Soetsu Yanagi’s “The Beauty of Everyday Things” is a philosophical exploration of beauty, craft, and the relationship between art and daily life. Drawing on his role as a leader in the Japanese folk craft (mingei) movement, Yanagi advocates for an appreciation of the humble, handmade objects that serve practical purposes in everyday life. His ideas challenge traditional notions of art and aesthetics, emphasizing simplicity, functionality, and the spiritual essence of craftsmanship.
The Beauty of Everyday Things was originally published as a collection of essays in Japanese in 1933. The essays reflect Yanagi's philosophy on the aesthetics of traditional crafts and the value of simplicity and functionality in design. The English translation, which brought his work to a global audience, was published in 2019.
Yanagi was a central figure in the Mingei movement, celebrating the beauty of handmade, everyday objects.
The Beauty of Everyday Things is also in large part a celebration of Japanese culture. There are many examples sprinkled throughout the book. One of my favorites includes the reference to the Japanese term Shibumi. Which is explained to mean, simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty, a concept that has permeated all levels of Japanese society.
The Big Ideas 💡 Presented to The World in this Book
1. The Beauty of the Ordinary
Yanagi asserts that true beauty lies in ordinary, utilitarian objects created with care and necessity in mind. He champions handmade, traditional crafts over industrialized, mass-produced goods, suggesting that these items carry an inherent warmth and authenticity.
2. Functionality and Simplicity
According to Yanagi, beauty and functionality are inseparable. He praises objects that prioritize usability and simplicity, arguing that over-decoration detracts from an object’s essence. For Yanagi, simplicity reflects purity and sincerity, qualities that elevate even the humblest artifacts.
3. Anonymous Craftsmanship
Yanagi celebrates the concept of "anonymous beauty," valuing the collective creativity of unknown artisans. He believes that objects created without an ego-driven desire for recognition are often imbued with a universal, timeless appeal.
4. Spiritual Connection to Craft
Craft, for Yanagi, is not merely a physical act but a spiritual one. He emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and dedication in the creative process. The handmade nature of folk crafts reflects a harmony between human intention and nature, resulting in objects that inspire quiet contemplation.
5. Cultural and Historical Significance
Yanagi stresses the importance of preserving traditional crafts as a means of safeguarding cultural heritage. He views folk art as a repository of a community’s history, values, and identity, and he warns against the loss of these traditions in the face of modernization.
6. Rejection of Luxury
Yanagi critiques the obsession with luxury and exclusivity in art and design, arguing that true beauty is democratic and accessible. He believes that the most meaningful art arises from necessity and humility, not from wealth or prestige.
7. Integration of Art and Life
A recurring theme in Yanagi’s philosophy is the integration of beauty into daily life. He encourages people to find joy and inspiration in the mundane, suggesting that beauty is not confined to museums but exists in the tools and objects we use every day.
One additional common thread found throughout is the emphasis on the profound importance of alignment with “The laws of Nature.”
Conclusion
In “The Beauty of Everyday Things” Soetsu Yanagi redefines the concept of beauty by shifting the focus from elitist notions of art to the simple, functional objects of everyday life. Through his celebration of folk crafts, he challenges readers to appreciate the spiritual and aesthetic value of handmade creations, urging a deeper connection between art, utility, and humanity. Yanagi’s ideas remain profoundly relevant in an age increasingly dominated by mass production and consumerism.
Favorite Quotes:
“Pictures must follow the rules and laws of Nature; the best pictures live an orderly life.”
“Aside from the hand of God, there is no tool as astonishingly creative as the human hand.”
“Machines only know what has been predetermined, not creative imagination.”
“History may falsify, but true beauty can never be false. Rather, with the passage of time, it will shine evermore brightly into the future.”
“True beauty is not possible devoid of simplicity.”
“There are no unbreakable rules for experienced artisans. Everything is left to the flow of nature, and hearing only to the dictates of the object and the heart.”
“The choices to be made are not made blithely by artisans; the free flow of nature does that for them. It is this freedom that is the mother of all creativity.”
“Since a pattern is a crystallization, it is also an exaggeration. But it is not merely that; it is an accentuation of the truth. Without it, a pattern could not be a pattern.”
“… from this, we can see that it is only with the advent of pattern that we truly come into touch with the beautiful. Pattern is the conveyor, the transmitter, of beauty. Good patterns teach us. How do you nature, how to perceive it. Without patterns, our perception of nature would be far more nebulous and unclear. In patterns, we see what is most natural in nature.”
“Good patterns live in the world of infinite imagination. Beauty intoxicates us by means of patterns. A heart that seeks pattern is a heart that seeks beauty. Pattern makes the world, beautiful, just as it makes our hearts and souls, beautiful.”
“While patterns are undeniably a product of human skill, the real goal of all skill is to give life to the laws of nature. Patterns are the work of the human hand, but their mission is to make nature even more natural.”
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