
plate
plate
fan, 18th c.
comb and hairpin
tsutsugaki-dyed cloth

*Human Form
vase
lidded jar
battledore
jug
vase
bowl
bowl
makie

*Whorl
noren shop curtain
vase, 17th c.
makie cosmetic box

*Splashed Pattern
kosode short-sleeved kimono

About the Author
Sadao Hibi is one of Japan's best-known photographers. He has published some thirty books in Japanese in the field of traditional arts over the last two and a half decades. Among his English publications are The Colors of Japan; Infinite Spaces: The Art and Wisdom of the Japanese Garden; Japanese Detail: Architecture; Japanese Detail: Cuisine; and Japanese Detail: Fashion.

Motoji Niwa has spent a lifetime researching family names, place names, and family crests. He has written more than eighty titles in Japanese, among them Family Names, Family Lines, Shrine Crests, Temple Crests, On Graves, and The Origin and Beauty of Family Crests.

Keywords: Snow, Wave, Pine: Traditional Patterns in Japanese Design, Books, Sadao Hibi, Motoji Niwa, Jay W. Thomas, Art, Art & Art Instruction, History - Asian, Design - General, Design - Decorative, Fine Arts