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The
Nature of Japanese Garden Art - Kanso
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Kanso
The
second principle, Kanso, relates to
basic simplicity and the elimination
of the ornate. Things expressing simplicity
are by their nature truthful and reserved.
Kanso involves a sense of cleanliness,
things which are fresh and neat, frank
but never over-embellished. Things
of Kanso nature are never florid in
style.
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Moon window in an endless circle with
the simple flower arrangement, Ikebana,
in a tea master style.
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It should be noted that each principle could
be contrasted with its western counterpart
as in the comparison of Fukinsei but for
greater brevity the other principles are
defined only in their eastern sense.
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The Ryoanji Garden in the simplicity
of stones and gravel only, without
flowers or large plants.
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Bush fence from the Katsura Palace -
Function and beauty in simple expression.
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The
Zen Principles which relate to the Niwa
are presented in the following pages:
| Fukinsei
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asymmetry
or dissymmetry |
| Kanso |
simplicity |
| Koko
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austerity,
maturity, bare essentials, venerable |
| Shizen |
naturalness,
absence of pretense |
| Yugen
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subtly
profound, suggestion rather than revelation |
| Datsuzoku |
unworldliness,
transcendence of conventional |
| Seijaku |
quiet,
calm, silent |
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