Introduction

One ruler stands above all others in terms of his impact on the world of arts and culture. His impact on everything from architecture to poetry was such that he played a leading part in the formation of japanese taste. This is a guy whose views on what constituted good art were so influential that, in a certain sense, he helped in what we think of as classical japanese aesthetics. Why is that his reputation? And why, despite that, is he worth remembering? That is what to day isall about.