Books on tokonomas?

Does anybody know of or recommend any good books about the setting up, design and selection of elements within a tokonoma?

I am looking for something fairly detailed and advanced...

"Japanese Homes And Their Surroundings" by Edward S. Morse, first published in 1886, is considered a classic and is a joy to read.

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for that. It sounds like an interesting book. I am actually more interested in the setting up of Tokonomas to display bonsai.

There doesn't seem to be much information out there...

The best gathering of information comes from the three book set of the Keido Katayama Ryu school. Started in 1986 and ended about 2-3 years ago. It has photos and commentaries on both toko and seki (tabletop) display.
look up Peter warren on the web and ask what it would cost to get the set. Also inquire of this UK resident and teacher how to get copies of the magazine Wabi".

Other things i have found helpful is a soft magazine type cover called in pursuit of beauty
the story of the genkokai....
the formal practice of displaying suiseki
written and produced by seji morimae

and last that I could recommend is
an introduction to suiseki
by matsuura arishige
translated by Wil Lautenschlager. (english)


now you have two years worth of effort by myself to get this information. In your efforts to advance and learn more, I'd appreciate it if you would return the favor.

I also own but feel it is not much more than pablum to a baby in the world of display, but as a first starter

The beauty of bonsai by Junsun Yamamoto ( a guide to displaying and viewing nature's exquisite sculptiure )

olde issues of bonsai today

issues 4,5,6,7,18,21,34,35

mambo wrote: I am actually more interested in the setting up of Tokonomas to display bonsai.

There doesn't seem to be much information out there...

There is good info here in this forum, but you'll have to dig for it. I recall a thread where Bill Valavanis was showing different set-ups, trees, stands, accents, scrolls and such.... but I can't find it now. Maybe it got moved to "sticky"... I don't know.... Check Jeremy's threads too.

Don't give up yet, Dick!

Mambo might want to check back issues of International Bonsai. Bill V. has a feature on at least one tokonoma display each quarter. and I think I recall a year or so ago a 2-part article from Japan about tokonoma display.

And Dick, maybe Mambo doesn't check in here every day. Not everyone does. So have a little patience. It could be a few days . . . . . . . .

Hi Jim thanks for your contribution.

Hello
I remember some old post from Morten Albek on tokonoma display,
also how he recognized that a low positioning of the tokonoma floor was not always suitable in western interior and the way he solved this.
Sunip

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the information.
Dick, I really appreciate you sharing the knowledge.
I guess it will take me some time (and money) to track down some of these...

your welcome

Paul Goff from the UK has a new book out on display. having trouble getting him his money ( my bank wanted almost as much as the book to make the transfer? ) So I can't comment on it from actual knowledge but from what i know of paul's work, it's something to be added to one's library.

dick benbow wrote:your welcome

Paul Goff from the UK has a new book out on display. having trouble getting him his money ( my bank wanted almost as much as the book to make the transfer? ) So I can't comment on it from actual knowledge but from what i know of paul's work, it's something to be added to one's library.

Hey Dick,
International Money order from Post office is very simple, KISS right.

Mambo,
Just got edited and up the first part of many installments of Cheryl Manning on Display , this is just the tip o the iceberg, as we say in English.

A great book and cheap (In US, maybe cheaper in Gibraltar) is ....


http://www.stonelantern.com/Bonsai_display_book_Bonsai_Kusamono_and_Suiseki_p/b1willi.htm
this will hold you for awhile LOL

for those of you not familar with Ms Cheryl
For the past thirty years, Cheryl Manning has been passionate about the art of bonsai. An artist since childhood and an avid gardener since her teens, Cheryl discovered Murata Bonsai Nursery in 1981–and it was love at first sight: art and gardening wrapped up in one small package.

In 1985, Cheryl joined Satsuki Kai, a club of the leading bonsai masters in West Los Angeles. Because the meetings were conducted in Japanese, she understood very little, but her commitment was strong and she formed lasting friendships.

By 1989, Cheryl was hiking in the Tehachapi mountains with Harry Hirao, collecting California junipers. Later, she was fortunate enough to become not only a student and close friend of John Naka, the father of American bonsai, but also an apprentice in Japan with bonsai master Yasuo Mitsuya, owner of Tokai-en in Toyohashi.

Cheryl has conducted bonsai demonstrations, workshops, and slide presentations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. She's written more than forty articles for many bonsai publications and currently pens a column “Trash To Treasure” for Bonsai: Journal of the American Bonsai Society.

Cheryl has also edited John Naka's Sketchbook (National Bonsai Foundation, 2005), a compilation of John's bonsai sketches from around the world.

Hey Dick!
Wana play?...
stonener



There's still time and space, maybe I'll see you there?... (559) 582-4915 www.ccjac.org

Thanks Dick for the bio of Chery M. Im a big fan, and have had her at out club twice now. Very highly recommended, she should be a headliner. check out betterbonsai.com


Stonener,
Not a hijack at all, very appropriate this is the tops when it comes to display education. Who are you? lol

Mambo
totally forgot the best of all Kathy Shaner on display...

Yo! Big Dave!
Thanks for your support, perfect!,
and your kind words!
Timing is everything...
stonener
*play it again Sam*

stonener wrote:Yo! Big Dave!
Thanks for your support, perfect!,
and your kind words!
Timing is everything...
stonener
*play it again Sam*

Sure thing...hmm I think that is a riddle

Hey Big Dave!
That's Humphrey Bogart's(American cultural icon)famous bar room request line,
to panio player Sam, in the movie "Casa Blanca"...
somethings so good, worth repeating.
stonener
*riddle? wait what! Huh? Oh, ok ya!*

I'm overwhelmed now!

Thanks for all the info. It will take me a while to source some of the material and an eternity to digest it!

Note to admin: Could you please advise the original poster when a post is moved. I "lost" this post!

Note to admin: Could you please advise the original poster when a post is moved. I "lost" this post!

Normally, the site puts a "Moved - post title" placemark in the original forum in which that post was written. Click on it and you are sent to its new home. If it didn't happen this time, I dunno why. But this is on a computer -- and the internet -- and things just tend to happen some times.

The best bet is to become familiar with the forums and figure out where the most appropriate place is. Then it may not have to be moved.

Ok Jim,

It didn't happen this time. It was a toss up between 'display' and 'questions'...

Novice enthusiast searching for info on tokonoma display: came across this thread. VERY helpful!!! I've read some articles on lighting & set up for antiquity collections simply b/c I thought it similar; i.e in both 1 item (generally) is the main focus, to add to it by complementing & not distracting from. New to this forum & happy to be here!!

Found a great article : Bonsái Display, A Western Viewpoint by Randy Clark. Great ideas for American homes devoid of tokonomas; ideas for recessed viewing acloves & how to display w/ balance
www.bonsailearningcenter.com

Has the book by the late Willi Benz been mentioned? 'Bonsai, Kusamono & Suiseki' by Willi Benz It should be a guide to anyone planning display of stones and trees.