Okay, okay, so I know that C*R-h seems to have gone wabisabi potty at the moment, but I just have to show you this run of photos which I believe to be some really good instances of it.

The first is the classic 桜・cherry blossom, which is so wabisabi to the Japanese, it’s untrue. As is being discussed in my Japanese aesthetics mini-series at the moment, wabisabi tells beauty as something that is ever-changing and flowing, and something that is seen to gain more beauty through time, with patina. For the Japanese, 花見・cherry blossom viewing is a massive event and is savoured so much as the blossoms are not around for long (ever-changing), and, as they blossom, they gain beauty (patina). In much the same way, the autumn leaves falling from trees embody the same parts of wabisabi.

This selection is not natural in anyway, however it greatly embodies the wabisabi ideology as the sign is weathered and battered, not crisp and perfect and new. In this way, the image has gained character, and appeal, through patina.

お茶・Green tea is a beautifully delicate beverage and is drunk in Japan by the gallon load, with ever increasing demand now coming from all corners of the globe, however, it is not the tea that embodies wabisabi (although it could probably be argued that it does), rather it is the vessels in which it is held and from which it is drank. As you can see, the cup is not perfect in its structure, as one side bulges slightly more than the other. Also, the teapot, probably one that will be in the family for generations, has a slightly skewed handle, again imperfect in its nature.

These bamboo shoots, much in the same vein as the cherry blossoms, embody wabisabi perfectly. Bamboo grows at a rate of knots and is rugged, mighty and statuesque in nature. Left to grow like this, it can become very overpowering and domineering on the scenery. It can also be put to many uses, again, lapping up the inner-meanings of wabisabi.

The final picture is my most favourite, and for me, sums up wabisabi perfectly (or should that be imperfectly?) The archway is not straight, in fact both the path and the structure are bent in their make-up. The destination is unknown and is hidden seductively around a corner. The length of the path could represent the path of life through which we all travel, and the unevenness of the path could represent the pitfalls and the celebrations of life along its way.

This metaphor for life is perfect for wabisabi.