Originally published in Japanese by NHK (1997) and immediately translated into Chinese and Korean, this book is a must-read for readers engaged in the fields of art and design. Kohei Sugiura explores the history of a variety of Japanese and Asian forms from cloth patterns to Buddha's hands, from painting to kanji characters, and from the human body to the universe. Richly illustrated, the book captures the beauty of the birth and transformation of various Asian forms or kata into living objects as they interact with chi or an invisible vital energy known as the flow of "life" over time. The striking images that accompany these stories also reveal the exceptional craftsmanship of artisans and the spiritual powers that reside within the familiar forms of everyday life.Forms Come Alive provides contributions for revitalizing contemporary Asian design by highlighting traditional design principles of organic interaction between natural and spiritual forces that give shape, meaning, and beauty to evolving forms of life.