Wabi sabi thread

[jaco94]

Good morning all,

Could we open a discussion thread dedicated to wabi sabi, this Japanese notion that highlights the beauty of simple, modest and humble things.

It reminds us of the impermanent side of things, the wear and tear of time, imperfection, but also that beauty is very often within reach and that we may not see it ...

A little opposite of a show of force, the goal is on the contrary, to reveal and show the effect of passing time, fragility ...

So let's go ?
Everyone will have to post one or more photos.
I start with these 3 photos taken this morning in my garden.

 

[Silentrunning]

 

[A. Gorilla]

View attachment 322453

Is that your terlit?

 

[Clicio]

 

[sorce]

Sorce

 

[jaco94]

Thanks for the photos, gentlemen.

I've done a few more, the advantage is that we don't have to go very far to see the effect of time on what surrounds us, not necessarily on the plant world, that can be mineral, object , all that evolves over time.

We must try to highlight the small forgotten or neglected details so that they become the center of interest and @sorce, has just posted a photo that illustrates this.
The imperfection of the shape of this mug, the random colors, make it unique and beautiful.
Thank you sorce!

Another photo of an old piece of wood that I have always found interesting and that I did not want to throw in the fireplace ...

 

[Anthony]

Before this goes too far, an IBC [ R, C ] member,friend of Mellow Mullet
ran an expose on this.
Briefly, two Japanese architects - stated poor folk trying to pretend
they had more, than they had.
No Buddhism there,
Good Day
Anthony

 

[jaco94]

I can't understand the previous message , sorry ...

 

[Clicio]

Briefly, two Japanese architects - stated poor folk trying to pretend
they had more, than they had.
No Buddhism there,

I guess the point here is the concept is good, @Anthony.
And if it is good, it works as a guideline for many people.

 

[jaco94]

I would really like to understand Anthony's message , but despite the translation , i cant , could you be more explicit , thank you .

 

[Anthony]

Jaco,

there are a good many, made up ideas. coming out of Japan.
This is one of them.
Beware.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[jaco94]

Merci pour la réponse Anthony.

Pour ma part , je pense que le wabi sabi est la quintessence de l'esthétique japonaise , et une des notions qui fait que l'on se sente attiré par cette culture si différente de la notre .

Mais l'idée de ce fil de discussion est simplement de partager quelques photos qui nous semblent illustrer cette notion .

 

[Clicio]

Mais l'idée de ce fil de discussion est simplement de partager quelques photos qui nous semblent illustrer cette notion .

Merci a toi mais.. on parle seulement Anglais ici!

 

[jaco94]

Aaarrggh , sorry it 's a translation problem and the tenth time that i write it , so i hope this time it will be ok ...

Thanks for this reply Anthony.

For my part , i think wabi sabi is the quintessence of Japanese aesthetics and one of the reason that makes us feel attracted by this culture so different from ours.

But the idea of this thread is simply to share a few photos that we think can illustrate this notion .

Thanks.

Edit : I finally succeeded after the eleventh time

 

[Anthony]

@jaco94 ,

a tale for you.

The Scholar's stone.

A Scholar, took down his favourite stone. Lovingly wiped it
and placed it on the table. Being tired he drifted of to sleep,
body on the couch, his mind entered the stone and he began life anew.

Marrying a princess, he grew old happily, children becoming adults,
he eventually died. His mind returned to his body and he awakened
refreshed and full of ideas.

Thus a Buddhist monk might watch patterns in the sand as waves.
Opening the mind to much more.

Always remember, that the East believes in DUTY and the West
works with LOVE as the highest value.
Next time, I will let you know what a scholar thought of wire coiled trees.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Clicio]

Next time, I will let you know what a scholar thought of wire coiled trees.

Please @Anthony Next time IS NOW!
Eager to hear that old east wisdom about coiling wires on trees!

 

[Anthony]

@Clicio ,

a scholar, went to the local market and saw vendors selling little
trees all coiled into shapes.
Tears in his eyes, he bought a dozen,

Back on his estate he lovingly uncoiled the trees.

Then set about, planting them, on the acres.
This is not a tale, but reality.

The original Penjing were found not made,
So pruning was probably more in use.
The Chinese had miles and miles of land to
work with.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[meushi]

The original Penjing were found not made,
So pruning was probably more in use.

Even in Japan, no evidence of wired trees has been found prior to 1910. Originally, the wiring was done with galvanized steel wires, copper being reserved for the most valuable trees (due to cost). Copper wire only became widely available there in the 1920s. Prior to the 1910s, the trees were either grown by clip and grow or shaped using guy wires made from vegetable fibers (not very good results). If you read old Japanese bonsai books, the authors keep stating that pre-WW2 Japanese bonsai wasn't very good.

 

[jaco94]

You have to try to put a photo in each message please

 

[kakejiku]

侘 Wabishii...寂 Sabishii...
If you read in Wikipedia to get an explanation of these terms, they say it is not as negative in the current use of the terms...but I would disagree. In my use of Japanese these terms have a negative connotation when used separately...
But when used with an art aesthetic in mind they are not negative.
Your reflection brought up a question to my mind...There is a cloth called Shike that is used in scrollmaking. It has some raised weave in the cloth. It is hard to see, but this is a photo that has it in this link.
http://wallscroll.blogspot.com/2020/06/companionship-of-holy-ghost.html

The other is a normal cloth like in the sample below. (Just FYI, I am only talking about the ten/chi portions of the scrolls in this example)
http://wallscroll.blogspot.com/2020/05/dragon-scroll-in-sandan-hyougu.html

I wonder if by utilizing the shike cloth, it is the artist trying to implement a look of imperfection in the finished work?

Good question to ask my Sensei...