Kanso is one of the 7 pillars of Wabi Sabi that’s all about living a simple, clutter-free lifestyle.Īs we’ve learned above, Wabi Sabi helps us understand how most things in life are temporary and that we should find beauty through all paths we take in life. Pronunciation: Kan-so What is the meaning of Kanso? It’s a really easy read, and with so much to discuss about the topic, it’s probably nicer to read a book than look at something on a computer screen! 3. If you’re interested in further reading I highly recommend ‘ Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a perfectly Imperfect Life‘ By Beth Kempton. It’s extremely easy to get caught up in all the bad that goes on in the world and whilst Wabi Sabi won’t fix any of that, it will absolutely make you thankful for what you do have. Learn to abandon your opinions of ‘Perfect’ and begin to see beauty where it was never meant to be found.Īfter attempting to incorporate Wabi Sabi virtues into my life for the last few years, I now know how humbling and grounding the whole experience can be.

We are constantly bombarded with other people’s perceptions of beauty and more often than not it shows something, or someone, in pursuit of perfection.Įxamples of the Wabi Sabi aesthetic you come across in your own life might include: Learning to appreciate the beauty that is imperfect is the first step to introducing wabi-sabi into your own life. Modest – Something can be modest and beautiful at the same time.Simple – Just because something is simple doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful.Broken – A broken ornament still holds its beauty with wabi-sabi.Unfinished – A piece of artwork not yet finished.The characteristics of wabi-sabi include but aren’t limited to: Wabi Sabi also has several pillars which I’ll point out further down the list. That’s the basis of the Japanese aesthetic concept wabi-sabi. Pronunciation: Wa-bi-sa-bi What is the concept of Wabi-sabi? I know that just like the cherry blossom, once the sun falls behind the horizon it’s gone for the day and eventually the whole year.Įnjoy the fleeting moments as much as the moments themselves. So here is an example that represents a sense of Yūgen that you might find useful:Ĭherry blossom falling from a tree – Not only is the blossom itself a beautiful sight but so is appreciating it only lasts for a short period of time and is then gone until the year after.Įvening light falling on the ground or behind the horizon – There’s nothing better to me than the spring light in Japan. Trying to help someone understand how to experience something that barely has a definition is no easy task. To contemplate the flight of wild geese seen and lost among the clouds.’Īs you can see, it’s indescribably moments like these that bring you closer to the universe that are the best representation of Yūgen.

To stand upon the shore and gaze after a boat that disappears behind distant islands. ‘To wander on in a huge forest without thought of return. ‘To watch the sun sink behind a flower-clad hill.’ Here are a couple of examples that show an experience of Yūgen: Yūgen is about experiencing something that words cannot or need not describe. Such concepts are often uninterpretable and have to be experienced to be understood. The meaning and concept of Yūgen is a profound and mysterious sense of beauty in the world. Pronunciation: Yu-gen What is the meaning of Yūgen?

Kanso japanese