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"YUGEN IS TO WATCH THE SUN SINK BEHIND A FLOWER-CLAD HILL, TO WANDER ON AND ON IN A HUGE FOREST WITHOUT THOUGHT OF RETURN, TO STAND UPON THE SHORE AND GAZE AFTER A BOAT THAT DISAPPEARS BEHIND DISTANT ISLANDS, TO CONTEMPLATE THE FLIGHT OF WILD GEESE SEEN AND LOST AMONG THE CLOUDS." - Zeami Motokiyo

What is the definition of yugen?

Yugen is an important concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics.

Japanese aesthetics is a set of ancient ideals that include “Wabi” (transient and stark beauty), “Sabi” (the beauty of natural aging), and “yugen.” These ideals, and others, underpin much of Japanese cultural and aesthetic norms.

Yugen is an awareness of the Universe that triggers emotional responses too deep and powerful for words.

It is said to mean “A profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe… and the sad beauty of human suffering".