This course provides students with an introduction to Japanese aesthetics from a Western viewpoint. It will examine both the traditional philosophical and religious foundations of Japanese cultural practices and experiences, as well as explore key aspects of aesthetic theory in modern and postmodern Japan. The lectures are designed not only to inform those interested in exploring unfamiliar cultural realms, but also to address the fundamental question of what it truly means to ‘understand’ another culture. For instance, we will critically assess the significance of aesthetic categories such as wabi (a sense of beauty), with particular reference to the tea ceremony, painting, and calligraphy; as well as to garden design, flower arranging, architecture, the culinary arts, and martial disciplines like Kendo and Jiu Jitsu . Additional aesthetic concepts to be explored include yugen (mystery), as experienced in Noh drama; ‘irregularity’, ‘asymmetry’, and ‘imperfection’ ( suki ), which feature in poetry (tanka and haiku), calligraphy, architecture, and ceramics; the sense of ‘lonely beauty’ ( sabi ) in interior design; and the notion of the ‘ephemeral’ ( mujo ), which acknowledges the vulnerability of existence as an essential aspect of beauty, exemplified by the experience of sakura (cherry blossoms). 

A critical exploration of the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of Japanese aesthetics will involve an introduction to Zen Buddhism, including the teachings of Eisai (1141-1215) and Dogen (1200-1253), as well as the ideologies of the Rinzai and Soto sects and key concepts such as zazen , satori , and koans . The course will also consider elements of Japanese history, politics, and the philosophy of religion (including Motoori Norinaga, 1730-1801) to deepen understanding of the spiritual essence (Shinto) behind particular aesthetic experiences, such as those found in shrines, natural forms, and festivals. Modern Japanese aesthetics will be examined through the work of Nishida Kitarō (1870-1945) and his concept of perceiving things as-such . Finally, the course will reflect on postmodern definitions of ‘Japaneseness’ by contrasting the perspectives of Kyoto School philosopher Nishitani Keiji (1900-1991) and literary theorist Karatani Kojin (1941-). Throughout, the lectures will consistently question the relevance and limitations of Western interpretations of Japanese aesthetics. 

Lectures:

1. The philosophical and religious foundations of Japanese aesthetics: Confucianism, Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto

2. The relevance of Japanese aesthetic categories: wabi, yugen, suki, sabi, mujo ...

3. Shinto, spirituality, politics, and aesthetics: Motoori Norinaga (1730-1801)

4. The aesthetic expressions of Shinto: Shrines, festivals, and nature.

5. Zen Buddhism and aesthetics: Eisai (1141-1215) and Dogen (1200-1253)

6. Zen aesthetic experience and satori: Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870-1966)

7. Zen and the fine arts: painting, theatre, gardens 

8. Modern Japanese aesthetics: Pure experience and free will, Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945)

9. Modern Japanese aesthetics: Selflessness and visual perception of beauty, Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945)

10. Aesthetic experience between ethics and Zen: Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945)

11. Contemporary Japan and postmodern nihilism: Nishitani Keiji (1900-1991)

12. Contemporary Japan and postmodern aesthetics: Karatani Kojin (1941-)

13. On the self-awakening of culture after Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945): Reflections