Far East Décorave

The Great Buddha Hall is located in a Buddhist temple complex housed within the city of Nara, Japan. The Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden building in the world, and also houses the largest statue of the Vairocana Buddha in the world. The Vairocana Buddha is the embodiment of the concept of emptiness within Buddhism. The Great Buddha Hall is one of the most majestic structures in all the world, and is well recognized in Eastern and Western culture. The temple is known as a World Heritage Site, along with several other temples and shrines located within Nara. Perhaps just as well known as the Hall are the famous koi ponds located in the courtyard in front of the temple. In addition, the Sika deer, roam the grounds and are regarded as messengers of the Gods. These deer are quite friendly towards travelers, and love to eat the biscuits that are available for purchase from vendors all around the park.

The Great Buddha Hall is a prominent temple sculpture that serves as the archetypal structure for several artisans. It’s a magical place that all people should experience at least once in their lives.

The Japanese bridal ceremonies are quite unique in relation to other bridal ceremonies in different cultures. In fact, the Japanese bride might wear three or more dresses throughout a ceremony. The first dress is often the traditional kimono, with the bride also wearing the make-up befitting of a geisha. The second dress is often a white dress, much like the bridal dresses worn in Western culture, but with certain cultural differences. The third dress is often a more colorful dress, and tends to be worn more often in the latter half of ceremonies. While in Western culture the bride tends to have just one dress, the multiple dresses make the Japanese bride quite unique, and also a lot more expensive! Despite the Japanese bride wearing multiple dresses, the most common image of a Japanese bride as expressed in a Japanese bride doll or figurine is often wearing the traditional kimono.

The kimono is perhaps the most common image because it is unique to Japanese culture, however, traditional Japanese brides incorporate much more than just a kimono into their weddings.

Porcelain dolls have been a much sought after collectible for centuries.  While the exact origin of porcelain is not known, most believe it was first created in China.  Chinese dolls made from porcelain became popular amongst nobles and upper class citizens, and throughout the ages, have also become quite a collectible.  Porcelain is made derived from clay, but is also mixed with several different minerals.  Porcelain is known for its luster and white coloring, but is quite fragile.  Throughout the different dynasties in China, porcelain was used to create some of the most prized sculptures including bowls, vases, and dolls.  Porcelain is also well known because it can be drawn or painted upon with ease, one reason its white coloring made it so popular.  Over the ages, porcelain left China and was exported to Europe, where the Europeans created their own unique pieces of art from it. 

Chinese dolls made from porcelain are quite popular to this day, and are one of the more modern uses for the material.  Porcelain is also used to create fine dishes and other sculptures, and is still prized in many cultures to this day. 

There are numerous pieces that can spice up a bare wall with a Far East appeal, and most of these pieces are ideal for all rooms in the home.  It’s important to measure the wall and frame the piece beforehand, and thus choosing the piece should more depend on the shape of the room than the shape of the art itself.  For example, an apple blossom print set, quite a popular piece around spring time, makes a great addition to a bare wall.  Most print sets contain three or more pieces, and provide a kind of miniaturized gallery.  These screened images are often printed on fabric which gives them a lasting and soft appeal.  In addition to print sets, there screens can also make a great addition to a wall.  While most screens are used as dividers, a screen can also be used to provide an accent to a wall, and even give a space an illusion of being larger than its real size.  Wall scrolls made from bamboo slats are also popular amongst wall décor.

Wall décor should be chosen with the individual in mind; it’s important for a person to be able to appreciate their own home, and even if the décor doesn’t match, if it pleases the owner it’s a great addition!

For people who love all the sights and sounds of the world at night, creating a nocturnal theme in the bedroom makes for an excellent place to relax.  When decorating, think about dark but rich colors for the walls.  Black can be too dark, but deep blues, greens, and even purples can make for a delightful space.  Make sure to add a canopy to the bed, as this can make for a better feel of being enveloped in the night.  While it might seem a little kitschy, glow-in-the-dark objects on the walls can make for a unique appearance.

When adding accessories to the room, be sure to think about objects that compliment the theme of the night.  You might consider a celestial moon mirror, a room divider featuring nocturnal animals, or even a fountain complete with ceramic frogs.  Having these objects in the room will give it a real appearance of a nocturnal habitat.  But despite being a place inspired by the nocturnal, you’ll love spending time in this bedroom no matter what the time of day!

When it comes to interior decorating, for most people choosing the colors of the walls and the furniture is simple.  But it can be difficult to tailor a neutral space into one where spending time becomes a pleasure.  Accessorizing an interior space can be a little difficult, and instead of thinking how the space will appear to someone else, it’s best to think about how it will appear to you.  You might ask yourself questions like “How do I see this space being used?” or “What do I want to do in this space?”.  Once you’ve answered these questions, you might have a better idea of what kind of accessories to use in the space.

For example, if you imagine a space being used as an area for coffee and conversation, consider a theme complete with unique pieces that might spark conversation; objects like a scenery screen, wall art, and statuettes.  If you imagine a space being used more for an entertainment area, consider wall speakers, window treatments to diffuse the light, and a few pieces of media inspired art.  Don’t be afraid to try out different themes; if what you imagined doesn’t work, make sure the place where you purchase your accessories has a return policy!

Throughout the various cultures of the world, most all contain myths of the legendary creatures we call dragons.  It’s not clear where the myths originated from, and it is curious because dragons in areas of the world like Asia are the same as those from people who lived in Europe; two cultures that had virtually no interaction.  In general there are a few things that are agreed on about dragons including their appearance as serpentine lizards, ability to breathe fire, and love of hoarding wealth.  Dragons from Asian cultures often have facial hair, or a golden dragon featuring metallic scales is also common; these appearances don’t exist in European culture.  There are various other differences, but it seems almost uncanny that there are so many myths about dragons that are similar. 

Scientists have thought that man’s obsession with the dragon is something derived from ancient times when our ancestors were plagued by dinosaurs, though we may never know for sure why we think of these beasts the way we do. 

If you’ve ever had a small studio apartment or lived in a location where you didn’t have much privacy to yourself, you know how difficult it can be.  Though making the space larger through construction is often out of the question, you can use a few cosmetic design tactics to make even the smallest spaces seem much grander.  First, if you’re short on privacy, consider a room divider screen.  These artistic barriers come in all kinds of styles, though plant, bamboo, and flower screen dividers tend to be the most popular.  Once you have a space of your own to build on, first of all think about building up instead of down.  If space on the floor is cluttered, think about ways you could put things up higher.  Tall bookcases, shelves, and cabinets are great for storage.  You will also want to organize the items you own efficiently to conserve space.

Once you’ve moved the furniture and storage around, a fresh coat of paint can open up a space, in addition to window treatments, or even a small area rug.  Use lighter paint colors, as these won’t make you feel so confined.  Well spaced wall art is another way to make a space feel larger. 

Religious ornaments bring comfort to many people when interspersed with their home décor. 

Whether you choose crosses, angels, cherubs, the Virgin Mary, praying hands, birthstones, crucifixes, churches, a temple sculpture, or another symbol representing your faith, Décor Ave Gifts has beautiful items available that will reflect your being.

Just imagine living in China in 1680. If you were a man, you would shave your head and wear queues. As a woman, you would no longer have to bind your feet if you did not want to. Education and the arts would be a constant part of your life. You would have been part of the Qing Dynasty.

The Qing came from Manchuria and their rule extended from 1644 to 1911 A.D. As foreign rulers, the Qing focused more on agriculture, and Documents were not written in Chinese. Taxes were lower and commerce and international trade expanded during their reign. The use of color in their porcelain figures, as well as, art grew as well.

This Qing Dynasty Princess Figurine reflects the beauty and culture of the Qing’s rule in China. Her graceful lines and rich colors reflects this age of enhanced learning and the arts in Chinese history. She will also make a great conversation topic in your home or office.