Introducing the coolest Japanese phrases, as chosen by the Japanese people themselves.
Get them tattooed, adopt them as your motto, or show them off to everyone!
- 信義(shingi)
- 不屈(fukutsu)
- 覚悟(kakugo)
- 闘志(toshi)
- 飛翔(hisho)
- 黎明(reimei)
- 仁愛(jinai)
- 風雅(fuga)
- 幽玄(yugen)
- 久遠(kuon)
幽玄(yugen)
■The Meaning of “幽玄(yugen)”
A profound beauty beyond sight
A quiet, lingering resonance beyond words
Mystery, shadow, aura, the beauty of negative space
Not necessarily flashy or dazzling,
But a beauty that leaves a deep, lasting impression within the heart.
■The Origin of “幽玄(yugen)”
Originally a Chinese philosophical and Buddhist term:
幽 (yū): profound and tranquil
玄 (gen): mysterious and unfathomable
Upon arriving in Japan, it evolved uniquely into “the beauty of unspoken lingering emotion.”
It took root through this progression:
Heian period → Waka poetry
Kamakura period → Noh theater
Muromachi period and beyond → Core of Japanese art
Specifically, Zeami (the great master of Noh) defined yūgen as the highest artistic achievement.
