The Unknown Craftsman: A Japanese Insight into Beauty

In this book, industrialization and mass production get a tongue lashing, as one would expect from a writer devoted to preserving hand craftsmanship and traditional art forms. I found the book enlightening and thought provoking. The first chapters are about the author's creation of a craft museum in Japan, which while somewhat interesting, discouraged me about the main direction of the book. But subsequent chapters about pattern in art and craft, and about the beauty of irregularity, encourage me to keep reading. I found the most interesting chapter to be the one about the Buddhist idea of beauty. The idea that beauty and ugliness are essentially the same thing is a difficult one to wrap my Western head around. There is depth in this chapter, and I expect to re-read many passages that I highlighted. Much of the focus of the book is on pottery, but other crafts and art forms get their mention, too. Much of the writing is about aesthetic concepts and principles that encompass all arts and crafts. In a single section at the front of the book are numerous photographs of bowls, textiles, hand painted scrolls, and other items, which are referred to in the text. The text is written in a clear and uncomplicated manner, with some inserted clarifications and explanations by Bernard Leach.

I had ordered this book first as a paperback some time ago. It was printed in Japan. The 12 color plates at the beginning were printed on glossy paper stock. The same images in the recent book I ordered were printed on regular paper stock. It was printed in Korea. It makes a lot of difference if you care about color and subtlety.

My interest is woodwork that is made within the traditions of Japanese woodworking techniques though not necessarily replicating traditional Japanese designs or style. While I have been happy with the aesthetics of objects I've been making, I haven't really understood the sometimes muted reactions from some of my Japanese friends. I've been to Yanagi's Folkcraft Museum in Tokyo and to a museum to the work of Kanjiro Kawai (a close friend of Soetsu Yanagi) in Kyoto and so have first hand experience of the pottery and woodwork objects that have inspired or been made by these men. However, it was only when I read "The Unknown Craftsman" that I was able to fully appreciate and to attempt to translate into my own work, Yanagi's "insight into beauty". From the book, it is apparent that Yanaki had a broad exposure to both Japanese and Western culture and philosophy and as a result, I feel that the principles that Yanagi describes are as applicable to western craft objects as they are to those of Japanese origin.

I purchased this book after reading an excerpt about pottery. The book is indeed about pottery but also offers insights into what the author sees as the potters frame of mind. This was an unexpected treat for me. As a student of various Asian philosophies, I love this author's description of how the "seeing" of the artist coincides with many of these philosophies and perhaps surpasses them.

A well written book that inspires one to think of (look at) objects in a different way, for me it has me pondering the work I do in a different way.While I still have the critical side this book has been a help in defining which criticism is of value and which is ultimately just a "voice" in my head.What is perfect is a such a subjective and therefor fleeting notion with regard to art and craft it should not be the driving force in anyone's desire to create and/or collect art/craft[s].

I love the unique insightful philosophy of Soetsu Yanag's writings on how he feels art should be viewed and created.

I read this book on the recommendation of ex-editor of Popular Woodworking and blogger, Chris Schwartz.This book describes and interesting heavily buhdist influenced theory of beauty, that relies almost as much on the way the work is done as the final outcome, with the idea that the how affects the outcome, but not in ways that we typically think about in the west.It reminds me a little bit of the book of tea by Kakuzo Okakura (which it mentions briefly), in that it is as much a description of the philosophy of a culture, as it is about a specific art form.

If you want to see pages and pages of what I consider ugly art and learn about Buddhism, then this is the book for you. After receiving it I sat to read it and was GREATLY disappointed. I immediately returned it.

An utterly fabulous book about the nature of aesthetics, in crafts and art, and the act of creation as a spiritual endeavour.

Perfect present

An interesting perspective by a major figure in the Mingei movement. Rather purist in his judgement

Difficult but interesting book. It gives you an insight of how Japanese art different from Western art.

The perfect complement to deeper studies of classic Japanese art.