The meticulousness (一丝不苟) that drives the craftsman’s spirit, has made the arts of Japan famous worldwide. But how may this traditional spirit of perfectionism, or kodawari, have wide-ranging influences on everyday life in modern Japan?
Nagasawa Rosetsu was an ancient artist who produced Five Hundred Arhats. He drew the 500 chief followers of the Buddha in a work that measures just 3cm square, roughly the size of a postage stamp. You’ll need to take out the magnifying glass (放大镜) for this one!
Back to modern-day Japan, the most well-known modern Japanese artist is Yayoi Kusama. One of her most representative works is her large-scale spotted pumpkin sculptures. Kusama has also produced many hand-painted works with a level of detail that must have taken weeks, if not months, to complete. Having suffered from a disorder for many decades, Kusama applies herself to painting detailed patterns as a kind of treatment; the repetition involved in creating the work allows her to keep control of her mind.
When did kodawari, this Japanese’s seeking of perfection and devotion to detail begin? I suppose it was even as far back as the Heian period, which began over one thousand years ago. In her The Pillow Book, the court lady Sei Shönagon took it upon herself to write lists of objects and situations that she found to be beautiful due to their perfection.
Today there are still many examples of this single-minded devotion to one’s work in Japan. You can find shops that only produce a single product, whether it be pickled vegetables, tofu, or Mochi sweets. It’s often said that at the best sushi restaurants, apprentice (学徒) chefs will often be tasked for many years with washing and cooking the rice and perfecting this skill before they are even allowed to pick up a knife to begin slicing fish.
This single-minded devotion to one’s craft, whether it be in the field of fine art and handicrafts, or at a local sushi restaurant, is surely one of the defining characteristics of Japanese culture today.
【小题1】What can we learn about Five Hundred Arhats?| A．It could reflect the artist’s artistic habits. | B．It may need great craft skills to finish it. |
| C．It was drawn on a small stamp. | D．It was made with fine details. |
| A．To treat her illness in a peaceful way. | B．To make full use of her talent for art. |
| C．To live a full life in her spare time. | D．To get instant fame as an artist. |
| A．The uniqueness of Japanese food. | B．The most successful industry in Japan. |
| C．The exact demands for apprentice chefs. | D．The popularity of craftsman spirit in Japan. |
| A．Who are Japan’s famous artists with craftsman spirit? |
| B．Craftsman spirit: a key part of Japanese culture |
| C．Japan’s food industry: the past and the present |
| D．How are Japan’s art works produced? |
