The ideal of white birch and the gaze of folk art: the intersection of thought and beauty

The Ideal of Shirakaba and the Perspective of Mingei: The Intersection of Thought and Beauty

Introduction

As you walk through the birch forest, you can see that each and every tree is looking straight up at the sky.
His gaze is similar to that of literary figures who believe in their ideals.
And perhaps the idea of ​​folk art, which looked to the beauty that resides in nameless vessels and fabrics, was also looking at the same sky.

In this article, we will trace the connections between the Shirakaba School and the Mingei Movement, two philosophies that may seem different at first glance but are deeply connected.

The Shirakaba School: Literary figures who portray ideals

In 1910, Mushanokoji Saneatsu, Shiga Naoya, Arishima Takeo and others founded the magazine "Shirakaba"
He believed that "human beings are beautiful and capable of growth," and developed idealist literature that opposed naturalist literature.

• Personal dignity and inner ethics • Human elevation through art • Deep empathy for Western art (Rodin, Cezanne, etc.)

They expanded their interests beyond literature to include art, thought, and education, and sought to foster humanity through the arts.

The Mingei Movement: A Look at Nameless Beauty

The Mingei movement, which began in the late 1920s and was centered around Yanagi Muneyoshi,
The idea is that "true beauty resides in everyday tableware and fabrics made by unknown artisans."

• Beauty of utility (combination of practicality and beauty)
• Respect for handicrafts and community • Harmony with nature and respect for materials

Yanagi Muneyoshi was also a member of the Shirakaba group, and his ideas are deeply connected to the group's idealism.

The connection between the Shirakaba school and the Mingei movement

1. Human-affirming philosophy The Shirakaba school believed that "humans are good," while Mingei believed that "beauty lies in the work of human hands."
Both affirm the dignity and potential of human endeavors.
2. Fusion of art and life The Shirakaba group portrayed ideals through art, while Mingei found art in everyday life.
Both artists share the view that "beauty is not something special, but something found in everyday life."
3. Dialogue with and overcoming Western thought The Shirakaba group learned from Rodin and Cezanne, while Mingei was influenced by William Morris's Arts and Crafts movement.
However, ultimately, it has been sublimated into a uniquely Japanese aesthetic sense.

A poetic aftertaste: Between birch and vessel

When you touch the trunk of a birch tree, you feel a soft light in the cold.
When you touch Mingei pottery, you feel a deep warmth within its simplicity.
That's because both are "created by human hands and hearts."

The words of the Shirakaba school and folk art pottery.
In between there is a place where poetry and life intersect.

Conclusion: What we inherit now

The Shirakaba-ha and Mingei movement have left us with the timeless power to believe in humanity and the ability to find beauty.
The world of seasonal words and color names depicted in WABISUKE's blog is a poetic endeavor that is a perfect extension of this.