Wabi-sabi

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/wabi-sabi

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the philosophical foundation?Grounded in Buddhist tenets of impermanence (mujō), suffering (ku), and emptiness (kū)
2. What is the key aesthetic values?Embraces asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, austerity, modesty, and intimacy
3. Why do wabi-sabi objects look rough or uneven?Roughness in wabi-sabi objects shows natural texture and invites closer look, making imperfections part of the object's charm.
4. How does wabi-sabi relate to the Japanese tea ceremony?In the Japanese tea ceremony, people use humble, handmade tea bowls that may have cracks or uneven shapes, showing wabi-sabi beauty.

Mujō: The Buddhist concept of impermanence, the idea that all things are constantly changing.
Patina: A surface appearance or coating that develops on materials like metal or wood over time due to age and exposure.
Understated Elegance: A subtle and refined beauty that is not flashy or attention-grabbing.