On Thursday we were introduced to more terms regarding the japanese concept of beauty (no levels of beauty in most western life, whereas the specificity of beauty in japanese culture is mindblowing). The end of the Jeian period brought with it not only the fall of aristocracy and the rise of royal families, but also the idea of yugen. Seperately, they translate t0 (yu) deep, dark, unfathomable; (gen) delicate and subtle, but together the term represents a profound, moving, mysterious beauty/the sublime. Yugen encompasses four divisions: miyabi, aware, en, and okashi.
miyabi - refined, elegant, courtly, "polished", beauty in the classical sense.
aware - literally translated to "sadness", positive connotation(s) though, finding the beauty in a negative feeling.
en - charming, sensual.
okashi - humorous, clever, amusing
We also discussed another "scale" used in the arts, which has distinctions much like that of shin-gyo-so. It includes hade, shibui, iki, and wabi-sabi. Hade and wabi-sabi are the two polar opposites, where in hade represents the highest and richest of the arts (bounty); while wabi-sabi prides itself in minimalism, a simplicity which remains modest and spiritual (almost like mu). Examples that Professor Gunji stated were variations in theater. Kabuki, a very exaggerated and stylized collection of song, dance, and acting would fall under the "max art" or hade. While, Noh theater is quite the opposite as it takes away all unnecessary elements, and makes everything deliberate and purposeful. This falls under "min art".
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