In Japan, a country known for its creativity, art and concepts can be classified into a category called aesthetics. Aesthetics is the philosophical approach to art. (Basinski, 2009) He is also concerned with his beauty and value. So there are different approaches to art and it depends on each nation. Every country has its own traditions and culture which boils down to a certain view of different aspects of life, and one of these views concerns art. Back in Japan, it is very important to understand how the Japanese perceive art and what were they influenced by in order to know and understand the concepts they used to produce "art". Many say that Japanese aesthetics and art have not only been influenced by Buddhists and Chinese, but also by the Western world. (Basinski, 2009) Since then, over the centuries, Japan has interacted more with foreign members, giving rise to a more diverse art. The word “art” can be translated as Katachi in Japan, which basically means “form and design”. (Basinski, 2009) Therefore, it can be understood that art is considered somehow alive, that it has a goal of functionality and a certain spiritual simplicity. One of the artistic concepts used in Japan that this article will discuss is “Yugen (幽玄)”, which is part of Japanese aesthetics. Additionally, this article will explain the symbolic meaning behind the name of this concept and where does it come from. Additionally, it will clearly analyze this concept and discuss how it has been influenced by Japanese culture through photography/painting and theater. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayOne of the most important concepts in Japanese aesthetics is undoubtedly Yūgen. The word can be interpreted depending on the context. For example, some philosophical texts written in China say that Yūgen means “profound” and/or “mysterious”. (Wool, 2012) Similarly, Japanese waka poetry suggests that Yugen means something “vague.” (Wool, 2012) From this we can somehow understand that this concept is about art that is unclear or difficult to understand. Additionally, it is likely an art that has different interpretations and viewpoints and can be controversial when analyzed. In other words, an infinite and unknowable mystery to our little human brain. Yugen therefore initiates our curiosity. Zeami, Motokiyo, a Japanese beautician, once wrote that Yūgen clearly means "a deep and mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe...and the sad beauty of human suffering." (Wool, 2012) From this quote, it can be said that Yūgen is a type of art that includes a nature that is difficult to understand and fall in love with. It's nature in amazing moments that we can't find words to describe. To wrap this all up in one sentence, Yūgen shows the existence of true beauty, whether it is in nature or not, with just a few words or brushstrokes that can explain what is happening. (Basinski, 2009) This is because life is boring when all the facts are known. The silence found in most of Yugen's art forms is the key element of the work as it allows us to search for the essence or heart of the subject. (Park, 2008) This will awaken many inner thoughts and feelings. This concept believes that the clearer a work of art is, the less interesting it is. Looking at the name of this concept, we can notice that Yūgen made a compromise based on two characters (in the Japanese language). The two characters are 幽 and 玄. (Park, 2008) The first character 幽which is the yū part of the word, means “shadow” and “darkness”. (Park, 2008) On the other hand, the other character 玄 which is the generator of the word, means “darkness” and “blackness”. (Park, 2008) So from the name of this concept we understand that it has something to do with mystery and unclear art. Yugen comes in different art forms. Photography, painting, theater and poetry are types of art that have used the concept of Yūgen. In photography, this concept is noticeable with details that make you take a second to observe. Innovate so that the viewer starts thinking, because photography is generally blurry. Usually, a natural scene that contains depth and mystery is widely used to depict Yūgen. For example, here are two photographs that use the concept of Yūgen. The first photograph shows many of Yūgen's features. First we have the depth of the ocean to the birds flying in the sky to the rocks at the bottom. The rocks in the back are covered or hidden by fog, which creates a dark and mysterious feeling due to the fact that we do not know the exact shape, size and what they contain. The viewer stops for a few seconds to study the photo which is a piece of beauty and tranquility. On the other hand, the second photo also uses Yugen's concept. He uses this concept through the effect of shadows and darkness which gives it a nice classic feel. Additionally, there is depth in the photo. The mountains in the back lack detail and are solid black, giving it a mysterious feeling since we don't have a clear understanding of what it actually looks like. The photographs capture a precious moment, and when the concept of Yugen is added, these moments become mystical and full of elegant beauty. Photographs that use this concept are said to somehow reveal the mystery of the world for a very brief moment. On the other hand, paintings that use Yugen also follow similar steps or notes as photographs. The next two paintings of Japanese art focus more on the mysterious traits that Yugen is famous for. The first painting is made by the great Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. They call him “The Smoke Dragon”. (Spacey, 2012) The painting initially has depth, particularly with the volcanic mountain and the smoke behind it. Moreover, the mysterious part of this painting lies in the smoke which rises in the background. What is mysterious is the fact that we do not know the real source that produces this smoke. (Spacey, 2012) It could be another volcanic mountain or a forest fire. The fact that there are many options and interpretations for this painting gives it a sense of mystery and engages the viewer's brain. According to Zeami Motokiyo, an actor, Yugen can also be seen as a sad human suffering. Looking at the second painting we can see this clearly. The use of the color red gives the painting a feeling of anger and danger. Additionally, the color red represents blood. Serious and crazy faces melt into this ocean of red, pouring out sad emotions. This creates a feeling of darkness and mystery. It is because we do not know the reason for the suffering of these human faces. On the other hand, the use of color and variety of shapes gave this painting a sense of depth. The concept of Yugen is widely seen in traditional theaters throughout Japan. Yugen was born from Noh theater. Zeami Motokiyo used Yugen's concept to establish the aesthetic principles of art. (Tsubaki, 1971) He first inherited this concept from poetry where it was first calledyojo meaning harmonic. (Tsubaki, 1971) He used this concept as a central idea for the rest of his plays and developed it further. He wanted the concept to represent the beauty of gentle grace. Additionally, he combined the concept of Yugen with other concepts already used in Noh theater, just like; monomaniac and hana. (Tsubaki, 1971) He did it out of respect for his late father. At some point, the Yugen became more than a gentle grace on something called Sabi. Sabi according to Zeami “is the serene simplicity of the elderly or the feeling of quiet solitude”. (Tsubaki, 1971) Yugen has never been appreciated in the West, so no other concept competes with it or parallels it, making Yugen the key existence of Noh theater. The reason why Yugen was very successful in the theater and still is is that the artists were capable of feeling both and more than the scholars and performers. Noh theater plays responded to both the insubstantiality of natural form and beauty. They tend to express an idea found in Taoism and Buddhism. (Tsubaki, 1971 According to Zeami, Yugen in the theater is acquired by: the word comes from the language of the nobility, the music is found in the fluid movement of the song; in the dance it appears when the silhouette and the gestures of the dancer are full of grace in acting, it is achieved when the actor plays with taste and refinement. Moreover, if the actor plays the role of an aristocrat, he must dress as realistically as possible. , if he is portraying a humble person, he should dress like this to simply suggest the role (Tsubaki, 1971) Zeami says that Yugen suggests that any actor's performance should be colorful and bright Besides everything. that, there is a certain type of speech that follows the concept of Yugen The actors' speeches must be delivered with "untranslatable words" (Tsubaki, 1971). Yugen, who is the mysterious grace Thus, by pronouncing untranslatable terms the actors. a kind of confusion in the audience, allowing them, at the same time, to initiate their thinking about what the actor wanted to say. After all, Yugen is all about curiosity to understand something that is not understood directly. Thus, Zeami's plays required logical analysis, which made them increasingly interesting and stimulating for the audience. Along with the plays, the actors recite many poems which also follow the concept of Yugen. These poems add a graceful atmosphere and a unique addition to the room. A poem containing the concept Yugen is usually composed of one word compressed from several meanings. A Yugen poem is when the depth of feelings is exhausted but not expressed and when the words are too few, the poem expresses the feelings of the individual. (Tsubaki, 1971) A poem should have approximately thirty-one syllables. (Tsubaki, 1971) Fujiwara Teika (1162-1241) was a famous poet who adopted the concept of Yugen. He was more inclined towards quality, grace and heavenly charm. Her poems evoke feelings of gentleness and elegance. (Tsubaki, 1971) A philosopher named Sangoki once explained that poems using Yugen usually deal with the theme of love. In other words, Yugen was considered, in poetry, as a quality of love. (Tsubaki, 1971) It was through poetry that Yugen reached a point where it was used in daily life by the public. This term was used to praise something beautiful, elegant and tasteful. The following is part of a poem written by Zeami Motokiyo. "Watching the sun set behind a flowery hill. Walking through an immense forest without thinking of returning. Holdon the shore and contemplate a boat disappearing behind distant islands. . To contemplate the flight of wild geese seen and lost among the clouds And, the subtle shadows of bamboo on bamboo. (Tsubaki, 1971) This piece of poetry is considered a Yugen for many reasons. One is that it emphasizes the beauty of nature. Additionally, the poem contains a mysterious grace. Some key terms that indicate this are: without thinking of returning, disappears behind the islands, lost among the clouds and shadows of the bamboos. Finally, the term Yugen has seen improvements and drastic changes throughout the play and poetic scenes. However, no matter how much its key meaning has changed. Just like the rest of the art forms, Yugen is widely used in architecture. Through the filtration of space and the means of bringing in light in a mystical way, Yugen gave architecture a new meaning/step in Japan and other Asian countries. In Japan, you don't just open a window to let the light in, but even with this process, you use art. Because for them to light a sign of purification and if it enters in certain ways it will create a peaceful atmosphere in the room. Additionally, light makes the room more welcoming and energetic. The following examples greatly define the process by which Yugen forces the mind to pass, to wander, and to look within. It's like looking towards an outdoor garden, it doesn't tell the viewer how and what to feel, but it simply guides the viewer towards an introspective state of mind. This building is located in Hiroshima and overlooks a street where many cars pass. (DesignBlog, 2013) In order to achieve a feeling of privacy and tranquility, a virtual garden and an optical glass facade were placed on the street side of the building. You can see the garden from every room and the peaceful, silent scene of passing cars. Sunlight penetrating through the glass creates a beautiful light pattern. (DesignBlog, 2013) When it rains, raindrops hitting the skylight manifest water patterns on the entryway floor. Additionally, light filtered through the trees in the virtual garden sparkles on the living room floor. This allows residents to enjoy this mystical change of light throughout the day and live consciously of the changing seasons. (DesignBlog, 2013)A facade made of a few blocks of pure glass was installed. Pure glass blocks effectively insulate noise and create an open, clearly articulated garden. The aim of glass casting is to produce glass with extremely high transparency, which is the raw material for optical glass. (DesignBlog, 2013)The facade was so large that it could not stand upright if built by laying rows of glass blocks. They created holes in the glass blocks and attached them to stainless steel bolts suspended from the beam placed around the facade. (DesignBlog, 2013)The flat bar is inserted into the 50mm thick glass block to make it invisible. The result was a transparent facade seen from the garden or the street. The facade appears like a waterfall flowing downward, diffusing light and filling the air with freshness. (DesignBlog, 2013)This magnificent and elegant building – The Optical Glass House – brings together two worlds, the exterior and the interior. (DesignBlog, 2013) Sitting inside feels like you're sitting outside and vice versa. Glass blocks bring in mystical light patterns creating a peaceful and graceful atmosphere. Besides buildings, the Yugen concept is also used in teahouses. In this example, a teahouse in Hiroshima city called Mikulan was built.