Lesson
- Japanese Aesthetics
- Introduction
- Japanese View of Nature
- Harmony and Omotenashi
- Mujō
- Mono no aware
- Fuzei
- Fūryū
- Miyabi
- Yūgen
- Zen and Enlightenment
- Wabi and Sabi
- Shibui
- Iki
- Kawaii
- Kakejiku (Hanging Scroll)
- What is the Kakejiku?
- History
- Significance
- Functionality
- Main Kinds
- How to Handle
- — Parts Name of Kakejiku
- Hyougu (Mounting)
- About Hyougu
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- —Fabric
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Yūgen
“Yūgen” is a basic concept which influences various Japanese arts such as literature, painting, the performing arts, and architecture. The word originated in China and was used in Chinese schools of thought like Buddhism as well as that of Laozi and Zhuangzi. Then from the late Heian period to the early Kamakura period, the famous Japanese poet, Fujiwara no Toshinari, began using the word, Yūgen, in his criticisms of Waka poetry. Over a period of time, it became a major word used in treatises on Waka poetry. During the medieval period, it began to gradually influence other Japanese arts such as Noh Drama, Zen, Renga (linked verse), Sadō (tea ceremony), and Haiku (a type of amusing and playful Waka). Eventually, it began being used as a general word in Japanese culture.
Yūgen is usually translated as “mysterious profundity.” Yūgen means the beauty that we can feel sense into an object, even though the beauty doesn’t exist in the literal sense of the word and cannot be seen directly. Yūgen is a sense not to enjoy the superficial beauty of an object, which is in front of our eyes but to enhance the beauty more impressive by imagining its latent beauty. For example, we think a flower is beautiful when we see it. This beauty is the superficial beauty. The flower has a past of withstanding wind, rain, and snow until now, and will someday wither, however beautiful it is now. Although the beautiful flower itself impresses us, the beauty will be more impressive than the superficial beauty, when we can imagine its past and future.
If you conceptualize Yūgen as a suggestiveness, lingering memory, aftertaste, or implication, you can more easily understand Yūgen. Imagination is essential for feeling Yūgen, so many artists have, since ancient times in Japan, developed a method to encourage their viewers to exercise their imagination. Unpainted blank space, simplification, asymmetry, irregularity, imperfection, quiet colors, composition, gold paint – these are examples, in the Japanese-style painting world, of ways artists encourage their viewers to imaginatively participate in the viewing.
Noh and Haiku
Noh
Haiku
“Noh” and “haiku” are representative of Yūgen (one of Japanese aesthetic concepts). You can see Yūgen more through these videos.
Reference Book
 |
Zen and Japanese Culture (English Edition) 新品価格 |
Contents Text Link
- Introduction page
- Japanese View of Nature
- Harmony
- Mujō
- Mono no aware
- Fuzei
- Fūryū
- Miyabi
- Yūgen
- Zen and Enlightenment
- Wabi and Sabi
- Shibui
- Iki
- Kawaii
Contact Us
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CEO Message
Our Feelings For Kakejiku
The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.
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Company Profile
Name Art Nomura
President TatsujiNomura
Founded1973
Established1992
Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
HyougoPrefecture,655-0021,Japan
Capital10 million yen
URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com
Our Business
Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.
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Access Map
Access Map
The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.
(or press ESC or click the overlay)
