Ann Kameoka and H. E. Davey: Excerpt from The Japanese
Way of the Flower
Wabi and sabi are multifaceted principles that involve an
asymmetrical balance that is actually nothing more than a
reflection of nature. What's more, while kado does utilize
set principles, this "unbalanced balance" assumes
a different form in each and every arrangement. You cannot
simply memorize it. True understanding of an artless balance
that reflects nature comes through unity with the universe.
Likewise, the simple, elegant aesthetics that are also
associated with wabi are a reflection of nature, as is the
sabi concept of aloneness and impermanence.
Since these principles are derived from a genuine awareness
of humankind's intimate connection with the universe, they
should be ultimately true rather than contrived. In other
words, they should not amount to an aesthetic based solely
upon what was fashionable at a certain point in Japanese
history. They never fall out of fashion, since they mirror
the eternal aspect of nature. Understanding harmony,
artlessness, and impermanence is never-ending, much like
the infinite universe itself, and bona fide comprehension
comes as we discover and reflect these states in ourselves.
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