I found the description of the beauty found in the shadows in Japanese homes, especially in the picture alcove, very interesting. The Japanese have always had a close connection with nature, so it isn’t surprising that they would appreciate the play of fading sunlight on the walls of their homes in the way Westerners get pleasure from pictures on our walls.       

 The shadows in the alcove give it a mysterious quality that draws your eye in and the hanging scroll and flower arrangement serve to give the shadows depth and add to the feeling. The overall impression is one of tranquility. There is a certain harmony to the alcove, which Tanizaki points out is due to the balance of shadow and light. It is true, that the alcove would lose its appeal if it were brightly lit.

I found the explanation about the connection between darkness and the use of gold in lacquer ware, fabrics, priests’ apparel, and as wall coverings insightful. These are often gaudy in bright light. I never thought about the fact they were all designed before electric lighting was available. They would appear more subtle and rich in a darker environment. The fact that gold was used for its reflective property was also pretty clever.

Questions:

How would inventions, gadgets, appliances, etc. be different if the East had modernized before the West?

Was the Japanese preoccupation with the “sheen of antiquity” a sign of a backward looking as opposed to a forward looking mentality? Once the Japanese left behind the samurai culture and modernized, they became quite adept at inventing.