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The Significance of Wabi-Sabi in Japanese Culture
A plain-language introduction to wabi-sabi, the appreciation of imperfection, age and simplicity, and how it connects to other Japanese aesthetic ideas.
Ideas and Beliefs
Aesthetic Ideas
Core concepts such as wabi-sabi, ma and mono no aware.
Iki: The Edo Ideal of Refined Style
Learn what iki means: the understated, spirited elegance prized by townspeople in Edo, how it differs from other Japanese ideals, and where it shows up.
Kawaii: Cuteness in Japanese Culture
Explore kawaii, the Japanese idea of cuteness: how the word developed, how the style grew in the modern era, and where it appears in design and daily life.
The Importance of Nature in Japanese Culture and Aesthetics
How nature and the changing seasons shape Japanese art, poetry and daily life, and why the common idea of a Japanese love of nature needs some nuance.
The Importance of the Concept of Ma in Japanese Aesthetics
Ma is the meaningful interval, space or pause in Japanese aesthetics. See how it appears in rooms, music, speech, theatre and painting, and why it matters.
The Importance of the Concept of Mono no Aware in Japanese Aesthetics
Trace mono no aware from Heian court poetry and tales to later literary criticism, and see how this gentle feeling for passing things is described.
The Importance of the Concept of Seijaku in Japanese Aesthetics
Seijaku means tranquil stillness. Learn how it figures in the tea tradition and the garden, and how it differs from mere emptiness or silence.
Understanding the Concept of Mono no Aware in Japanese Aesthetics
A plain-language look at the feeling behind mono no aware through everyday scenes such as fading seasons, falling petals and ending summer evenings.
Yugen: Mystery and Depth in Japanese Aesthetics
Yugen is the idea of subtle, profound beauty that is hinted rather than shown. Learn its medieval poetry and Noh roots and how it differs from related ideas.
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