{"product_id":"the-art-of-rice-spirit-and-sustenance-in-asia-9780930741983","title":"The Art of Rice: Spirit and Sustenance in Asia","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe term Asia is a problematic and highly artificial construct  because hardly anything--not language  religion  politics  or even geography--unites this huge area. Within the context of this study  however--which focuses on parts of South  Southeast  and East Asia (home to the vast majority of the population)--there exists a unifying factor of paramount significance: rice. Not only is rice the staple food in these regions  it is the focal point of a pervasive set of interrelated beliefs and practices. For those who consume it  this foodstuff is considered divinely given and is felt to sustain them in a special way  one that may be understood as constitutional and even spiritual. This volume explores beliefs and practices relating to rice as they are made manifest in the unique arts and material cultures of the various peoples considered. Incorporating essays by twenty-seven authorities representing a wide variety of cultures and writing from diverse perspectives  the book is astounding in its polyphony. The thirty-five lavishly illustrated essays describe rice-related rituals and beliefs in parts of Thailand  Nepal  India  Indonesia  the Philippines  Vietnam  Japan  China  and Korea. Throughout  the juxtaposition of magnificent photographs of works of art--paintings  prints  ceramics  textiles  lacquerware  and sculpture--with objects of a more humble nature--agriculturalimplements rice-straw ornaments  cooking utensils  baskets  puppets  votive plaques  and more--serves to indicate the striking pervasiveness of rice in all aspects and all walks of life. Wedding ceremonies  parades  festivals  celebrations of birth  rites held to honor the rice goddess  and those performed to ensure success at every step in the rice-growing cycle are vividly described and illustrated with striking field photographs. The whole gives the reader the rare opportunity to compare similarities and differences in how a rich array of Asian cultures views the food that nourishes them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45280140591157,"sku":"ByrdShop_0930741986","price":48.96,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780930741983.jpg?v=1780622660","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-art-of-rice-spirit-and-sustenance-in-asia-9780930741983","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}