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Popular Japanese Vector Art Collection
in Japan...
Finally upcomming release all over the world !! |
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| ---What
is WaGaRa?--- |
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Japan Vector Art Collections WaGaRa1 is a high quality
mono-chromatic collection of designs/patterns |
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The desgins/patterns are in Adobe Illustrator * format
(ai) & JPEG image (ipg) |
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WaGaRa1 consists of 655 designs/patterns ... Asian
to traditional Japanese designs, & patterns of ancient
times |
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| ---What
can we do with WaGaRa?--- |
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Designing printed materials |
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laser processing |
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glass etching etc.... Let's create your own design
with WaGaRa! |
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| Japan Vector Art Collections WAGARA1
is a high quality mono-chromatic collection of designs/patterns,
which is comprised of materials licensed by publishers and/or
designers or materials that the copyrights are expired. The
designs/patterns are comprised of Adobe lllustrator format
(ai) and JPEG image format (jpg), which are all clearly outlined.
They are usable for various purposes such as craftwork, for
example, designs for printed materials, laser processing and
glass etching. WAGARA 1 consists of a total of 655 designs/patterns
ranging from Asian designs and patterns up to the traditional
Japanese designs and patterns that we have since ancient time.
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| Contents |
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*Adobe Acrobat Reader
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to see all the images
listed above. Please install Adobe Acrobat Reader from
the right side banner. To print all images, it is convenient
to use "Image list WaGaRa1.pdf" provided in
the CD-ROM.
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| 01-Japanese
Ukiyoe prints |
| This collection comprises a variety of masterpieces consisting
of wood-block color prints drawn by Hokusai Katsushika, Harunobu
Suzuki, Utamaro Kitagawa and Moronobu Hishikawa, which have
subtly been designed with monochromatic gradational effects.
This collection features an unprecedented arrangement that
enables a wide variety of masterpieces to be edited in an
orderly manner via illustrations. As shown in the design of
a 'Mikaeri-Bijin' (a beautiful lady who is looking back),
for example, faces and patterns of clothes have been drawn
via lines, with utmost care. Viewers can find from the designs
of flowers and birds shown in the latter part of this collection
that even identical flowers have been subtly designed with
a special idea and effect, thus reflecting the original sense
of the Japanese artists. Presentation of the Japanese Ukiyoe
prints in greeting cards for New Year and at a 'Yuusuzumi'
(a relaxed time externally spent by people towards evening
in summer) will be welcomed by people interested in this art. |
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01-ImageList |
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| 02-Seasonal
flowers and birds |
Chapters A-01-B-04, C-04-D-07, E-07-C-09 and D-09-E-10 represent
the spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons, respectively.
All the designs called 'Hakubyo-ga' presented here comprise
the Chinese-origin monochromatic drawings, which were solely
drawn with brushes using Chinese ink in ancient ages. This
art was initiated in the ancient Chinese 'Han' age and completed
in the ensuing ancient ages called 'Wei' and 'Jin'. Ancient
Chinese people appreciated these monochromatic drawings compared
to colored drawings. After being introduced to Japan, this
drawing method was most popularized in the Heian Era (AD794-
AD1 185), which was mainly characterized by engravings, ceramics,
and colored drawings. |
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02-ImageList |
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| 03-Japanese-origin
traditional art designs |
| The Japanese-style design is well suited for Japanese-style
wedding ceremonies, Hatsu-moude (the first visit to a designated
shrine by parents with a newborn), 7-5-3 serial visits to
a designated shrine (when a newborn has reached ages 3, 5,
and 7) and the time of joining a Seijin-shiki (a celebration
for those who have reached age 20). This collection contains
a wide variety of traditional Japanese designs and patterns
such as Shochikubai (pine trees, bamboo trees, and Japanese
apricots, jointly constituting a token of felicity), Japanese
folding fans, Gosho-guruma (ancient style court carriage),
Tsuzumi (a traditional Japanese hand-held drum used for playing
'Nou' male-dance music), and ocean waves, for example. This
collection also contains seasonal flowers based on traditional
Japanese art designs including drawings of Chinese-style flowers
and birds, and monochromatic drawings. |
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03-ImageList |
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| 04-Floral
patterns |
| Floral petals can be made independent by separating them
from each other. Therefore, WAGARA provides suitable data
for making mask for mini Router, Cutter knife or Cutting plotter.
The simplified floral design is extensively used as the engraving
design for glass up to a professional class for forming, for
example, 'Irotsuke glassware', i.e. flint glass bilayered
with colored glass. We recommend that a round flower pattern
should ideally be applied to form a single-point design. Floral
patterns practically constitute important design materials
for forming continual lines, quadruple corner decorations
and various other patterns. Original drawings are based on
the traditional designs embodied in Japan and Korea. |
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04-ImageList |
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| 05-Celestial
nymphs |
| In contrast to occidental goddesses and angels, the oriental
world often uses celestial nymphs and 'Hiten' (a flying nymph)
to form a decorative design. All celestial nymphs are designed
as extremely beautiful and elegant women. Even in the traditional
Japanese male-dance play, Noh, a female dance performance
is included. According to Buddhism, there are some specific
women present in the celestial world conventionally called
'Kisshou Tennyo' (an auspicious celestial nymph) and 'Benzaiten-nyo'
(a fortune and wealth generating celestial nymph). In this
collection, the design of celestial nymph has been embodied
by reproducing ancient Chinese auspicious drawings and pictures
found on cavern walls. The scene on the background of celestial
nymphs combines calligraphy with the 'Genji-kou' pattern.
It is suggested that the calligraphy may be applied to lend
initial character and the 'Genji-kou' pattern for frame decoration. |
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05-ImageList |
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| 06-Mother's
day |
| Mother's day corresponds to the second Sunday of May, in
which people express a sincere feeling of gratitude to their
mothers. Mother's day was initiated in 1908 in the U.S.A.
After the Second World War, Mother's day was popularized in
Japan. According to conventional practice, on the Mother's
day, those whose mothers are still alive wear a red carnation,
whereas those who have lost their mothers wear a white carnation. |
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06-ImageList |
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| 07-Ancient
Chinese dragons |
| The dragons shown in this edition have been reproduced from
those popularized from the ancient Chinese Tang Dynasty (AD618-AD907)
up to the Qing Dynasty (AD1644-1912). Of these, the oldest
corresponds to the dragon shown in Chapter 04-B, which was
engraved on copper vessels produced in the ancient Tang Dynasty.
The oriental dragon is calledeRYUf. It is said that whenever ancient artists drew figures of dragons, they referred
to a theory called 'nine resemblances and three equalities'.
As per this theory, the figure of the dragon comprises a camel
head, deer horns, devil eyes (or alike rabbit 's eyes), cow
ears, snake nape, rhinoceros belly, carp scales, hawk claws
and tiger fore-hands. Based on this belief, 'Nine resemblances'
prevailed in ancient China in accordance with a theory claimed
by Wang-fu, an ancient literary figure of the Houhan Dynasty.
In ancient China, in terms of the physical proportion of the
dragon, the length between the neck and the root of arms,
the length between the root of arms and the waist, and the
length between the waist and the tail are said to be equal
to each other. This is called the 'three equalities'. It is
said that other features comprise 81 pieces of scales, a voice
similar to the sound generated by striking a copper gong,
beards grown on the cheeks and jaw, a brilliantly shining
ball beneath the chin, and reversely grown scales on the throat.
Furthermore, it is also said that if any dragon is devoid
of a projection called 'Sekibokuh' on the head on its head,
it cannot fly. |
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07-ImageList |
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| 08-Designs
of dragons |
| It is said that the figure of a dragon is physically similar
to that of a huge snake. The dragon has 81 pieces of scales
grown on the back, five pieces of fingers on each of its four
legs, a pair of horns on the head, a pair of ears on a long
face, and a long beard grown around the mouth. It is said
that the dragon lives in water or underground, and sometimes
it flies in the space, generating cloud and rain with lightning.
In China, since ancient times, it is said that a dragon is
ranked as the chief of animals with scales called 'Rin-chu',
where the dragon shares part of four auspicious elements comprising
Rin (kylin), Hou (Chinese phoenix) and Ki (turtle). The last
10 units of drawings illustrate 9 dragon children. Any of
these illustrations is treated as a highly valuable design. |
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08-ImageList |
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| 09-Designs
of phoenixes |
| Note that the phoenix is a celestial bird that exists in
Egyptian mythology. According to Egyptian legend, the phoenix
lived in the Arabian Desert and was burnt to death every 500-600
years. Nevertheless, the phoenix is believed to revived itself
as a young figure from the burnt ash. Hence, since then, the
phoenix has become a symbol of immortal value and spirit. |
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09-ImageList |
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| 10-Chinese
phoenixes & Flower-eating Birds |
| Ffou-ou is an imaginary auspicious bird. In terms of its
configuration, the Hou-ou has a Kylin-like appearance. The
front part is covered with scales, whereas the back looks
like a deer. The forehead of the Hou-ou looks like a snake
head, whereas the tail looks like a fish tail. The back looks
like a turtle shell, jaw like a swallow jaw, and bill like
a cock beak. The wings have a crest-like pattern bearing five
different colors. During the ancient Chinese Tang Dynasty
(AD618-AD907), the pattern of the 'flower-eating birds' was
carried down from China, Japan, etc. to and around West Asia,
Persia, South-East Asia, and India. It is said that the pattern
of the 'flower-eating birds' originated from a Chinese Tang-style
pattern adopted by the royalty and the nobility of Sassanian
Persia. The kinds of birds include Hou-ou, parrots, mandarin
ducks, long-tailed cocks, and cranes. In the old times, there
were many flowers and designs popularized among people including
'Ho-soh-ka flower' and peony flowers for example. A patterned
bird called 'Jutai- chou' holds a ribbon between its bills,
where 'Jutai' refers to a belt worn by high officials as a
token of their official status in the ancient ages. A typical
design of the 'flower-eating bird' still remains today in
the Shoso-in National Treasure Storage Hall located in Nara,
Japan. |
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10-ImageList |
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| 11-Cranes |
| According to an ancient legend, a crane could remain alive
for 1000 years and a turtle could remain alive for 10000 years,
thus constituting a symbol of lasting felicity. Based on this
belief, Japanese people traditionally apply designs of cranes
and turtles combined with cloud, waves, unworldly peach, and
pine trees so that the token of felicity can be emphasized. |
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11-ImageList |
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| 12-Pets |
| We also present original designs of pets. Characteristically,
it was so arranged that the drawn surface could be expanded
as much as possible by avoiding thin lines and minimizing
primitives (design elements) so that beauty of curves could
be emphasized. We intentionally introduced those pet designs
which were widely popularized among people such as Scottish
and/or Yorkshire terriers, Chihuahuas, Persian cats, or the
like, for example. Devised designs have been introduced to
various goods including identification tags, photo-frames,
memorial goods, or the like. These original designs have also
been adopted by those who are fond of pets. |
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12-ImageList |
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| 13-Round-shaped
flower patterns |
| Flower patterns in circle have been drawn as auspicious
designs desirous of continual posterity, an easy birth of
a child, wealth, and a longer life. By reproducing auspicious
drawings originated in China, the present collection is filled
with a wide variety of designs representing pine trees, bamboo
trees, Japanese apricots, peony flowers, roses, nandians,
pumpkins, etc. |
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13-ImageList |
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