III. 



ART INDUSTRY AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS. 



" Quam quisque norit artem in hac se exerceat." 



— Cic. Tusc.j'i. i8, 41. 



I. Japanese Art Industry in General. 



Revival of European Art Industry. — Growing Intei^est in the Pro- 

 ductions of the Chinese and fapanese. — China the Master and 

 Model of fapan. — Characteristic Features of fapanese Art- 

 handicraft and its Products. — The Period of Highest Develop- 

 ment and the Means of its Advancement. — Its Influence ttp07i 

 that of the Christian Countries of the West. 



One of the most conspicuous and lasting effects which may bcy 

 credited to the great International Art and Industrial Exhibition* 

 of the last three decades, is undoubtedly their influence on th< 

 revival of interest in art industry. The first conception of such a' 

 great universal exhibition was formed in England, and from that 

 country also the first intelligent impulse toward the important 

 matters of art industry has spread rapidly abroad among the 

 Christian civilised states of the West. 



Since then, by means of instruction and illustration in schools 

 and museums, it has been sought to revive the much sunken and 

 deteriorated art handicraft afresh, to awaken the feeling for the 

 really beautiful in industrial products, or, as it has been expressed, 

 to ennoble taste and thus to advance trade and industry. 



First of all, proportion and harmony were to be studied and 

 fostered. These two conceptions, most important and far reaching 

 in every art, are no less necessary in art industry. They embrace 

 everything which form and decoration must offer in order to meet 

 our ideal sense of beauty, which Plato ranks so high as to attribute 

 it to a divine origin. 



These earnest and energetic efforts to elevate art industry by 

 means of collections and instruction, and so to advance national 

 labour and welfare, were not displayed in Germany till after several 

 neighbouring countries had furnished us good and successful 

 examples. We soon made up for our neglect however, and al- 

 ready see the fruits of the greater energy which our Governments, 

 together with many private interests, have shown. We can but 

 observe what has been accomplished for example in textile pro- 



