Aesthetica - ZEN 01
ZEN Minimalism
Minimalism aims to declutter living spaces or your workplace to be tidy and orderly. For that, it's necessary to own less stuff. Throwing away garbage, junk, we can live surrounded by minimal essential things that are indispensable for daily life, in a Minimalistic way of Life.
ZEN Minimalism is an aesthetic philosophy rooted in Buddhism. It emphasizes simplicity, harmony, and mindfulness by decluttering to create space for what truly matters, focusing on purpose, natural beauty, and the profound meaning found in Ku (空; emptiness), Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び; imperfection), and Ma (間; intentional pause).
ZEN Minimalistic Life is a deliberate lifestyle of intentionality, seeking inner peace and clarity by valuing function, natural materials, and the essence of things over excess. The aesthetics of ZEN Minimalism can be seen in Japanese tradition, Japanese craftsmanship, art, architecture, and daily lifestyles.
The Emptiness – Ku 空
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| Karesansui (枯山水) at Ryoanji-temple (龍安寺) |
In ZEN philosophy, Ku (空; emptiness) is the concept that ALL existence and phenomena lack a fixed, unchanging substance or inherent nature (Jisho, 自性). It is NOT simply "nothingness" (Mu, 無), but rather refers to a state of constant change due to various conditions (Engi, 縁起; dependent origination), and signifies the wisdom of living with a liberated mind Free from attachment to physical things and miscellaneous ideas.
Everything, ALL existence and phenomena in this World, exists ONLY temporarily through its relationship (En, 縁; interdependence) with other elements. There is NO fixed, unchanging essence (Jisho, 自性) or constancy.
"Form is not distinct from emptiness, emptiness is not distinct from form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." (The Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom)
“The Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom” is the most central sutra of Mahayana Buddhism and consists of ONLY 262 kanji characters that express the philosophy of Buddhism. This core passage above unveils the truth that things with form (Shiki, 色) have NO fixed substance (Ku, 空; emptiness). At the same time, it vice versa carries the reciprocal meaning of "emptiness is form," which means that because it is empty (Ku, 空), it can exist in various forms (Shiki, 色). In this way, the logic of Buddhist philosophy is infinitely recursive, forming a circle, like “A goes to B, so B goes to A.”
Also, Everything exists in a state of mutual dependence, and there are NO absolutely independent entities. This teaching is called the Engi (縁起; dependent origination). The concept of Engi involves both time and space.
Through realizing the Ku (空), we can let go of temporal attachments (Gashu, 我執; egoistic attachment), common beliefs, and rigid fixed ideas, like “this is mine,” or “I should be this way.” And we can view the World more freely through the liberated mind.
As ZEN philosophy is about the practice, rather than any theories or words, it emphasizes real experiences through ZEN Meditation and daily Life where we realize that things are evasive, and can NOT be grasped or comprehended even if we try harder and harder. This is a ZEN way for awakening.
Imperfection, Impermanence – Wabi-Sabi 侘び寂び
Have you ever heard the word Wabi-Sabi? The Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び) is a unique aesthetic of ZEN philosophy. It finds beauty in imperfection, simplicity, and the changes that occur over time. The concept of Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び) is deeply rooted in the ZEN spirit, which values spiritual richness and tranquility over material wealth.
The Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び) is plainly 2 words in one, simply meaning “Wabi and Sabi.” What is the Wabi and the Sabi?
Wabi 侘び
In the Japanese language, the adjective form of Wabi is “Wabi-shii”(侘びしい), which means ‘desolate, bleak, forlorn, dreary.’
Wabi(侘び) signifies the richness found in a shortage. As seen in the Japanese word “Wabi-zumai”(侘住い; minimalistic life), in a simple, basic, and unpretentious lifestyle, imperfection and deterioration over time are NOT viewed as negative or avoidable. Rather, beauty is found within them.
Sabi 寂び
The adjective form of Sabi is “Sabi-shii”(寂しい) in Japanese, which means ‘lonely, lonesome, desolate.’
Sabi signifies the rustic beauty that appears with the passage of time. The aesthetic accepts the gradual changes naturally brought about by the laws of nature as time passes, frequently seen in Japanese traditional arts, such as moss-covered stones or things that have aged and faded.
“The flowing river never ceases, yet the water is never the same. The bubbles that float on the stagnant water appear and disappear, never remaining for long.” (Hojo-ki, Kamo no Chomei 鴨 長明)
Wabi-Sabi in ZEN Philosophy
The aesthetic view of Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び) is rooted in the core concept of ZEN philosophy, Shogyo-Mujo (諸行無常; everything is impermanent), which means that everything is constantly changing, and nothing is absolute. Having said that, this is the inherent spirit of the Japanese people, rather than a theoretical code, shrinking away from gorgeous, luxurious ostentation, and seeking a tranquil, introspective inner depth of mind (Kanjaku-Kotan, 閑寂枯淡; tranquility and refined simplicity).
As you can frequently find in Japanese traditional arts, the motifs, such as a driftwood on the shore, a dim sunset, or a slanted hut exposed to the rain for years, etc., represent the Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び) as a passive and tranquil state of mind that finds beauty in the natural World. As Japanese people have lived in coexistence with nature throughout history, which shows the 4 beautiful faces of 4 seasons, but often threatens people’s lives with the colossal power of natural disasters, Wabi-Sabi (侘び寂び) is the attitude of Japanese people toward nature as appreciation and awe.
Pauses, Silence, Negative Space – Ma 間
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| Rashomon (羅生門) (1950) directed by Akira Kurosawa (黒澤 明) |
You can easily find significant silent footage in a Japanese film or empty space in a Japanese painting. Seemingly, they don’t have any meaning, but appear to be accidental.
In ZEN aesthetics, Ma (間; space) refers to the "blank space" (Yohaku, 余白) and "silence"(Seijaku, 静寂; tranquility) that arise between words, actions, and time, despite the Japanese word Ma(間) commonly meaning physical space. The aesthetics of Ma (間) is essential NOT only to appreciate Japanese arts and culture, but also to understand Japanese tradition, business customs, and daily conversation.
Ma (間) is also deeply rooted in ZEN philosophy. Ma (間) is represented in the motionless time and the silence, the waiting attitude to discern the essence within silence, and the spirit of Ichinyo (一如; oneness) that finds the sincere heart (Magokoro, 真心) before being divided into two.
Just as in Sado (茶道; Japanese tea ceremony) and Shodo (書道; Japanese calligraphy), Japanese people see the most meaning without being articulated, and the truth behind in the motionless time, the stillness, and the silence of waiting before action.
You can typically see the Ma (間) in Japanese film, such as “The Rashomon”(1950) or “The Seven Samurai”(1954), directed by Akira Kurosawa (黒澤 明). Ma (間) is the creative empty space of the Mu (無; nothingness). As seen in Akira Kurosawa’s film, the intentionally created emptiness (Kuuhaku, 空白) and silence (Seijaku, 静寂; tranquility) can conjure up genuine creativity and the essence of things. The Ma (間) is represented by the concepts of Ku (空; emptiness) and Mu (無; nothingness) in ZEN philosophy.
In addition, by letting go of any intentions, desires, and calculations, you can become one with mind and body as a state of the Mushin (無心; No-mind), and maximize your concentration and creativity.
Through understanding the Ku (空; emptiness), we can break down preconceptions and fixed ideas about things and people, and then attain inner peace and tranquility (Mu-shuujaku, 無執着; non-attachment). By this, we can accept that everything, things and people, are essentially non-substantial beings. This helps us live with a Free mind in the true sense.
Today, we are living in the World amidst materialism and consumerism. Productivity is pursued everywhere in business for mass production, for which corporations agitate consumers to buy more and abandon older products with floods of ads everywhere, 24/7.
Wabi-Sabi is an antithesis against the materialistic World and our contemporary lifestyle as a philosophy of Life. The aesthetic philosophy of ZEN embraces what we actually own around ourselves in hand, rather than consuming everything, pursuing brand-new stuff. Through the ZEN philosophy of Minimalism, we can again appreciate the tranquility and beauty within our surroundings.
Further reading (sponsored by Amazon):
● Daisetsu Suzuki (鈴木 大拙) (2019, originally published in 1938). Zen and Japanese Culture (Princeton Classics Book 334) [Print Replica]. 608 pages. Princeton University Press.
“Zen and Japanese Culture” (Princeton Classics Book)
(sponsored by Amazon)
“Zen and Japanese Culture” is a classic that has influenced generations of readers and played a major role in shaping conceptions of Zen’s influence on Japanese traditional arts! In “Zen and Japanese Culture,” Daisetsu Suzuki (鈴木 大拙) describes Zen and its historical evolution with simple and poetic language. “Zen and Japanese Culture” is a valuable source for those wishing to understand Zen in the context of Japanese life and art, and remains one of the leading works on the subject.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Preface
List of Plates
Chronology
1: What is Zen?
2: General Remarks on Japanese Art Culture
3: Zen and the Study of Confucianism
4: Zen and the Samurai
5: Zen and Swordsmanship 1
6: Zen and Swordsmanship 2
7: Zen and Haiku
8: Zen and the Art of Tea 1
9: Zen and the Art of Tea 2
10: Rikyu and Other Teamen
11: Love of Nature
Appendices
1: Two Mondo from the “Hekigan-shu”
2: The Vimalakirti Sutra
3: “Yama-uba,” a Noh Play
4: The Swordsman and the Cat
5: Chuang-tzu
Bibliography
Index
● Daisetsu Suzuki (鈴木 大拙) (2019, originally published in 1938). Zen and Japanese Culture (Princeton Classics Book 334) [Print Replica]. 608 pages. Princeton University Press.
“Zen and Japanese Culture” (Princeton Classics Book)
(sponsored by Amazon)
“Zen and Japanese Culture” is a classic that has influenced generations of readers and played a major role in shaping conceptions of Zen’s influence on Japanese traditional arts! In “Zen and Japanese Culture,” Daisetsu Suzuki (鈴木 大拙) describes Zen and its historical evolution with simple and poetic language. “Zen and Japanese Culture” is a valuable source for those wishing to understand Zen in the context of Japanese life and art, and remains one of the leading works on the subject.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Preface
List of Plates
Chronology
1: What is Zen?
2: General Remarks on Japanese Art Culture
3: Zen and the Study of Confucianism
4: Zen and the Samurai
5: Zen and Swordsmanship 1
6: Zen and Swordsmanship 2
7: Zen and Haiku
8: Zen and the Art of Tea 1
9: Zen and the Art of Tea 2
10: Rikyu and Other Teamen
11: Love of Nature
Appendices
1: Two Mondo from the “Hekigan-shu”
2: The Vimalakirti Sutra
3: “Yama-uba,” a Noh Play
4: The Swordsman and the Cat
5: Chuang-tzu
Bibliography
Index
