Four Japanese Philosophies For You

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Top photo: Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash 

Japan is rich with philosophical ideas that come from Zen Buddhist philosophy, aestheticism, and more. These philosophies help us find clarity and we can be more compassionate to ourselves and others. Here are four Japanese philosophies that you can start applying in your daily lives today!

茶道 – The Way of Tea

Known as sadō/chadō, tea ceremonies are understood as a spiritual practice in Japanese culture. The tea house creates a space where status should not matter. It is about sharing knowledge and connecting with fellow humans.

The four principles of ‘The Way of Tea’ are harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. To many, the tea ceremony is a meditative process that can help align these principles by awakening the senses and uniting the mind and body.

華道 – The Way of Flowers

The way of flowers (kadō) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as Ikebana, which can be loosely translated to ‘making flowers alive’. The followers and practitioners of Ikebana, are known as Kadouka. While it does not have a direct English translation,  it can be understood as a flower arrangement artist, or someone who creates sculptures and shapes using flowers and plants.

Kadō is a meditative process to observe nature and to work with it to find its form. To many, the form of an Ikebana arrangement is found rather than planned. You find what is already there in nature and from within yourself. It is not uncommon for the practitioner to ask existential questions while sculpting their art piece.

簡素 – Kanso

Kanso is one of the seven principles of Zen philosophy. It can be translated as ‘simplicity’ or ‘plain’. This Japanese philosophy is about the elimination of clutter to achieve clarity. Although the teachings of Kanso are usually applied in one’s living space by making your interior more minimalistic, this aestheticism philosophy can also be about the design of an individual’s lifestyle. For instance, to declutter your friendship circle of people who don’t have your best interest or to declutter your schedule to achieve clarity in your daily life.

金継ぎ – Kinstugi

Kintsugi which translates to ‘golden joinery’ or ‘golden repair’, is the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics. This philosophy teaches us about appreciating our flaws and seeing beauty in them. It also offers a different perspective to what is damaged and scarred. Instead of trying to conceal our scars, Kintsugi glorifies it with golden lacquer. It is symbolic of how we should respect and be proud of what we’ve gone through. Instead of hating our “damaged parts”, we should be proud of them, knowing that we can always put ourselves back together and be even more beautiful than ever.

There you have it! Four Japanese philosophies that you can start applying in your life today. Be sure to follow MUSUBI and check our other posts if you want more insights into Japanese culture and lifestyle!

Photo Credits:

Top photo: Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash 

All other content (text) created by the original author and © 2021 MUSUBI by Borderlink

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