Wall Paintings in the Kondo Horyuji Monastery
Kyoto, Japan: The Society for Publication of Wall Paintings in the Kondo Horyuji Monastery, 1951. F. Contents include 36 large size tipped-on plates printed on heavy stock (the portfolio is large, 24" x 18 1/2" size) in color and collotype, showing views and details from this temple, in Hansetsu, Yotsugiri, Zenshi sizes; with a separate "An Introduction to the Wall Paintings the Main Hall..." by Ichimatsu Tanaka; Japanes & English text throughout; the Reverend Ryoken Saeki chief priest at Horyuji calligraphed the title, several prefaces by Japanese politicians of the time: Prime Minister Yoshida, Speaker of the House Shidehara, President of the House of Councillors Sato, Minister of Education Amano, Chairman of the Cultural Properties Protection Commission Takahashi; (From the Colophon): "...the complete set of the first, and now the last, original color reproductions taken directly from the original murals of the Main Hall, Horyuji Monastery, and that covering all of the twelve walls..."; the original temple was spared the damages of WW II and burned in 1949, hence the importance of this record which was created before the fire in the 1930s; Langdon Warner, Keeper of the Fogg Museum provides a Preface; printed by Tatsuzo Sato at the Benrido Press Kyoto Japan; paper by Iwano Paper; Bookbinders were Kyoshin-Sha of Kyoto; Tanaka essay side-sewn with blue ribbon, loose sheets laid-in to light green cloth over gray heavy cardstock covers, paste-down cover Buddha illustration, red titles on cover, gilt titles on spine, brown ribbon ties; some edge, tips wear, some soiling to portfolio covers, some splitting and fraying to edges of cloth; overall, in very good condition and an important reference for Japanese Buddhist art. Item #14134
Price: $350.00