New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-28

JAPAN IN ART AND INDJ srRY, WITH GLANtE
Felix RI gamey. Authorized trans.aton BY trenca-
sheldon and Eli samuel sheldon Illustrated
s1mO PIP. $50 G.. L. Putnams sons
Japanese art and industry have, during TIE
last twenty years, been exploited more or loss
fully by a number Of weu-cquipped writers ana
specialists and an imposing array Of masnih-
Gently illustrated works testiies to the strength
of the impressions made by the civilization OF
Nippon upon the Western world. NJ Regamcy
has affixed TO his present volume photography
which, while not processing TO be complete, Is
sufficiently full 70 afford some idea OF the place
which japanese art and industry have taken IN
modern literature and thought. from ue
splendid tones Of Audslcy and BOwes ana Eouse
down to the latest Partisan japanese periodical
publication, testimony abounds TO the now luiIH
recognized importance of japanese WorK' anu
what is really most encouraging, it is to be OBJ
served that the air OF superiority assumed pS
most Western writer's when they first began 10
discuss Japan has insensibly been abandoned
and the truth of the situation is being generally
admitted
NJ Regamey is not less frank than many OF
his predecessors in this respect. He perceives
and csndidly acknowledges those Japanese
superiorftes which Saint Francis Xavier was
the first to recognize. The old missionary salo
of this peculiar Oriental people; " AS iar as ono
can Judge, the japanese surpass In virtue all"
in probity all nations discovered up 10 'hc
present. They Of gentle disposition,
averse from chicancry, and very covetous Oh
honors, which they value above everything
Poverty il frequent condition with them, put
by no means discreditable, however much
attended with hardships' Precisely the @me
might he said of them at the present day, ana
with identical justice No doubt there is danger
that the external civilization which has been
forced upon them by so-callcd Christian powcr9
M the lannon's mouth will eventually corruPa
and demoralizo them. This is what has bcfallen
all the simpler and less advanced peoples In the
past. and if tie japanese escape tho common
fate it will be perhaps because they really arc
not less but more advanced than their invaders.
As regards art and its principles there Is
even now no room for serious question as 10 ther
pre-eminence For In Japan art principles are
are not confined TO very small ractIoh
Of III. people as is the case in every other
part of the civilized world. On the con-
trarv. hat distinguishes Japan from all her
neirhbors is that the whole OF her people
understand appreciate and study art. In their
observation of nature, in their comprehension OF
all her moods, they have for centuries been IN a
position TO give lessons TO the most Pretentiors
ncoplos of the West. The Gelicacy, surenes9,
insight and technical mastery, which characterize
even their simplest creations have for generations
been immeasurably beyond the reach Of any
European imitators. In Selling the evanescenO
humors of everyday life such artists as Hokusal,
for example, have produced innuneranle WORKS
which are the despair of foreign students, be-
cause Of their suhtiety holiness simplicity and
roryellous truth to nature. The same may be
said OF the best japanese bronzes. Their ceramic
ware IA a marvel and delight. Their textile
nreducts are strongly original and artistic. In
snort they exhibit i'll both their art and industry
q feeling for beauty, grace and power altogether
uEeAcelled.
These facts " Regamey has undertaken to
ulustrote in the present volume, which, though
far from being encyclopedia, is excellenty adapted
TO its intended use, which is the popularization
Of japanese art. 1t i. the more necessary 10
welcome such a book founded as 1T Is upon the
authors personal observation, because there can
be no doubt that the art Of Japan Is undergoing
process Of deterioration, induced by the temp
tations and the solicitations of Western inter-
course. Unfortunately for the world and lt5
civilization, the in whose hands japanese
commerce has fallen care only for money-maIing,
and do not regard the injury which the artificial
stimulation Of production must n1ict upon the
art standards of the country, and no less upon its
ethical standards. The English flag has carried
brummagcm" goods all over the world, and now
II has Crcd'ri-lt must De dlmIllcO, NOT WITHOUT
American help and concuUence-a japanese
Brummasom.
For the first time in ler history Japan has learned
to turn ont e. cheap and nasty" products; TO Gator
TO the coarseness ignorance and aesthetic blind
ness Of foreign traders; TO send abroad and food
foreign markets with artistic rubbish not
any fragment OF which would be tolerated at home
This is the natural issue of the policy forced upon
her but it is not the less lamcntable: and the
most serious consequence Is that fifty years hence
the world may owe its entire knowledge OF Japan
csc art and culture 10 the books written by those
men OF to-day who have like W. Rcgamey, ex-
amined it the ground while il yet extant.
1t may be-and sincerely hope it will turn out
that japanese arr is too deeply ingrained in the
japanese people to D. thus corrupted and destroyed
Such an outcome, indeed, would be the strongest
conceivable proof Of the superior civilization Of
the race. But it il great deal to hope for when
the extent and scope of the demoralizing influences
ore considered, and perhaps the best that be
done is TO utilize all present opportunities for the
preservation OF monuments and memorials Of this
marvellous art which seems 20 be passing away
VI. Regamcys volume is quite comprehensive
II by no means exhaustive He includes in his
commentary all the japanese arts and industries.
together with brief examinations Of habits and
customs, education. the national cuisine, etc. He
appcnds also snort Dut useluI vocabulary OF
japanese terms and phrases, and the convenient
Autographed list already spoken Of. The book
is sufficiently illustrated by copies OF japanese
drawings and sketches by the author himself, and
altogether il constitutes very handy, practical
and serviceabe manual, which travellers may
avail themselves OF with advantage, and which, |
for the general reader, will well pave the way for
the extended and ambitious works On Japan |
csc art which now fortunately abound