Allergy Fog
Since my mind is crammed with cotton, I went off to make myself happier with tea. Melon Oolong for those who were curious as to which flavor I chose. And I also read through Lupicia's Tea Magazine. Thought I'd share:
Beauty is transient
Wabi-Sabi, a quintessentially Japanese concept, was first used by the samurai class who lived simply but had a profound respect for the few items that they did own.
WABI Wabi is the concept that there is beauty in imperfection and realizing the beauty of simplicity. It refers to an attitude of valuing inner truth rather than superficial glitz.
SABI Sabi is the concept that things are constantly changing and aging and that evolving beauty should be admired moment to moment for beauty is transient and never stays the same. There is also beauty in naturally aged objects such as the patina on an antique kettle that has developed over years of faithful use. These values became popular and spread through social events, especially where tea was enjoyed, as a lifestyle philosophy.
Wabi-Sabi is deep-rooted in Japanese culture and history and is almost impossible to understand completely without a background in these subjects. However, for the sake of ease, wabi-sabi can perhaps be explained simply as the opposite of that which is pretentious. For example, a rock concert that fills an enormous baseball stadium is very powerful and grandiose but if the accomplished guitarist of that band performs his skill unplugged for a small group of his fans devoid of all the props and electronic paraphernalia, this performance can be seen as having a wabi-sabi aesthetic. The image of a rustic, monotone, unassuming vase, not perfect in shape, with only one slightly bent lotus flower that is beginning to bloom can have a wabi-sabi feel while a red crystal vase with a full bouquet of tropical flowers, lush green leaves and fake butterflies does not. Both can be considered to have beauty however, the hidden beauty that is not outwardly apparent but definitely exists is wabi-sabi. Finding beauty in what is natural or meticulously made that is not protrusive or embellished is part of wabi-sabi. This concept has also been very influential in Japanese tea ceremony where simplicity is beauty.
Beauty is transient
Wabi-Sabi, a quintessentially Japanese concept, was first used by the samurai class who lived simply but had a profound respect for the few items that they did own.
WABI Wabi is the concept that there is beauty in imperfection and realizing the beauty of simplicity. It refers to an attitude of valuing inner truth rather than superficial glitz.
SABI Sabi is the concept that things are constantly changing and aging and that evolving beauty should be admired moment to moment for beauty is transient and never stays the same. There is also beauty in naturally aged objects such as the patina on an antique kettle that has developed over years of faithful use. These values became popular and spread through social events, especially where tea was enjoyed, as a lifestyle philosophy.
Wabi-Sabi is deep-rooted in Japanese culture and history and is almost impossible to understand completely without a background in these subjects. However, for the sake of ease, wabi-sabi can perhaps be explained simply as the opposite of that which is pretentious. For example, a rock concert that fills an enormous baseball stadium is very powerful and grandiose but if the accomplished guitarist of that band performs his skill unplugged for a small group of his fans devoid of all the props and electronic paraphernalia, this performance can be seen as having a wabi-sabi aesthetic. The image of a rustic, monotone, unassuming vase, not perfect in shape, with only one slightly bent lotus flower that is beginning to bloom can have a wabi-sabi feel while a red crystal vase with a full bouquet of tropical flowers, lush green leaves and fake butterflies does not. Both can be considered to have beauty however, the hidden beauty that is not outwardly apparent but definitely exists is wabi-sabi. Finding beauty in what is natural or meticulously made that is not protrusive or embellished is part of wabi-sabi. This concept has also been very influential in Japanese tea ceremony where simplicity is beauty.