There is an interesting book by Boye Lafayette De Mente entitled "Elements of Japanese Design." De Mente does an excellent job of demonstrating the interconnectedness of the spiritual and the aesthetic in the Japanese culture. I've always admired and loved their artistic expression.
Having lived in Japan, I had a chance to immerse myself in the local crafts around the places I've visited--what is interesting about each region is that they specialize in a certain item. For example, I had a chance to make paper lamps from the city of Gifu. For centuries, the city was famous for its ability to make special colored papers to encompass the light--the subtle shades of blue to azure or lavender to deep violet leaves the viewer with a sense of awe. It was a privilege to work under a local master as well as observe the intricate technique of craftsmanship. And what I loved about each craft I undertook was this sense of having to overcome myself in order to succeed to the next level. The masters were very helpful without being intrusive--they let me go at my speed. Still, they were firm and insistent in their views of what was right and wrong, qualities I've really come to appreciate.
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