Few aesthetic principles are so ingrained in Japanese culture as wabi-sabi (侘び寂び). In modern art, it’s referenced as inspiration for styles of architecture, interior design, pottery, and more. You may have heard it referred to as finding beauty in imperfection or impermanence, but it’s much more than that. For all its use, it is difficult to put into words what the meaning of wabi-sabi truly is, but one thing is known beyond a doubt: It is inseparable from Japanese culture.
Enrich your understanding of Japanese culture by learning the Japanese language! Japanese is easy to learn thanks to Rosetta Stone’s Live Lessons with native speakers, visual cues, and language immersion on the first day that encourage you to get comfortable with a new language.
Table of Contents
What is the meaning of wabi-sabi?
While the repetitive sound of wabi-sabi makes it a cute Japanese word to say, there’s an importance to the word itself. The word wabi-sabi represents the marriage between two separate concepts: wabi (詫び) and sabi (寂び). Wabi roughly means “rustic beauty” and emphasizes the elegance in simplicity and imperfection. Sabi basically means “desolate beauty” and stresses rustic style and age. Combined, the aesthetic expresses a value for things or concepts that have a raw quality with natural elements.
It is important to note that wabi-sabi is not necessarily the same as minimalism. Both value simple and sparse interiors, but not all minimalistic designs express wabi-sabi. A room made of monochromatic tones using concrete and marble is one example of modern minimalism, but it would not be wabi-sabi. A room using warmer, earthier tones and wood instead of stone may exemplify both. And though wabi-sabi can be an art decorative form, it’s also a philosophical approach and cultural expression.
So, the outward appearance is not all that matters. The air of humility during a tea ceremony is also the meaning of wabi-sabi. The sense of nature being one with an interior room is wabi-sabi. It’s something you feel as much as you see.
What’s the difference between wabi-sabi and mono no aware?
Mono no aware (物の哀れ) roughly translates to the “pathos of things” and refers to the beauty in things that are fleeting. The ephemeral nature of blossoms on a tree is a classic example. Like wabi-sabi, mono no aware is often associated with beauty in nature, but the reason for its attractiveness is not always the same.
Japanese culture has many aesthetic ideals, and many of them are interconnected and related to one another. Other Japanese aesthetics that shape the culture include:
- yūgen (幽玄): “dark” or “mysterious” like a road shrouded in mist in the fall
- iki (粋): “refined” like wearing thin fabric or a steady rain
- kawaii (可愛い): “cute” like a child’s eyes sparkling when they look at a toy
The history of wabi-sabi
While there is no specific origin of wabi-sabi, the examples of its beauty are identifiable as far back as the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) of Japanese history. At the time, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cultures had a greater influence on each other, but the Japanese styles we know today grew from its indigenous religion called Shintō (shintō, 神道).
Wabi-sabi is intrinsically tied to principles found in both Shintō and Buddhism (bukkyō, 仏教), which migrated to Japan from China and Korea. Over 70% of people in Japan identify with one or both of those religions, but most observe them culturally rather than as an expression of faith.
Shintō is a polytheistic religion deeply entwined with nature. While there are primary gods, such as the sun goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami (天照大御神), the kami (神, gods) are innumerable and many are one with the forces of nature. The latter is the aspect that has a strong influence on wabi-sabi.
The Zen sect of Buddhism has arguably had the greatest impact on the current understanding of wabi-sabi. Sen no Rikyū, a sixteenth-century Zen Buddhist monk, infused the philosophies of Zen Buddhism into the existing art of Japanese tea ceremonies. This resulted in a style of tea ceremony called wabi-cha (侘茶) that focused on a simple and equalizing experience in contrast to the elaborate, refined style previously practiced in the Heian period.
How is the meaning of wabi-sabi expressed in Japanese art and culture?
As art has many forms, the presentation of wabi-sabi art varies depending on the medium. The feeling they evoke, however, is the same.
Wabi-cha tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremonies influenced by Zen Buddhism are the closest to the popular rituals today. Rather than fancy porcelain, the cups and tools are made of earthen pottery or wood. While they may not be perfectly symmetrical or new, they retain character and beauty in their use. This is sabi.
Some of the elements of wabi-cha are the room’s design, the atmosphere, and the attendee’s clothing. For example, clothes should be modest and simple and the room is sparsely decorated. Also, the room’s entrance is low enough that a person needs to duck (or bow) to enter in a show of humility.
Flower arrangements
The art of Japanese flower arrangement, or “ikebana” (生け花), is not large bouquets of flowers in a fancy vase. Rather, it’s only a few stems that show off an individual flower’s beauty. Asymmetry, imperfection, and simplicity are valued.
The flowers used don’t even have to be particularly rare! Simple wildflowers emphasize wabi in how common and unassuming they are—appreciated more when allowed a moment in the spotlight.
Pottery
One famous example of wabi-sabi in the Western world is the Japanese art of fixing broken objects with lacquer and metals, known as “kintsugi” (金継ぎ, meaning to join with gold). This is most often seen in pottery like cups and plates. The glass or china that broke into a dozen pieces may not be perfect after being put back together, but it has been made more beautiful through use and repair.
Marie Kondo, famous for her KonMari method for tidying, also suggests that wabi-sabi is found in mending items that you love (or that “spark joy”) rather than disposing of them and losing something you care about. An object held together with love can be more beautiful than a replacement that is shiny and new.
Literature and poetry
The haiku (俳句) is one of Japan’s most famous styles of poetry, and it’s known for brevity. The structure is three lines using five syllables, then seven syllables, and five syllables respectively. Poets aspire to evoke wabi-sabi through the simplicity of the stanza and the description of nature in so few words.
This poem by the master poet Matsuo Bashō accomplishes that goal in the Japanese language where the 5-7-5 syllable rule is followed, though it doesn’t work as well in English. Still, the simplicity of the message in length and meaning represents the meaning of wabi-sabi.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| いざ行かむ雪見にころぶ所まで | i-za i-ka-muyu-ki-mi ni ko-ro-buto-ko-ro ma-de | Let’s go out To see the snow view Where we slip and fall. |
>> Explore Japanese culture through stories and on-demand videos with the Rosetta Stone app!
What is wabi-sabi in Japanese architecture?
Japanese art goes beyond what can be held in the palm of a hand or felt by an intention. As such, wabi-sabi is equally present in both ancient and modern Japanese architecture.
Regardless of when the building was constructed, all structures have the potential to feel like wabi-sabi. As buildings age, become weathered by the elements, rust, and become partially covered in moss, the original perfection fades. Depending on the person’s perspective and circumstances such as the weather or the condition of the surroundings, newer buildings can also show their rustic and desolate beauty.
Buddhist temples
There are two mirrored temples in Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), known as the Golden Pavilion, and Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺), called the Silver Pavilion. The former is undeniably the more famous of the two. The gold foil for which it is named covers the exterior and parts of the interior, making its reflection in the adjacent pond nearly perfect on a clear day.
Ginkaku-ji, despite its name, is not silver and lacks the luster of its counterpart. The silver foil that was intended for its exterior was never added, and the resulting unvarnished look makes it an excellent example of wabi-sabi against the completed perfection of Kinkaku-ji.
Additionally, the tea ceremony rooms in Buddhist temples are part of the wabi atmosphere. Everything from the asymmetrical tokonoma (床の間, alcove shelves) to the tatami (畳, floors made of straw mats) give a sense of the wabi-sabi meaning.
Modern architecture
Wabi-sabi can be found in contemporary architecture in Japan and the rest of the world. It’s often seen in buildings with an obvious connection to nature or natural elements.
For example, the main entrance of Kyoto Station is predominantly metal with latticed beams stretching from the walls to the ceiling. If you look beyond the modern style, however, you can see the wabi-sabi elements. The metal beams allow natural light to illuminate the hall, while the side walls are completely open to the air. Rain or shine, nature is with you at Kyoto Station.
Biophilia—the human desire to be close to nature—is often referred to hand-in-hand with wabi-sabi for architects and interior designers around the world. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing a garden, a rustic wall made of irregularly shaped stones, and textured, asymmetrical wooden counters are all wabi-sabi.
Key takeaways to know about wabi-sabi
- The meaning of wabi-sabi expresses the feeling evoked by imperfect, rustic objects or environments.
- Zen Buddhism and Shintō were instrumental in the development of wabi-sabi aesthetics.
- Everything from pottery to literature to architecture can express wabi-sabi.
- Wabi-sabi art, architecture, and other influences can be found in Japan and around the world.
0 Commentaires