Kyoto is a famous city with centuries of history in island country, which has always been capital of country in ancient times. However, due to rapid development of Edo Castle, eastward movement of economy and culture, and Emperor Meiji's insistence on moving capital to Tokyo, Kyoto once faced a situation of decline. In next hundred years, thanks to rapid learning and enterprise of people of Kyoto, Kyoto also achieved a rapid development of modernization. At same time, precisely because urban development is slightly behind development of Tokyo, Kyoto correctly integrated cultural accumulation of millennia and emerging aesthetic trend and developed into a unique new look.

The Aesthetics of Kyoto consists of gentle brushwork of Yukio Yoshioka and 320 vivid and natural photographs taken by Mr. Akira Kita. As a native of Kyoto, author wants to show Kyoto in his eyes and memories he left in his eyes for decades. This book is a calling card of beauty of Kyoto, as well as a good memory of Kyoto by people themselves.

The beauty of streets and buildings of Kyoto

Yukio Yoshioka was born into a family of dyers who have worked in Kyoto since Edo period. He is a dyeing master who is a national treasure in Japan. In fact, he never did architecture or interior design, but he was influenced by environment since he was a child, aesthetics and exploration. The book is accompanied by work of photographer Mr. Akira Kita, who is used to using both natural and indoor light when shooting, without using flash or light at all, which makes his work more natural and vivid, and also greatly improves his work. efficiency. . The book mainly introduces interior decoration of residential buildings of ancient capital and design of decoration of urban landscape and buildings of ancient capital, describes in detail details of architecture and landscape, including design functions of entrances, windows and shoji, various classifications of hotels, teahouses, shops, etc. ., as well as gates The street behavior of buildings, temples, walls, etc. shows ability to use small spaces and ingenuity of each building.

Natural and cultural beauty of ancient capital

Apart from ingenuity of building and street function and beauty of design, Yukio Yoshioka also added many obscure historical allusions and shaping processes, presenting natural landscapes and cultural practices with local characteristics. The Garden Festival is a function reserved by Kyoto as former capital. It is used to pray and give thanks to gods who guard forest, pay homage, sing and dance to express their gratitude. As author said, “If people wanted to survive on earth, They have to. The most important thing is to have reverence and fear of nature." Of particular importance is simple act of people passing through gate. There is a Japanese proverb "Take off your hat before entering", which means importance of etiquette. The mention of gate may bring to mind Rashomon, Suzaku Gate, Arc de Triomphe, etc. Here, with gate as a boundary, there will be a sharp contrast between solemnity on outside of gate and lightness and lightness of inside of gate. Yukio Yoshioka's love for his hometown, nature, traditions and history gave rise to "Kyoto aesthetic" Eyes capable of discovering beauty and heart eager to discover beauty will continue beauty of Kyoto.

Each city can have its own "aesthetic test". The author also said, "It is easy for people who grew up in Kyoto to ignore differences between Kyoto and other places and hidden beauty of landscape, because they are accustomed to surrounding scenery, beauty and elegance of city." Wherever you look, heart is engraved, and beautiful landscapes of your native city are inscribed in line.