Japanese landscapes

by Mather, Cotton

Drawing upon years of observation, Cotton Mather, P. P. Karan, and Shigeru Iijima explore the complex interaction of culture, time, and space in the evolution of landscapes in Japan. The authors begin with a discussion of the landscape's general characteristics, including paucity of idle land, scarcity of level land, and its meticulous organization and immaculate nature. The authors then apply those characteristics to such favorite subjects as gardens, sculpted plants, and flower arrangements, but also to more mundane matters such as roadside shoulders, utility lines, and walled urban areas. This unique blending of the techniques of physical and social scientists with humanities perspectives offers a unique analysis of the Japanese landscape.