Chapter 1  <PHOTO 30->
The reason why we developed "Two Dimensional Design" 

I think we have mainly two reasons why these kinds of 2DD were developed into
so beautiful an art. One is the influence of "Zen" Buddhist culture as the cultural (emotional)
back ground. And the other one is that there are a lot of rules associated with a Japanese
tatami room historically as a technical (practical) reason.  



"Zen" spirits

In Japan we have had Zen spirits for long time, so we have respect for keeping quietness,
concentration mind (meditation) and being simple.
<PHOTO 31.32.30-02.33>
It is quite contrastive to Western architecture which is very decorative. Style and worth
of Japanese castle or residence were based on the "thick silence, quiet solemnity and
keeping tension". That the spirits of Zen and spirits of silence reflected architectural design,
would be one of the reasons why we developed two dimensional design so much instead
of three-dimensional design for the interior. It is still magnificent. It is not busy like a solid
design, but sensuous quietly.

Decorative western curvilinear design makes an impression like a grand orchestra music,
on the other hand, Japanese simple design which is composed by vertical and horizontal
lines seems make a rhythm like a O.O.O. These designs are like playing at a uniform pace
quietly. It was the Japanese culture at that time. 

Here is one good example "Versailles Palace" and "shugakuin-rikyu" which were
constructed almost same time. One shows the height of luxury, and the other the extreme
simplicity. Though they are at the two extremes, we cannot say that Japanese simplicity is
inferior esthetically to the French luxury. Today modern thought is more deeply impressed
by the profundity of beauty in simplicity.



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