The Affairs of Beauties

Name: The Affairs of Beauties
ISBN: 9787569925746

上村松园 / 方旭Beijing Times Chinese Press · ChinaApr 2020

3.7

Word count: 48K words
Chapters: 43
ISBN: 9787569925746

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Summary

“Nothing even faintly vulgar—only paintings fragrant as pearls and gems, with a sense of clarity: that is what I aspire to.” Throughout her life, Uemura Shōen poured her precious talent and tireless effort into bijinga, creating an elegance that makes viewers feel they are there in person and a soft feminine power that permeates the soul, with a clean air and a refined aftertaste. Her views on art and reflections on life also spread through these small scrolls. *The Matter of Beauties* collects 34 essays, telling the stories behind the creation of bijinga; a word here and there reveals subtle, hidden depths unknown to others. For example, a heart burning daily with passion for painting, a resilient inner self that nothing can violate, and a pursuit of purity free of all vulgarity. “A lotus blossom springs from fire—this may be called rare.” Just like the female figures she depicts—the introverted, gentle Miyuki, and Yodogimi, competitive as a man—Uemura Shōen was also a woman walking with difficulty through the world, holding pure wishes. Amid blazing flames, she strove to bring forth a brilliant “flower of life.”

Editor's review

*The Matter of Beauties* is an essay collection on art by Uemura Shōen, the great master of Japanese bijinga, gathering the distinctive views on beauty of this woman painter from the Meiji through Shōwa periods. The book not only shows Shōen’s profound understanding of bijinga but also reveals her thinking, as a woman artist, between tradition and innovation. With delicate strokes, Shōen explores the essence of bijinga—that “beauty” is not merely the depiction of outward appearance, but the condensation of a figure’s inner character and the spirit of the age. Through her readings of historical figures such as Hikaru Genji and Saigyō, and her reflections on her own celebrated works such as *Dance in the Noh Style* and *Yang Guifei*, she constructs a distinctive aesthetic system. The value of this book lies not only in its exposition of art theory but also in showing how a woman artist, in a male-dominated art world, established her own worth through the brush. When reading, pay attention to Shōen’s emphasis on “beauty of character,” which stands in sharp contrast to the vulgar, sensual tendencies of ukiyo-e at the time. The discussions of “the beauty of blank space” and “lively spirit” are of important reference value for understanding the spirit of traditional Japanese art.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Japanese bijinga and ukiyo-e art
Readers who wish to understand the living conditions of women artists in the Meiji period
Those engaged in artistic creation or art theory research
Readers who love Japanese classical literature and aesthetic thought

Not a good fit for

Visual-oriented readers expecting a large number of color plate images
Casual readers seeking light, entertaining reading

Reading tips

Can be viewed alongside image materials of Shōen’s representative works such as *Dance in the Noh Style* and *Yang Guifei*
It is recommended to read Chapter Three in depth after acquiring some understanding of Heian-period Japanese literature
The discussion of “blank space” in the book can be compared and considered alongside Chinese landscape painting theory

About the publisher

Beijing Times Chinese Press China · Founded in 2011

Beijing Times Chinese Press takes classic works and prose miscellanies as an important publishing direction, along with foreign literature, social novels, Eastern philosophy and art books. Its catalogue includes such Chinese classics as Lu Xun's Call to Arms and Wandering, Xiao Hong's The Field of Life and Death, Zhang Dai's Reminiscences of Tao'an, Yuan Mei's Recipes from the Sui Garden and Hong Yingming's Caigentan, as well as foreign classics such as Ryunosuke Akutagawa's Rashomon. Among its translator resources is Wen Jieruo, whose translations provide reliable support for bringing foreign literary works into the Chinese-speaking world. While organizing traditional texts and reissuing classics, the press pays attention to readability and accessibility of editions, enabling ancient prose, notes and philosophical works to reach contemporary readers. Public information is limited; the above is only a brief account of the publishing directions reflected in the books held in the database.

版权信息
推荐语
序
壹美人的事
轻女惜别
《雪月花》
深雪和淀君
画道和女性
《砧》
《税所敦子孝养图》
最初展出的作品——《四季美人图》
关于画作《汐汲》
创作《草纸洗》
《花筐》和岩仓村
如芙蓉花般美丽的杨贵妃
美人的事
贰逝去之美
浮世绘画家的手绘：透霞赏花，更具风情
京都舞伎
我喜欢应举，和那个时代
宽政时代的少女纳凉风俗
执笔为画五十年
叁我愿望中的事物
女人的脸
苦乐答某人问——关于作画时画家的心境，我是这么想的
关于作画
临摹画册
双语
帝展的美人画
彩虹与感兴
日本画和线条
霭之彼方——对现代风俗描写的期望
肆我，只有画
健康和工作
楠公夫人
我，只有画
大田垣莲月尼
我的生平
金刚严跋能面和松园先生的画
上村松园
伊东深水
镝木清方
上村松园年谱

FAQ

Does this book include images of Uemura Shōen’s paintings?

This book is primarily textual, with only a small number of black-and-white illustrations; it focuses on expounding artistic ideas rather than functioning as an art album.

Do I need professional knowledge to understand the content?

The author explains aesthetic ideas in plain language, but a basic understanding of Japanese history and classical literature will enhance the reading experience.

How is this book different from ordinary art appreciation books?

Its uniqueness lies in revealing, from the creator’s first-person perspective, the cultural context behind bijinga and the creative journey of a woman artist.

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About the author

上村松园 Author

Publicly available information on Uemura Shoen is rather limited: only three of her works are currently known to us—More Early Walkers, Matters of Beauties, and One Thought, One Matter—all classified as prose and miscellaneous writings. Judging from these titles, her writing tends to center on people and the flavors of everyday life, in an essayistic manner that mixes narration with personal reflection. Titles such as "beauties," "one thought," and "early walkers" suggest a concern with human relations, social manners, and images of women. Within the existing categories, her work does not aim at grand argument but rather offers quiet, understated accounts drawn from concrete people and events, embedding personal insights in close observation. Since her dates of birth and death, nationality, and biographical details are not clearly recorded, this entry makes no biographical inferences and merely outlines the character of her writing based on the works in our collection, for readers' reference.

方旭 Author

Fang Xu—publicly available information about this author is limited, and details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the four works held in the collection, Fang Xu's writing spans two categories: social science and prose miscellany. The Basic Laws of Human Geography points to theoretical inquiry in geography and the humanities and social sciences, showing the author's attention to fundamental disciplinary questions, while More Early Travelers, The Affairs of Beauties, and One Thought, One Matter belong to the prose miscellany vein; their titles suggest close observation of everyday people and events, travel, and states of mind, in a calm and introspective tone. The four works range widely in subject matter, combining scholarly discussion with essays close to daily life, and together present a writer with both speculative interests and a gift for prose. Owing to limited material, further verification is needed regarding the author's specific experiences and creative trajectory.