Japanese Wisdom
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Japanese Wisdom
In Praise of Shadows
The document discusses the preference for shadows, darkness, and muted colors in Japanese culture, highlighting the beauty found in darkness, the use of shadows in architecture, art, and aesthetics.
LinkJunichiro Tanizaki’s 1933 essay explores the contrast between the shadowy elegance of traditional Japanese interiors and the stark brightness of Western design. “Westerners attempt to expose every speck of grime and eradicate it, while we Orientals carefully preserve and even idealize it… Living in these old houses among these old objects is in some mysterious way a source of peace and repose.”
here in Japan, we have a concept called ‘yutori,’ and it is spaciousness. It’s a kind of living with spaciousness. For example, it’s leaving early enough to get somewhere so that you know you’re going to arrive early, so when you get there, you have time to look around.
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