japanese philosophy

Wabi-sabi - sounds good to me

@JudyEv (384868)

Rockingham, Australia

June 23, 2026 9:35pm CST

My husband is in several photography online sites. One has a challenge each week and this week’s is ‘wabi-sabi’. We’d never heard of the word. Have you? Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy based on three principal ideas. These are acknowledging that things are flawed, things change and things are never fully finished. So we would do well to respond kindly to imperfection – in objects, in others and in ourselves. Cracks in a pot might be mended and incorporated as part of the object’s character rather than it being discarded as worthless. By embracing imperfection and recognising that changes are bound to occur, we can hopefully reduce anxiety and stress. Sounds good to me. Vince’s entry in the challenge is a photo of a black cat ornament which has been handed down through his family. It has several flaws and a repair or two but it still has a place in our lives. The photo is mine, not the one he took for the challenge.

19 people like this

21 responses

@LadyDuck (504699)

• Italy

24 Jun

This is a philosophy ant sounds really good to me too. This cat is beautiful despite some imperfections.

4 people like this

show previous comments

@LadyDuck (504699)

• Italy

25 Jun

@JudyEv It's a pretty cat.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

It's seems a very sensible philosophy. I'm glad you like the cat.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@snowy22315 (210742)

• United States

24 Jun

I liked that philosophy and the cat.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I could go with the philosophy too.

1 person likes this

@rsa101 (41451)

• Philippines

24 Jun

That philosophy sounds very Buddhist to me. I can generally relate to it, as Japan deeply incorporates Buddhist practices into daily life. I find it an interesting subject to explore, especially since I have a strong interest in studying Buddhist philosophies.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I think it is a Buddhist belief. Buddhism has a lot of good things about it.

@AmbiePam (122981)

• United States

24 Jun

I like the idea, and I really like the black cat ornament.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

The idea makes a lot of sense. Why should everything have to be perfect? It takes a lot of pressure off if you just go with the flow and don't get flustered about things.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (35759)

• United Kingdom

24 Jun

Like @Jehanne I had heard of it in relation to "Kintsugi" . I have broken pieces of a bowl here waiting for me to have a go at that!

3 people like this

show previous comments

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I have a couple of Beswick horses that have been repaired. I can feel better about them now. lol

2 people like this

@Jehanne (2273)

• Philippines

25 Jun

@JudyEv yes! you should. You know back then, I used to believe broken pieces can't be restored & it's a badluck to keep it. Now, we can finally put at ease.

2 people like this

@Jehanne (2273)

• Philippines

24 Jun

@Fleura now you have the very reason to restore/repair it.

2 people like this

Show more comments

@Jehanne (2273)

• Philippines

24 Jun

I heard of that and I've learned so much in Japanese Philosophy. Also "Kintsugi" which is deeply connected to the philosophy Wabi-sabi ©Photo I grab it from cosmosbyrudra post on IG

3 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I hadn't heard of Kintsugi till now. Thanks for introducing me to it.

1 person likes this

@Jehanne (2273)

• Philippines

25 Jun

@JudyEv there's a lot of Japanese Philosophy that you may like. I, as well just started knowing it first from "IKIGAI" From it I've started to search & learned about Wabi-sabi, Kintsugi and more. You are very welcome.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (137490)

• Marion, Ohio

24 Jun

I like that idea

2 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

It makes sense, doesn't it? The ideas appealed to me.

1 person likes this

@moffittjc (129151)

• Gainesville, Florida

24 Jun

oh thank God there is a term that describes my life! Now I don’t feel so bad! Lol That’s a cute little cat ornament in the photo!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

Now you can be happy just being happy, imperfect you!

1 person likes this

@moffittjc (129151)

• Gainesville, Florida

30 Jun

@JudyEv That sounds like a perfect plan to me! I’ll just be happy and content knowing that I’m not perfect and never will be. Sure takes a lot of pressure off! Lol

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Jul

@moffittjc Yep, we can leave all our worries behind. lol

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@sol_cee (39033)

• Philippines

24 Jun

Yes, I've heard of it. It reminds me of kintsugi - repairing broken pottery with gold and celebrating the imperfections. And I thought it’s a real cat

2 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

It seems closely related to kintsugi. I've never heard of either of those terms before. It's a good model of a cat.

@Traceyjayne (12204)

• United Kingdom

24 Jun

I really like that idea …..I had not heard of wabi-sabi before .

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I hadn't either but it makes a lot of sense.

@Traceyjayne (12204)

• United Kingdom

25 Jun

@JudyEv oh yes, it certainly does make a lot of sense ….

1 person likes this

@Deepizzaguy (123330)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

24 Jun

That is an excellent idea for all of us to embrace our imperfections.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I think so too. We don't need to worry that we are not perfect.

1 person likes this

@Deepizzaguy (123330)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

25 Jun

@JudyEv You are right.

1 person likes this

@teamfreak16 (44410)

• Denver, Colorado

24 Jun

Sounds like a philosophy more people should adopt.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

It makes a lot of sense and would take some of the stress out of our lives.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21719)

• London, England

26 Jun

Way back when, I used t read a lot about Japan and it has been a while since I've come across Wabi-Sabi

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

27 Jun

It's completely new to me but sounds such a good philosophy. It would take a lot of pressure off having to try to be perfect.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun

@Ronrybs I wish I'd learnt about it 50 years ago. I might have had a much less stressful life! lol

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21719)

• London, England

27 Jun

@JudyEv My whole life philosophy!

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@valherma00 (4556)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

27 Jun

very nice cat and wish luck to Vince. it is a nice philosophy. a little bit contradictory cause, they seem as a nation that strive to be perfect.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun

Maybe the benefits of wabi-sabi need to be published more widely.

1 person likes this

@valherma00 (4556)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

8 Jul

@JudyEv for sure.let the word gets spreaded

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (170081)

• United States

25 Jun

Good philosophy to have and a good picture.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

It's a very sensible philosophy I think. We are fond of this old black cat.

@RasmaSandra (99074)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

24 Jun

Best of luck to him on the challenge,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

He has only missed one or two in about two years.

1 person likes this

@JESSY3236 (22428)

• United States

14 Jul

cute cat ornament. I like that philosophy.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Jul

That cat is now an heirloom.

@Shiva49 (28509)

• Singapore

24 Jun

Interesting philosophy though the Japanese are known to be perfectionists! It is wise to accept people with warts and all and no two people are same. Nice photo.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

Everyone has flaws and we need to accept that and accept the flaws in ourselves.

1 person likes this

@thelme55 (79755)

• Germany

24 Jun

That is a good philosophy. That cat photo is beautiful.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Jun

I thought it was a good philosophy too. I might read up more about it as it makes a lot of sense. I'm glad you like the photo.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (223739)

• United States

27 Jun

Sounds very usable. Love the cat.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (384868)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun

I can understand that the philosophy would be a good one to embrace.

1 person likes this