Inside the MSB Library: Symbols of Japan

To my mind, the most difficult aspect of analyzing artwork from another culture is the lack of knowledge about common symbols and allusions. I may not always understand a biblical reference in a piece of art, but I can generally tell when one is being made. I recognize visual references to famous works of art like The Thinker, The Last Supper, or American Gothic. I know that red roses symbolize passionate, romantic love, that people wish on shooting stars, and that black cats are sometimes thought to be unlucky.

... but there are plenty of artworks that come out of very different artistic and cultural milieu. The great works of literature, historical events, artistic traditions, and folk-knowledge they reference are completely different.

Which is why this book has been such a fabulous resource!

Symbols of Japan, by Merrily Baird, is organized into chapters by topic - plants and flowers, animals, astronomy, and so on - with entries sorted alphabetically. Entries are accompanied by color and black and white examples of the entry in Japanese artwork, including photographs of relevant sculptures, clothing, and decorative objects.

I did not know that the cloud-shape pictured at the top of the left-hand page was a reference to the fungus of immortality!

If you're looking for a reference text for visual motifs in Japanese art, I highly recommend this one - it's been a great help for several of MSB's research pieces so far, and I expect to consult it frequently going forward.

~ Nina