In Praise of Shadows

ThisisanessayonaestheticsbyoneofthegreatestJapanesenovelists.Thetextrangesoverarchitecture,jade,food,toilets,andcombinesanacutesenseoftheuseofspaceinbuildings,aswellasperfectdescriptionsoflacquerwareundercandlelightandwomeninthedarknessofthehouseofpleasure.TheessayformsaclassicdescriptionofthecollisionbetweentheshadowsoftraditionalJapaneseinteriorsandthedazzlinglightofthemodernage.