Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of ImpermanenceDeveloped out of the aesthetic philosophy of cha-no-yu (the tea ceremony) in fifteenth-century Japan, wabi sabi is an aesthetic that finds beauty in things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Taken from the Japanese words wabi, which translates to less is more, and sabi, which means attentive melancholy, wabi sabi refers to an awareness of the transient nature of earthly things and a corresponding pleasure in the things that bear the mark of this impermanence. As much a state of mind--an awareness of the things around us and an acceptance of our surroundings--as it is a design style, wabi sabi begs us to appreciate the simple beauty in life--a chipped vase, a quiet rainy day, the impermanence of all things. Presenting itself as an alternative to today's fast-paced, mass-produced, neon-lighted world, wabi sabi reminds us to slow down and take comfort in the simple, natural beauty around us. In addition to presenting the philosophy of wabi-sabi, this book includes how-to design advice--so that a transformation of body, mind, and home can emerge. Chapters include:
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Contents
| 1 | |
The Development of Wabi Sabi | 7 |
Wabi Sabi in the Art of Zen | 15 |
The Tea Ceremony | 31 |
A Leap of Faith | 47 |
Wabi Sabi and the Japanese Character | 53 |
Wabi Sabi an Art in Transition | 59 |
Wabi Sabi in the Japanese Arts | 69 |
Design Principles of Wabi Sabi | 103 |
Creating Expressions with Wabi Sabi Material | 121 |
The Universal Spirit of Wabi Sabi | 145 |
The Wabi Sabi Environment | 149 |
The Life of Wabizumai | 155 |
Glossary | 161 |
Further Reading | 163 |
Permissions | 165 |
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Common terms and phrases
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