In a world that increasingly finds fascination and inspiration in the complex beauty of Japanese culture, from its traditional art forms to its groundbreaking contributions to modern pop culture, it is easy to overlook the two-way flow of cultural exchange. Japanese thinkers, writers and artists have long drawn from a wide range of global influences, enriching their own cultural...
In a story where the threads of the past interweave with the present, few figures are as enigmatic and influential as Adelard of Bath. Imagine for a moment the dark Middle Ages, where knowledge is scarce and superstition is rife. Into this world steps a man, a scholar from England, who...
On the path to mastery, whether in martial arts, craft or any other area of learning, there is a path that goes beyond the mere acquisition of skills. This path is encapsulated in the profound Japanese concept of Shuhari, a philosophy that defines the stages of learning from strict adherence to tradition through...
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), a polymath who made significant contributions in a variety of fields including mathematics, philosophy and science, is one of the most fascinating figures in the history of intellectual thought. His many achievements include co-inventing infinitesimal calculus independently of Isaac Newton, developing the binary number system that formed the basis of modern mathematics and creating the...
Imagine a world where the crack in a teacup, the rust on a gate and the fading colors of autumn leaves are not signs of wear and tear or the end, but are celebrated as symbols of profound beauty. This is the essence of wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in the imperfect, impermanent and unfinished.
In the heart of Japan's bustling cities and tranquil countryside, there is an enduring philosophy that champions the beauty of open spaces amidst the relentless pace of life. Yutori, a term that many outside Japan may not be familiar with, represents a profound approach to life that is as relevant today as it was in the...
Perseverance through inner strength. Inner strength through mastering one's thoughts and feelings. What at first glance looks like stoicism (and could be) is in this case something that emerges in Japan's rich cultural heritage. It is about the fundamental virtue known as gaman, which is deeply rooted in the ethos of individuals and society.
Beneath the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, their petals falling with serene grace, a timeless Japanese concept whispers the profound truths of existence. Mono No Aware, the poignant awareness of the transience of things, captures the heart's response to the fleeting nature of life. This bittersweet appreciation of fleeting beauty not only characterizes the...
Dualism, the philosophical concept that postulates the existence of two fundamentally different principles or substances, has been studied in various cultural and philosophical contexts. If we compare the dualism of Anaxagoras with ancient Chinese philosophy, in particular the I-Ching (Yijing) and Daoism, we come across opposing views on the nature of reality, the relationship between the two...
Dualism, the philosophical concept that asserts the existence of two fundamentally different substances or principles, is a recurring theme in the history of philosophy. Anaxagoras, a pre-Socratic thinker, proposed a form of dualism that differed markedly from other philosophical dualisms of his time and those that emerged in the centuries that followed. By...
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