Identifying Japanese Dolls: Notes on Ningyô

By Lea Baten

Lea Baten's unique and resourceful book assists in the identification of the familiar and unfamiliar figurines known as ningyō, and explores the roots of the word itself. Both meanings, 'doll' and 'human shape', are associated with play and ritual, life and death. These dolls are not necessarily just playthings with pretty faces, but range from mass-produced, trivial toys to true art pieces and imposing ceremonial ornaments. This book investigates the numerous meanings of the 'human shape' in Japanese culture, from pre-history to the present, and explores the many, varied and subtle connotations ningyō have for the Japanese. This book not only identifies and describes ningyō, detailing their history and meaning, but also contains a comprehensive index and one of the most extensive bibliographies on the doll motif ever published in English. Scholarship, clear illustrations, and a touch of humour guarantee a fresh and original approach to known and unknown ningyō.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9074822363
• ISBN13: 9789074822367
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Hotei Publishing
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.3" x 0.5" x 9.0"