Exposing ourselves to traditional Japanese aesthetic ideas — notions that may seem quite foreign to most of us — is a good exercise in lateral thinking, a term coined by Edward de Bono in 1967. "Lateral Thinking is for changing concepts and perception," says de Bono. Beginning to think about design by exploring the tenets of the Zen aesthetic may not be an example of Lateral Thinking in the strict sense, but doing so is a good exercise in stretching ourselves and really beginning to think differently about visuals and design in our everyday professional lives. The principles of Zen aesthetics found in the art of the traditional Japanese garden, for example, have many lessons for us, though they are unknown to most people. The principles are interconnected and overlap; it's not possible to simply put the ideas in separate boxes. Thankfully, Patrick Lennox Tierney (a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun in 2007) has a few short essays elaborating on the concepts. Below are just seven design-related principles (there are more) that govern the aesthetics of the Japanese garden and other art forms in Japan. Perhaps they will stimulate your creativity or get you thinking in a new way about your own design-related challenges.
Seven principles for changing your perception
Kanso (簡素) Simplicity or elimination of clutter. Things are expressed in a plain, simple, natural manner. Reminds us to think not in terms of decoration but in terms of clarity, a kind of clarity that may be achieved through omission or exclusion of the non-essential.
Fukinsei (不均整) Asymmetry or irregularity. The idea of controlling balance in a composition via irregularity and asymmetry is a central tenet of the Zen aesthetic. The enso ("Zen circle") in brush painting, for example, is often drawn as an incomplete circle, symbolizing the imperfection that is part of existence. In graphic design too asymmetrical balance is a dynamic, beautiful thing. Try looking for (or creating) beauty in balanced asymmetry. Nature itself is full of beauty and harmonious relationships that are asymmetrical yet balanced. This is a dynamic beauty that attracts and engages.
Shibui/Shibumi (渋味) Beautiful by being understated, or by being precisely what it was meant to be and not elaborated upon. Direct and simple way, without being flashy. Elegant simplicity, articulate brevity. The term is sometimes used today to describe something cool but beautifully minimalist, including technology and some consumer products. (Shibui literally means bitter tasting).
Shizen (自然) Naturalness. Absence of pretense or artificiality, full creative intent unforced. Ironically, the spontaneous nature of the Japanese garden that the viewer perceives is not accidental. This is a reminder that design is not an accident, even when we are trying to create a natural-feeling environment. It is not a raw nature as such but one with more purpose and intention.
Yugen (幽玄) Profundity or suggestion rather than revelation. A Japanese garden, for example, can be said to be a collection of subtleties and symbolic elements. Photographers and designers can surely think of many ways to visually imply more by not showing the whole, that is, showing more by showing less.
Datsuzoku (脱俗) Freedom from habit or formula. Escape from daily routine or the ordinary. Unworldly. Transcending the conventional. This principles describes the feeling of surprise and a bit of amazement when one realizes they can have freedom from the conventional. Professor Tierney says that the Japanese garden itself, "...made with the raw materials of nature and its success in revealing the essence of natural things to us is an ultimate surprise. Many surprises await at almost every turn in a Japanese Garden."
Seijaku (静寂)Tranquility or an energized calm (quite), stillness, solitude. This is related to the feeling you may have when in a Japanese garden. The opposite feeling to one expressed by seijaku would be noise and disturbance. How might we bring a feeling of "active calm" and stillness to ephemeral designs outside the Zen arts?
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How Japanese People Think
Japan is a sophisticated and ancient culture that has enjoyed long periods of isolation. As a result, Japanese culture is ripe with ideas that are unique and intriguing.
It would be a mistake to believe that all Japanese people think alike. Japan has as much diversity in opinion as any other country. Japanese ideas, are interpreted by people in Japan as individuals.
The following are all ideas that are familiar to most people in Japan.
1. Ganbatte
Ganbatte is a common phrase in Japanese that means "do your best!" Japan has great respect for effort and pushing oneself. This can be seen in the way that people work or in Japan's passion for physical challenges such as carryingmikoshi at festivals that can weigh several tons.
2. Shoganai
Shoganai is an important idea in Japan that can be translated "it can't be helped." It is the philosophy or strategy that some things are out of your control and it's best to focus your efforts on things you can change. Shoganai is used to explain a wide range of social phenomenon in Japan including the country's ability to bounce back from hardship. People don't complain muchand press ahead under duress. It can also be used to explain negative things such as people's disinterest in politics that allows politicians to implement things that are wildly unpopular.
3. Giri & Ninjo
Giri & Ninjo can be loosely translated Duty & Emotion. Giri is a duty you have due to work, family and interpersonal relationships. For example, a waiter has a duty to be provide a high standard of customer service. If a customer is difficult, the waiter may feel emotions of anger but duty is always supposed to come first. This difficult prioritization of duty over emotion is the theme of many Japanese dramas. It's also a real problem that people face on a daily basis.
4. Genki
Genki is an common word in the Japanese language that can be translated as health, enthusiasm, spirit or energy. It encapsulates the idea of health and enthusiasm in a single concept.
Mottainai is a feeling of regret about wasting something. As a highly populated island with few natural resources, the Japanese historically had a strong aversion to waste. This ethic is arguably fading as its easy to spot wasteful habits in modern Japan. Nevertheless, mottainai is a still a potent idea in Japan even if its practice is fading. Most people can tell a story about how an older relative such as a grandparent avoided mottainai by repairing possessions and recycling things such as kimono.
6. Kawaii
Kawaii is the Japanese word for cute. Japan has a unique sense of the cute aesthetic.
7. Yakudoshi
Yakudoshi is the Japanese superstition that particular ages are unlucky. In Japan, superstition tends to be viewed in a lighthearted way. Nevertheless, people take these things somewhat seriously and many people buy lucky stuffat their local shrine in their unlucky years in the hopes of avoiding tragedy.
8. Kami
Kami are Shinto deities. According to Shinto traditions there are eight million Kami. However, this number is the ancient way that Japan represented infinity. This large number of deities has given Japan a sense of religious flexibility. For example, it's common for Japanese people to identify with both Shinto and Buddhism. It is also common for couples to choose a Christian style wedding in Japan.
Honne & Tatemae can be translated "true opinion" and "public face." Tatemae is the idea that it's often necessary to hide your true opinion in order to ensure social harmony. This a fundamental building block of Japanese Manners. It is unusual to directly criticize someone in social situations. As a result, the Japanese tend to deliver criticism in roundabout ways and you need to read between the lines to see it.
10. Jishuku
Jishuku is a type of mourning that's often translated "self restraint." It is a period of reflection after loosing a loved one that may last several months or more. During Jishuku people refrain from self indulgence and self promotion. For example, it's common to refrain from joining nomikai during Jishuku. Japan is also known to go into Jishuku at the national level after a major tragedy such as an earthquake that claims many lives. At the national level this usually means cancellations of festivals and other joyous events.
11. Mono No Aware
Mono No Aware is a Japanese aesthetic that can be translated "the impermanence of things." It suggests that things are more attractive because they don't last. For example, cherry blossoms bloom brilliantly in the Spring and quickly fall. Mono No Aware suggests that cherry blossoms would be less attractive if they were long-lived flowers. Although it's an attractive aesthetic, Mono No Aware has a somewhat dark history. For example, it was used leading up to WWII by the Japanese government to convince young people of the glory of war.
Otsukaresama Deshita is a common way to say goodnight at work in Japan that can be translated "you're tired sir." In Japan, it's considered a compliment to tell someone they're tired since it implies they've been working hard.Otsukaresama Deshita is also a common way to say cheers in Japanese.
13. Bureiko
Bureiko is a Japanese term for the break down of rules that tends to happen at company parties known as nomikai. Japanese companies are traditionally managed with rigid hierarchical structures that don't allow for free flowing ideas. As such, a break down of rules is considered valuable for building stronger teams.
14. Pasonaru Supesu
Pasonaru Supesu is the Japanese term for personal space. In Japan, personal space is something of a skill. That is to say that people have developed various strategies to establish a little personal space in the most crowded of conditions.
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