Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox

The makunouchi bento, or traditional Japanese lunchbox, is a highly lacquered wooden box divided into quadrants, each of which contains different delicacies. It seems straightforward, but Ekuan shows that the lunchbox is a key to an understanding of Japanese civilization, the spirit of form, & the aesthetic ideal in which the many are reduced to one. He compares the visual pleasures of the Zen lunchbox to an aerial view of the Japanese archipelago. In so doing, he unlocks the secrets of ancient Japanese rituals, celebrates the aesthetics of Japanese design, explores the contours of Japanese landscapes & technology, & delineates the rules of the etiquette of Japanese form. Reveals a world of secret connections. Color photosEkuan, Kenji is the author of 'Aesthetics of the Japanese Lunchbox', published 1998 under ISBN 9780756776206 and ISBN 0756776201.