Japanese Proverbs Wit and Wisdom: 200 Classic Japanese Sayings and Expressions in English and Japanese text

&quote;Destroy a nation, but its mountains and rivers remain.&quote;--Japanese proverbThis is a collection of 200 Japanese proverbs with illustrations and explanations for each saying. Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom is a delightfully illustrated compilation of traditional Japanese sayings and maxims. Some of the classic Japanese quotes and quotations, like &quote;Fall down seven times, get up eight,&quote; capture the dogged perseverance of the Japanese heart. Others, such as &quote;A red lacquer dish needs no decoration&quote; illuminate both a universal truth and Japan's unique, aesthetic traditions. Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom has proverbs of great cultural significance as well as proverbs on matters of daily life and customs. Pleasing to expert and new-comer alike, the 200 traditional proverbs in this unique collection are presented in Japanese calligraphy form, along with direct English translations. Similar proverbs are given from English, and the sumi-e style ink drawings are a delight in their own right. Amateurs and Japanese language enthusiasts alike will speak Japanese with the verve and nuance of a native when they use these apt and witty expressions.