Iki (aesthetic Ideal)
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is a Japanese
aesthetical Aesthetics, or esthetics, is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and taste (sociology), taste, as well as the philosophy of art (its own area of philosophy that comes out of aesthetics). It examines aesthetic values, ...
concept thought to have originated amongst the merchant classes of Edo (modern-day
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
) in
Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Iki'' in ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ''see'
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.
came to prominence within the context of the official social hierarchy of Edo-period Japan, subverting class through an expression of material wealth that formed an aesthetic language specifically aimed at one's peers – typically those within the merchant classes. Sometimes misunderstood in the West as the archetypal or stereotypical aesthetics of
Japanese culture The culture of Japan has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia and other regions of the world. Historical overview The ance ...
, refers to a distinct aesthetic ideal of subdued displays of taste and/or wealth, with an emphasis on belying, on first glance, the efforts – monetary or otherwise – taken to appear stylish. , having come into prominence around the same as many other now-traditional artforms, remains a cornerstone of aesthetic appeal and thought in traditional
Japanese culture The culture of Japan has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia and other regions of the world. Historical overview The ance ...
. Both
geisha {{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha {{nihongo, Geisha, 芸者 ({{IPAc-en, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ʃ, ə; {{IPA-ja, ɡeːɕa, lang), also known as {{nihongo, , 芸子, geiko (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or {{nihongo, , 芸妓, geigi, are a class of female ...
and
kimono The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono ...
, amongst other cultural aspects, are thought to have been influenced by and developed through , and remain largely influenced by it to this day.


History

During the Edo period, a number of edicts were passed by the ruling samurai classes restricting expressions of material wealth by those officially lower in the social hierarchy as a way of preserving the status of the upper classes; this included edicts of dress preventing the lower classes from visibly appearing to be above their social class. Though dress edicts had little impact on much of the working classes, who had little access to wealth allowing them to purchase new and expensive silk kimono, the merchant classes – socially impoverished but monetarily powerful – were directly hit by these laws, as changes had, over time, led them to control much of Japan's economy.Dalby, Liza. ''Geisha''. Vintage Random House, 2000. This led to the development of as an expression of the now-underground nature of the merchant classes' wealth; to obey the law was too safe, and to blatantly flout it too dangerous, leading to the rise of as both a visual dogwhistle and a neo-hierarchy within a specific societal peer group.
By too flagrant a display of his affluence, a townsman ran the risk of having his wealth confiscated. A merchant's home therefore was likely to have had an unassuming exterior, yet to have been full of treasures. He might have worn a sober, plain wool kimono – with an exquisite silk lining. Opulence was channeled into subtle details.
In this way, both the samurai and lower working classes were considered
devoid Dark Lunacy is an Italian melodic death metal band with symphonic metal influences. From the beginnings (1997) to ''Devoid'' (2000) The band formed in early 1997, when singer Mike and guitarist Enomys first met. Their first self-produced EP, e ...
of , with the former having to display wealth with no subtlety as a form of social dominance, and the latter having no access to any kind of opulence, and no choice to appear as anything but impoverished. Despite this, individual warriors considered to be upper class came to be depicted commonly as embodying , typically through ideals of a clear, stylish manner and blunt, unwavering directness, regardless of circumstance, heartbreak or individual feeling; stories of rogue warriors choosing duty () over often pained and tormented personal feelings () became popular stories in
kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is thought to ...
, a form of theatre popular within the merchant classes.
Geisha {{Culture of Japan, Traditions, Geisha {{nihongo, Geisha, 芸者 ({{IPAc-en, ˈ, ɡ, eɪ, ʃ, ə; {{IPA-ja, ɡeːɕa, lang), also known as {{nihongo, , 芸子, geiko (in Kyoto and Kanazawa) or {{nihongo, , 芸妓, geigi, are a class of female ...
also came to be seen as , not just for their contrasting and subdued appearance in the face of flashier courtesans, but for their reputation as unwaveringly loyal; a popular name for the pleasure quarters, the (), described courtesans (the beautiful but fleeting flowers) and geisha (the resilient willow, often bending in fierce weather but never snapping) as contrasting elements, with geisha embodying loyalty to their patrons. This concept came to embody geisha so entirely that rival political factions often patronised entirely different geisha quarters, with the geisha of each staying loyal to their customers. Geisha, alongside rogue warriors, also became the common subject of many kabuki plays revolving around duty versus one's own feelings. The term became widespread in modern intellectual circles through the book '' The Structure of Iki'' (1930) by
Kuki Shūzō Kuki can refer to: Locations * Kuki, Isfahan, a village in Isfahan Province, Iran * Kuki, Saitama, a city in Japan Peoples and culture * Kuki, or Thadou people, an ethnic tribe native to northeastern India (also Burma, where they are called ''Ch ...
.


Interpretation

The term is commonly used in both conversation and writing, having had a lasting effect on the development and continuation of Japanese aesthetics in the modern day, despite not necessarily being considered exclusive of other categories of Japanese aesthetic concepts and ideals, such as . is considered to be an expression of carefully calculated simplicity, the ideal being that a mundane appearance would be considered in the context of the viewer's understanding of the effort undertaken to achieve the result. also encompasses ideals of spontaneity and originality, with it being considered stylish to appear spontaneous and carefree, even if the efforts undertaken to appear as such happen to be considerably involved; a lack of self-consciousness, and being considered naturally, casually chic are core concepts of being considered . Though the nature of may be considered the antithesis of other Japanese aesthetics such as
kawaii ''Kawaii'' is the culture of cuteness in Japan. It can refer to items, humans and non-humans that are charming, vulnerable, shy and childlike.Kerr, Hui-Ying (23 November 2016)"What is kawaii – and why did the world fall for the ‘cult of cu ...
, at times, may exhibit traits of other aesthetics in a direct and unabashed manner. is not used to describe natural phenomena, but may be expressed in an appreciation of natural beauty, or of nature of human beings. The writings of author
Murakami Haruki is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been bestsellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for his ...
(born 1949) are considered to be through their clear and unflinching writing style. In contrast, author
Kawabata Yasunari was a Japanese novelist and short story writer whose spare, lyrical, subtly shaded prose works won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, the first Japanese author to receive the award. His works have enjoyed broad international appeal a ...
(1899–1972) is considered, through his more poetic style focusing on the interior "complex" of his characters, to be more closely aligned with the aesthetic ideal of , displaying that the concept of is strongly tied to stylistic tendencies.


The indefinite ideal of can be said to reference a highly cultivated but not necessarily solemn sensibility. The sensibility resists being construed within the context of overly specific rules about what could be considered as vulgar or uncouth.Gallaher, John. ''Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance, and Art.'' p. 8. and are considered synonymous in some situations, but exclusively refers to persons, while can also refer to situations/objects. In both ideals, the property of refinement is not academic in nature. sometimes involves excessive obsession and cultural (but not academic) pedantry, and in this case, it differs from , which will not be obsessive. is used, for example, for knowing how to properly appreciate (eat) Japanese cuisines (

sushi is a Japanese cuisine, Japanese dish of prepared , usually with some sugar and salt, accompanied by a variety of , such as seafood, often raw, and vegetables. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the one key ingredient is " ...
,
tempura is a typical Japanese dish usually consisting of seafood, meat and vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. The dish was introduced by the Portuguese in Nagasaki through fritter-cooking techniques in the 16th century. The word ''tem ...
,
soba Soba ( or , "buckwheat") is a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat. The noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or hot in a noodle soup. The variety ''Nagano soba'' includes wheat flour. In Japan, soba noodles can be found i ...
etc.). (and some -style) can be transferred from person to person in form of "tips." As is more focused in knowledge, it may be considered superficial from point of view, since cannot be easily attained by learning.


is the antonym of . , literally "non-", is synonymous to .


In the

Kamigata Kamigata (上方) was the colloquial term for a region today called Kansai (''kan'', barrier; ''sai'', west) in Japan. This large area encompasses the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. The term is used particularly when discussing elements of Edo ...
or
Kansai The or the , lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshu, Honshū. The region includes the Prefectures of Japan, prefectures of Nara Prefecture, Nara, Wakayama Prefecture, Wakayama, Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Osaka Prefectur ...
area, the ideal of is prevalent. is also represented by the
kanji are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...
. The sense of is similar to but not identical, reflecting various regional differences. The contexts of their usages are also different.


See also

*


References


Further reading

* Gallagher, John. (2003). ''Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance, and Art''. New York:
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. * Heidegger, Martin. (1982). "A Dialogue on Language: between a Japanese and an Inquirer." ''On The Way to Language''. San Francisco:
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. (paper) * Nara, Hiroshi. (2004). ''The Structure of Detachment: the Aesthetic Vision of Kuki Shūzō with a translation of "Iki no kōzō."'' Honolulu:
University of Hawaii Press A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
. ;
OCLC 644791079
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005)
''Japan encyclopedia.''
Cambridge:
Harvard University Press Harvard University Press (HUP) is a publishing house established on January 13, 1913, as a division of Harvard University, and focused on academic publishing. It is a member of the Association of American University Presses. After the retirem ...
.
OCLC 58053128
* Pincus, Leslie. (1996). ''Authenticating Culture in Imperial Japan:
Kuki Shūzō Kuki can refer to: Locations * Kuki, Isfahan, a village in Isfahan Province, Iran * Kuki, Saitama, a city in Japan Peoples and culture * Kuki, or Thadou people, an ethnic tribe native to northeastern India (also Burma, where they are called ''Ch ...
and the Rise of National Aesthetics.'' Berkeley:
University of California Press The University of California Press, otherwise known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. It was founded in 1893 to publish scholarly and scientific works by faculty ...
. (paper) * Seigle, Cecila Segawa. (1993). ''Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan.'' Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. (paper) * Botz-Bornstein, Thorsten. (1997) 'Iki, Style, Trace: Shuzo Kuki and the Spirit of Hermeneutics' in ''Philosophy East and West'' Vol. 47, Nr. 4, October 1997, p. 554-580.


External links

*
"An Aesthetics of Everyday Life: Modernism and a Japanese popular aesthetic ideal, Iki"
A modern approach towards *

A classic theory of {{Japanese social terms Concepts in aesthetics Japanese aesthetics Words and phrases with no direct English translation Japanese words and phrases