Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Philosophy of Beauty in Imperfection

Apply these life lessons for happiness, fulfillment, & inner peace

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

“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 (侘寂) 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.

The history of Wabi Sabi

Historians trace the concept to the period between the 14th and 16th centuries, where Japan experienced significant social and political upheaval. Wabi Sabi is thought to have been a movement to find peace and acceptance through a tumultuous time.

Its principles encouraged individuals to find joy in the natural world, and to bring elements of the natural world into their daily lives. This influenced both artists and everyday people to take pleasure in simple tasks and abandon the inexorable pursuit of perfection.

The benefits of Wabi Sabi

Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

Wabi Sabi offers numerous benefits to our daily lives. These include:

• The ability to accept the natural ebbs and flows of life, making peace with the knowledge that nothing lasts forever.
• Finding joy in the simplicity and gratitude for everyday experiences.
• Releasing ourselves from the goal of perfection, noting that there is beauty and value in imperfection.
• Appreciating the natural world around us, and encouraging efforts to preserve natural spaces.

Incorporating Wabi Sabi into your everyday life

Here are a few ways you can incorporate Wabi Sabi into your everyday life:

• Spend time in nature every day or as often as possible. This can involve a daily walk, forest bathing, or an afternoon coffee in your garden.
• Declutter your space. Wabi Sabi stresses minimalism and the importance of creating a space surrounded only by things that have deep personal importance and/or utility. This is best illustrated by Marie Kondo’s KonMari method.
• Appreciate imperfection. This could involve embracing the natural aging process of your home or belongings, or even highlighting treasured objects that are showing signs of wear. The kintsugi art form applies this principle by repairing broken pottery with gold to achieve stunning results.

“Pare down to the essence, but don’t remove the poetry.”

-Leonard Koren in Wabi Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

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For more on this topic, see Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren and Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.

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