Reflection
The more sophisticated the design – whether linguistic, cultural or architectural the quieter it becomes . It is hidden, deliberate and quietly resonant. By exploring it one discovers that concealment creates a deeper more lasting beauty than display. We have already studied Tzafun through :
In this article we will study Yūgen and draw parallels with siblings in the Greek, Hebrew and French traditions. In Part II we will examine the concept in relation to Okura Hotel Tokyo
All pictures used are from the hotel which has kindly granted us permission to do so.
Yūgen : Meaning, Origin and Cultural Significance
Yūgen breaks down to Yū ( dim, mysterious) and gen ( profound, dark, subtle) . It blooms into several interrelated layers of interpretation.
It refers to elusive beauty, that is felt more than explained. Yūgen teaches that the emotion, intuition, imagination are more important than the analytical mind:
You listen to a song from your childwood and suddenly feel a flood of emotion, partly warmth, partly melacholy, partly nostalgia.
You help a homeless person and you sense his quiet dignity as he thanks you lowering his/her yes a gentle smile expressing more gratitude that a long sentence would say.
It is the subtle suggestion of something that is greater than the apparent, hinting at the ineffable beneath the ordinary , the human spirit, nature’s mysteries.
Things like the sudden stillness before a storm, the unseen order behind nature that we can feel but cannot articulate. This is Yūgen .
The best way to describe it would be the shiver you get when you sense something profound, beauty that hints at infinity but never reveals it.
From Noh Theatre > Poetry> Painting Sumi – e
Noh Theatre
Yūgen is associated with the so called Noh theatre , a very old Japanese play where you see only few actors on an almost empty stage who move and dance extremely slow . One famous scene shows an actress lifting her sleeve , gazing at the same moon her lover once saw and stands still, evoking the ache of eternal waiting.
Poetry
Poetry evokes Yūgen through indirect imagery for example the moon’s reflection on water symbolizing transience.
Painting Sumi -e
In painting Yūgen is evoked by embracing ma ( deliberate gaps) . These pauses are not ‘nothing’ they are full of potential , breathing cosmic silence . Or it is gimpsed at when you have gradations of colour from pitch black wet to the faintest grey dry something which mirrors the fading into mystery . Or when there is intentional asymmetry, as perfect symmetry seems aritficial, man made.
The most breathtaking evokation of Yūgen in painting is when the brush stroke itself is ensouled , when it has ki ( energy) . This brush stroke has a clear beginning, a swelling middle and a tail , while in terms of colour it starts with pitch black and becomes gradually lighter in the end almost vanishing~~
As we have show the Lingua Accord the world is a set of Correspondences . It is very interesting to note that ideas could belong to the same QR code, the same Hebrew root could I dare to say? yet they have their own individual flair as well:
Hebrew Mysticism
Yūgen and Hebrew mysticism – Tzafun are like the Greek mythological siblings who share resemblances but also subtle differences. While Tzafun remains intentionally concealed but at some time blooms for those who approach with reverence and humility, Yūgen ‘s beauty lies in its remaining intentionally half hidden and becomes partially visible through the imagination, intuition. It is mostly aesthetic and points to the mysteries of the universe, while Tzafun is spiritual and is linked to the glory and hiddenness of God.
Greek concepts related to Yūgen
If we were to find affinities with the Greek tradition I would point to the notion of άρρητόν ( arriton) that which cannot be said, or the word αίσθηση ( aisthisi) which relates to a refined , intuitive appreciation of beauty. Another interesting word is the word χάρις ( Charis) as grace that exceeds the visible or the αίνιγμα ( ainigma) the enigmatic.
French Symbolism and the Yūgen Connection
Turning to the French tradition , personalities such as Mallarme, Verlaine and the Symbolisms believed the beauty of a poem arises not from what is said but by what is suggested .
Verlaine famously encourages us to listen to music above all and especially the asymmetrical, shedding light on the idea that slight asymmetry, ambiguity creates deeper emotion . Mallarme on the other hand talked about the beauty of the absence , while impressionists such as Monnet, Debussy and Proust praised mist, blurred contours and suggestions instead of detail . It is also worth noting the French love for subtlety and nuance which are all siblings of Yūgen‘s delicacy.
To sum up ( Takeaway) :
In a world driven by overstimulation, understanding the Yūgen aesthetics helps us reconnect with subtlety, presence and deeper perception.
F AQ:
How can Yūgen help you in every day life?
In every day life Yūgen and its siblings teach us to appreciate the faint quiet moments, the silence before the rain. When we learn to see what is partially hidden rather than obvious we become more:
- calm: Your mind shifts from noise to nuance which teaches you out of stress and into nuance
- perceptive: Noticing the micro expressions of someone’s face, a softening around his or her eyes and mouth a barely visible vulnerability you begin to understand people with more depth
- creative: When something is not fully shown the imagination steps in to finish the picture
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Fragnance card
World: Hidden – where beauty is felt more than is seen and the half revealed carries deep resonance
Accord: Hebrew – the base of interiority and sacred concealment
Undertones : Greek ( clarity of concepts ) and French ( subtle nuance, the elegance of suggestion )
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