Wabi Sabi

Now the TV programme called 'Japan Season' is on BBC4 every Monday. This programme introduces some interesting Japanese culture and the first episode was about 'Wabi Sabi'. A British man travels around Japan and looks for the meaning of 'Wabi Sabi'. Am really pleased to watch such a programme refers to the profundity of Japanese 'heart' in the UK.

Every Japanese person appeared in the programme is struggling to explain what 'Wabi Sabi' is. Nowadays the sense of 'Wabi Sabi' is deteriorating among people having a city life... I think 'Wabi Sabi' is a kind of philosophy. It's the distinctive virtue of Japanese people, in which simplicity and and rusticity are considered to be the basic of human life.

Simple things, rustic things tell more stories than gaudy, mixed up and messy things do. For example, when you have an argument with your boyfriend or girlfriend, what is the most effective word to say? Just saying only one word which is really shocking to him/her is the most effective, rather than moaning a lot, isn't it? Well, this example might be a bit bad, but that's it. Or think about Haiku. Haiku poems don't have many words but they tell so many stories. That's it. This is the spirit of Wabi.

Also, every person dies. To consider it, life is somewhat a sad thing. Everything changes. The life you have at the moment is temporary. It ends eventually. This sadness, impermanence of living creatures (especially human) is the fundamentals of life. It's sad but unavoidable. It's our destiny. However, temporary things are more beautiful than ever-lasting things, aren't they? If you can live forever, your life must be boring. Life is short and that's why you can try your best to have a good life, right? Feel the sadness and joy of impermanence, it's important. This is the spirit of 'Sabi'.

Basically these two meanings are contained in the word 'Wabi Sabi'. However I explained this, it's just an explanation. The spirit of 'Wabi Sabi' should be felt by your heart. So, if you want to have a sense of 'Wabi Sabi', please just forget what I explained. My explanation doesn't help you in gaining the heart of 'Wabi Sabi.'.

In the programme the guy travelled around Japan has so many experiences such as going to a karaoke-bar, tea ceremony, maid-café, haiku club, staying at an ordinary Japanese home and becoming a monk of Buddhist's temple to understand what 'Wabi Sabi' is. This guy is so sincere and really tries to understand this philosophy, which is quite impressive and respect-worthy. I don't think many of young Japanese can do the same. And after all the experiences in Japan this British guy seems to understand 'Wabi Sabi' somehow. It must have been a precious time for him and also for us who were watching this programme. I don't even think about 'Wabi Sabi' usually, although I think it's a very fundamental and important thing. Well, I know I shouldn't think, should just feel it subconsciously.

Anyway it was a very impressive programme and I recommend everyone watch it. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer (click HERE).

*the photo is a traditional Japanese inn in Sumatakyo-Onsen in Shizuoka prefecture.

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