The Way of Shibumi

"How does one achieve this Shibumi , sir?"

"One does not achieve it, one ... discovers it."

And so Nikko Hel, the hero of Trevanian's master piece of espionage & Go esoterics is introduced by his mentor General Kishikawa-san to this Japanese aesthetic of understated refinement.

The General elaborates:

" SHIBUMI has to do with great refinement underlying common place appearances. It is a statement so correct that it does not have to be bold,so poignant it does not have to be pretty,so true it does not have to be real.Shibumi is understanding,rather than knowledge.Eloquent silence, In demeanour, it is modesty without pudency.In art, where the spirit of shibumi takes the form of Sabi, it is elegant simplicity,articulate brevity. In philosophy, where shibumi emerges as Wabi,it is spiritual tranquility that is not passive; it is being without the angst of becoming. And in the personality of a man it is  ... how does one say it? Authority without domination? Something like that."

I read this novel 20 years ago and became a big fan of Trevanian the elusive hermetic novelist, who because of his reclusive life in the Basque Pyrenees mountains became a bit of a legend in the publishing world. 

I like many others, eager to consume intelligent cross cultural novels, was introduced to this Japanese concept of Shibumi by Trevanian in this very book, and it struck a deep spiritual cord in me. There is no English word that relates to it, as far as i know, and so one is left expecting the concept to return to you later in life. Since then i have referenced this word a number of times particularly in relationship to Wabi Sabi in design. (I will post more on that soon.) 

I was recently asked (as a disciple of aesthetics, by one who is committed to beauty & harmony) how i can remain content in less inspiring surroundings. 

I didn't have a ready answer. 

I can only think that i do occasionally discover this elusive Shibumi right under my nose - where ever i am. And then i might just as well be in a Palace.

I am enjoying re reading this book for many reasons, but now i really appreciate what a fine writer Trevanian was. He died in 2005. His Web site is on links.

Maybe he discovered this Shibumi.