JAPANESE AESTHETICS
Japanese aesthetic concepts and views are introduced through the study of various Japanese traditional arts . The word “do” is used as a suffix to name many Japanese traditional art forms: Chado (the Way of Tea), Kado (the Way of Flower), Shodo (the Way of Calligraphy), The Sodo (the Way of Kimono), Kado (the Way of Poetry) and Kodo (the Way of Incense).
DO in this context connotes the way of constant spiritual yearning and striving to grasp the essence of the art. This way is not to be described, but to be walked. It is undetermined, and unlimited. Thus, it should be noted that traditional Japanese arts place the emphasis on spiritual attainment more so than technical attainment, and require actual practice or direct experience to gain insight. Thus in Japanese traditional arts, the process becomes more important than the finished work.
Therefore, in these classes, students are not only required to read textbooks and other materials, but also have hands-on experiences with various time-honored Japanese arts. Through these experiences, students are to develop new sensitivities, find beauty in the imperfect and appreciate the simple. They are encouraged to walk on this infinite way by means of rigid steps, and to acquire spiritual enrichment (inner essence).
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