Ode to Death: A Probe into Japanese Aesthetics

This is the second book by Junichiro Tanizaki that I have read after "A Copy of the Spring Piano". Its beautiful wording and atmosphere capture the photographic works of the master Yukihiro Okawa, which is a wonderful combination.

There are many definitions of "beauty". As far as Japanese aesthetics is concerned, it is inseparable from key words: minimalist, simple, quiet, elegant and indifferent.

The author points out in the article that the Japanese are content with the status quo because they are pursuing the satisfaction of their own situation, so they rarely feel wronged in the face of darkness. Instead, they took a step back and thought it was a kind of helplessness. If there is not enough light, there is not enough. In the end, they indulged in the darkness and naturally found the "beauty of shadow".

Find beauty in the shadow and use it to make it exist. Japanese gardens, tea rooms ... buildings that embody this beauty abound, and the Japanese try their best to integrate them into all aspects of life within the scope of seeing and touching.

The author "praised" the Japanese "beauty of shadow", that is, "beauty does not exist in objects, but in the ripples and shadows produced by things. The night pearl can only shine when it is placed in the dark, and the gem loses its charm when it is placed in the sun. Without shadows, there is no beauty. " It can be said that the author's praise transcends the present reality and breaks the objectiveness of materialization in social relations at that time.

When I read this book, I felt that I was in an impetuous world and opened a road to a quiet and simple spiritual garden. At dusk, wooden windows, niches and sand walls, these elegant silences and "shadows" are so harmonious that they are more beautiful than bright lights.

This "hazy beauty" is not clear and boring, but makes people have a simple and simple heart and addiction. Arriving in fairyland, you can sweep away the gloomy mood, but gain a quiet mood. There is no flashy and harsh reflection, only quiet walls and simple wood grain, and you can also see the color of blue sky and green leaves, which has its own elegance and interest.

Stripping off useless decorations, eliminating luxury, eliminating explicit, and not seeking row upon row, is the only way to convey this "shadow beauty".

Yi Yin is a delicate state, with a vacancy but endless aftertaste. China culture has always regarded "lack" as a regret, and regarded "sticking to the residual and keeping the lack" as its spiritual pursuit, just like the blank space in China's landscape paintings, which is full of meaning without pen and ink.

In a word, this is an artistic classic that can let you know and perceive beauty. In addition to Junichiro Tanizaki's creative experience and aesthetic concept, supplemented by Okawa Yuhong's exquisite atlas, it is really a great visual enjoyment.