Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Philosophy of Beauty in Imperfection
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“Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. It is a beauty of things unconventional.”
— Leonard Koren in Wabi Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers
Wabi Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept involving the beauty of transience, imperfection, and simplicity. Its meaning eludes direct direct English translation, but it is a combination of the words wabi (侘) and sabi (寂). Wabi meaning “isolation,” “humble,” or “dignity,” while sabi can be translated as “worn-in,” “simplicity,” or “authenticity.”
Wabi Sabi features in multiple forms of Japanese art and philosophical schools of thought. These include subjects ranging from Zen Buddhism to kintsugi, sculpture, and architecture.
Phrased as simply as possible, Wabi Sabi notes the beauty in impermanence and the graceful impact of time around us. It encourages us to embrace change and savor every moment in life, each moment being perfect in its imperfection.