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Okakura Kakuzō
37quotes
Okakura Kakuzō: A Life of Art, Philosophy, and Cultural Exchange
Full Name and Common Aliases
Okakura Kakuzō (1862-1913) was a renowned Japanese art historian, museum administrator, and philosopher. He is also known as Kenkyūdō Okakura or simply Kakuzō.
Birth and Death Dates
Okakura was born on February 14, 1862, in Yokohama, Japan, and passed away on April 18, 1913, in Washington D.C., USA.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Okakura was a Japanese national by birth, but his life's work was deeply influenced by the cultural exchange between East and West. He was a scholar of art history, philosophy, and culture, serving as the director of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' Asiatic Department from 1906 until his death in 1913.
Early Life and Background
Okakura grew up in a family of modest means, but his parents valued education and encouraged his interest in art and literature. He began studying English at the age of six and was later sent to study in England, where he developed a deep appreciation for Western culture. However, he also maintained strong ties to Japanese tradition and sought to bridge the cultural divide between East and West.
Major Accomplishments
Okakura's contributions to art history and philosophy are significant. He is best known for his book "The Ideals of the East, which argues that Eastern cultures possess unique spiritual values that can enrich Western societies." This work sparked a global debate on the merits of Eastern thought and culture, influencing generations of thinkers.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Okakura's notable works include:
The Book of Tea: A classic on Japanese tea ceremonies, highlighting their significance in Japanese culture.
The Awakening of Japan: A historical account of Japan's transformation into a modern nation-state.
* The Ideals of the East and West: A comparative analysis of Eastern and Western philosophies.
Impact and Legacy
Okakura's impact on art history, philosophy, and cultural exchange is profound. He played a key role in shaping the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' Asiatic Department into one of the world's leading institutions for Asian art. His work continues to inspire artists, scholars, and thinkers worldwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Okakura is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful writings on Japanese culture, philosophy, and art history. His quotes offer valuable perspectives on the significance of tradition, the importance of cultural exchange, and the role of spirituality in human life.
Quotes by Okakura Kakuzō
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The art of today is that which really belongs to us: it is our own reflection. In condemning it we but condemn ourselves.
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Translation is always a treason, and as a Ming author observes, can at its best be only the reverse side of a brocade- all the threads are there, but not the subtlety of colour or design.
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It is not the accumulation of extraneous knowledge, but the realization of the self within, that constitutes true progress.
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Teaism is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order.
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Our mind is the canvas on which the artists lay their colour; their pigments are our emotions; their chiaroscuro the light of joy, the shadow of sadness. The masterpiece is of ourselves, as we are of the masterpiece.
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The ancient sages never put their teachings in a systematic form. They spoke in paradoxes, for they were afraid of uttering half-truths. They began by talking like fools and ended by making their hearers wise.
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In Japan, I took part in a tea ceremony. You go into a small room, tea is served, and that’s it really, except that everything is done with so much ritual and ceremony that a banal daily event is transformed into a moment of communion with the universe.
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