TheJapanesephilosopherandaesthete’sdefinitive,hugelyinfluentialexpositionofhisphilosophyoffolkcrafts,settingoutthehallmarksofJapanesedesignasweknowittoday:anonymity,quality,simplicityandhonesty--and,ofcourse,wabi-sabi,thebeautyofimperfectionAPenguinClassicOurlivesarefilledwithobjects.Everydaythingsusedineverydaysettings,theyareourconstantcompanions.Assuch,writesSoetsuYanagi,theyshouldbemadewithcareandbuilttolast,treatedwithrespectandevenaffection.Theyshouldbenaturalandsimple,sturdyandsafe--anaestheticfulfillmentofourpracticalneeds.Theyshould,inshort,bethingsofbeauty.LongreveredastheauthorityoncraftsmanshipandJapaneseaesthetics,Yanagidevotedhislifeandwritingtodefendthevalueofcraft.Inanageoffeebleanduglymachine-madethings,TheBeautyofEverydayThingsisacallforeachofustodeepenourrelationshipwiththeobjectsthatsurroundus.InspiredbytheworkofthesimpleartisansYanagiencounteredonhislifelongtravelsthroughJapanandKorea,thisnow-classicbookisaheartfeltdefenceofmodest,honest,handcraftedobjects,fromtraditionalteacupstojarstopaper--objectsthatexemplifythebeautyofeverydaythings.
BEAUTY WABI wabi-sabi HONEST EVERYDAY
