Category: PhilosophyPart of speech: phraseDifficulty: Advanced
物の哀れ
/mono no aware/Roman
English meaning: Mono no Aware (Pathos of Things)
Japanese Definition
(日本語)物の哀れとは、物事の無常への切なくも感謝に満ちた気づきを表す日本の美的概念である。18世紀の国学者・本居宣長によって理論化され、散りゆく桜の美しさにその真髄が象徴されている。
English Definition
A Japanese aesthetic concept describing the bittersweet awareness of the impermanence of things, tinged with both sadness and appreciation. Associated with the Heian period literary critic Motoori Norinaga (18th century), it is epitomized by the beauty of falling cherry blossoms.
Example
“散る桜の美しさは「物の哀れ」の典型的な表現です。”
In English: “The beauty of falling cherry blossoms is a typical expression of mono no aware.”
Synonyms
- 無常感
- 哀愁
Literary Heritage
“自己をならふといふは、自己をわするるなり”
/Jiko wo narau to iu wa, jiko wo wasureru nari/
“To study the self is to forget the self.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useLoading images…
Video
Language information
- Language
- 日本語
- Japanese
- Script
- Kana+Han
- Family
- Japonic
- Speakers
- 125M