New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-20
CONSTRUCTIVE ART IN JAPAN.

Company.
The Western apprehension and appreciation OF
japanese civilization, culture and art has been
slow. and it may almost be said reluctant. 1t is
not very long ago that japanese art was regarded
~ chiefly cro.e.,lus and it is qnite recently that
thc idea that it may have for us a distinct and
important didactc meaning has taken root. Our
Western conservatism, prejudice, Concert aud
philistnism generally have resented the thought OF
learning from people we in orr ignorance were
accustomed to call unciylized and for long time
fine things which most differentiated the japanese
from ourselves. and which in truth most clearly
testified to their superior culture and refinement
were despispd by H. as marks OF an Oriental etem-
macy decentralization eNaltcd.by contrast our
own robus; vuigarity and bar5ar:sm.
Thanks to a leaven OF true insight. this stage Is
being passed. and with the aid OF such appreciatiyc
teachers as Professor Morse we are in fair way TO
comprehend aud perceive the beauties OF an at
system which in its highest manifestations exhibits
a feeling for nature and fidelity TO sound pin
ciples worthy Of the most thorough respect In the
volume before us Professor Morse has described.
with enthusiasm and with laborious minutencss,
the constructive art employed IN japanese domestic
architecture The japanese hOusc is indeed 50
different from that Of ENGLAND Or America that the
authors requirement. to view the subject from q
Jauauese point of view, ~ not uncaIled lor Inc
climatic differences muat fist be taken into
account but more important still are the dIHer-
cnccs resulting from radically opposite systems oil
civilization. In the Japanese lie love oil nature
and feeling Tor true and pure art are controlling
influences nor are they confined To small i'itercd
and leIsured class. They are T. be iound IN the hut
of tie fisherman rs well a IN ,hc castle oi the
Daimio Throughout the Empire the culture OF the
people is manifested in decorative taste whose
L fFt.r.i F.sffN IfrHH
sense of harmony seeks satisfaction in the purrst
color arraug emenls Their artistic insight secures
the npst elective flower groupings BY avoidance Of
the huddlcd masses which, with us, pass Tor
,cstbctic combinations The beauty al single
spray of pum or cherry blossom suffice, to !is.t M
a room or o. len TO a screen or panel when repro
duccd by some local artist, an enduring charm.
The same art-iccliug. which includes rs It always
r1ust do a reverence for truth and thoroughnc>'.
pervades their constructive WORK. Their honscs.
delicate and even himsy IN som" respects they
must appear to Western eyes, arc bat with q
worBmanlike completeness the like of which u
almost lost among ~. The very dclca'y and
dimsincSs which we wonder at; tie soft,
smooth mats which cover the hoors; the HIGHT
screens winch foIm the partitions; the hsh polish
OF the beautiful lacquer winch IS used 50 freely :
the general manifestation of a domestic aud public
eiess irllilrhffDL dliibNt 1tAltu- az A'i'
stranpenes,-alI speak Of a civilization extending
back for ages; a vililaton which has elevated
thi, people in some respects Ear above tue status OF
the Western nations
Thu. Japaucse architecture and the japanese ways
oflivlng would be impossible among us, II 10: no
other reason than because We lack the dlaused
culture which renders possible in Japan tic display
Of decorative art in weak materials Japanese
art however is marked by an originality, bold
ness in execution and fertility OF resource calcu-
lated 10 induce molesty IN foreign critics. Who
that has examined the ware of that country has not
maryclled at the unerring Judgment and felicity Of
touch by which the artist, in a few fec strokes,
has not merely indicated his subject, but put life
into it1 Throughout the Empire are 10 DO found
local artists gifted with Just this inenesS of taste
and frrnncss Of execution. Where are such birds,
such grasses drawn, as in JaTanf Where Is design
half as original, vigorous aud fl OF life II i
mainly because ali the people understand and love
art that the high standard is thus maintained.
Professor Morse has demonstrated this aud much
more in his interesting volume lie shows how the
Japanese put grace and quantness into all their
construction; how they build their houses, from
framework TO rdgc-pole, with frank purpose to
keen as close 10 Nature as they can, instead Of
getting as far iIom her rs possible, MS we do He
shows how they avoid the sOmbre symmetry which
governs Western domestic architecture; how. far
from rejecting crooked or gnared or knotted
timbcrs they carefully utilize these abnormalitos
50 as to produce rustic elects how in the consruc-
ton of their roofs their fences their gardens their
gates and gatcways. they lavish an inventive
ingenuity full of instructive grace and charm how
they get the best out of all their interior woodwork
by preserving it's natural beauties, unmarried by
paint or varnish; how in the smallest details Of
70. .t.i,, Nl.., . i.
ant effects by the simplest means. To give an
ADEQUATE account of such book within the limits
of an ordinary reviow is not possible. 1t is full ii
surprises and of anomalies. Nothing can he more
"un-American" than japanese manners and
customs But the reader who begins by divesting
himself of his most besettIng prejudces will be
very apt to conclude by agreeing with Professor
Morse in the majority of his estimates
1t is hardly possible to put down such n book so
conc!usivcly illustrating the evolution by these
people of civilization in all ways admirably
suited to their nceds--and which has made of them
the CONT est most polite, and PERHAPS the most
contented and happy nation on the gobe-without
experiencing unpleasant doubt as to the benefits
likely to accrue them from the adoption of West
ern IDEAS. Have we indeed anything to tca,h them
in culture and artR Are our manners such as to
offer any advantages over their own1 Professor
Morse Is decidedly of the opinion that such changes
as are being introduced to the Empire from without
are for tho worse and this can hardly be doubted
The japanese perhaps, possess enough conscrva-
tism. and certainly are endowed with sufficient
Judgment to distinguish between real and spurious
progress and therefore there is to hope that
they will know where to stop.
Professor Morse has illustrated his book from his
own drawings. profusely and well. So far as 1t
goes. il Is satisfactory and valuable work, and in
it's way unique. But the author shows throughout
so thorough a knowledge of his subject, and so
broad and catholic Judgment, that he is evidently
the man to complete the task he has entered upon
by preparing another volume dealing with the life
lived by the Japanese in the homes he has described
50 well. This is work which remains to be DONE
Plenty of travellers and come residents have