which japanese pen has the most wabi-sabi?

[turban1]

Quick introduction culled off the web on wabi-sabi, the japanese zen-related aesthetic (but by no means the only japanese aesthetic).

 

"Wabi stems from the root wa, which refers to harmony, peace, tranquillity, and balance. Generally speaking, wabi had the original meaning of sad, desolate, and lonely, but poetically it has come to mean simple, unmaterialistic, humble by choice, and in tune with nature. Someone who is perfectly herself and never craves to be anything else would be described as wabi...Sabi by itself means "the bloom of time." It connotes natural progression-tarnish, hoariness, rust-the extinguished gloss of that which once sparkled. It's the understanding that beauty is fleeting. The word's meaning has changed over time, from its ancient definition, "to be desolate," to the more neutral "to grow old." By the thirteenth century, sabi's meaning had evolved into taking pleasure in things that were old and faded."

 

It's the humble bamboo dipper (transient, natural) atop the worn stone bowl of clear water (old, natural) outside the wooden tea house. Before anyone suggests I write with a sharpened stick instead of a posh pen, if one looks at japanese gardens, they can deploy quite a lot of artifice to create such a feeling. another related japanese word is shibui, translating as astringent, like eating a ripe persimmon, a kind of semi-sweet bitterness.

 

okay, so which japanese pen best captures the spirit?

 

 

[jmkeuning]

Wow, where is the "brassings adds character" guy when you need him? That sounds like the translation

[merzig]

As I understand it, wabi-sabi also implies the idiosyncrasy and spontaneity of the handmade one-off. So maybe a custom Nakaya?

 

Or else a well-loved older pen. Maybe a Pilot Custom Sterling, that shows some patina?

[Nikolaos]

there was a great program on BBC back in March : " In search of Wabi Sabi"

http://forums.digiguide.com/topic.asp?id=29236

 

very interesting program about the concept behind it. I have acquired a lot of different Japanese pens over the past few years and if i had to pick one it would be my Sailor Susutake. To my eyes it is great interpretation of Wabi Sabi

 

Nikolaos

[Siv]

Perhaps the Nakaya negoro nuno:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/negoronuno1.jpghttp://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/negoronuno2.jpg

 

But I think this is a modern attempt to capture the aesthetic of wabi-sabi. For me, real wabi-sabi would be a pen that started off looking perfect and now looks like the negoro nuno after decades of use...

Edited July 3, 2009 by Siv

[Pen2009]

The wabi sabi concept seems interesting; but, it sounds like just looking back to the past nostalgically. Progress is a good thing and for a fountain pen, I look for perfection as I am paying good money for the goods.

[gyasko]

Perhaps the Nakaya negoro nuno:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/negoronuno1.jpghttp://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/negoronuno2.jpg

 

But I think this is a modern attempt to capture the aesthetic of wabi-sabi. For me, real wabi-sabi would be a pen that started off looking perfect and now looks like the negoro nuno after decades of use...

 

No. I think the Japanese term for this one would be hade. It's too bright for wabi. I'd never use that one in a Japanese office, at least not one in Kanto.

 

Anything that has gone through a lot of use, withstood that use, but yet also shows some marks of gainful employment can be said to have wabi. Wabi is not something that comes pre-potted in a brand.

[gyasko]

The wabi sabi concept seems interesting; but, it sounds like just looking back to the past nostalgically. Progress is a good thing and for a fountain pen, I look for perfection as I am paying good money for the goods.

 

Wabi is something that you'd get with a vintage pen anyway, and besides, the one with wabi is likely to be significantly cheaper (but a better writer).

[Siv]

No. I think the Japanese term for this one would be hade. It's too bright for wabi. I'd never use that one in a Japanese office, at least not one in Kanto.

 

Anything that has gone through a lot of use, withstood that use, but yet also shows some marks of gainful employment can be said to have wabi. Wabi is not something that comes pre-potted in a brand.

 

How about the tamenuri

 

http://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/stamep1.jpghttp://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/stamep2.jpg

[SincerelySpicy]

I would say any of the matte red over black negoro nuri urushi pieces would to some extent attempt to replicate this particular aesthetic ideal. I would also say that some of the Susutake pieces by sailor would be a good candidate as well, especially those with maki-e work that looks old and worn away.

 

 

I admit, though, that I tend to find the aesthetics of wabi-sabi more attractive when it is caused by the natural progression of the item's existence. I do acknowledge the fact that there are plenty of manufacturers that attempt to replicate the ideals of wabi sabi in new merchandise, sort of in the way that some western household goods are artificially "antiqued." For the sense of the original poster's question, I think that this, in ways artificial, wabi-sabi is acceptable as well.

Edited July 3, 2009 by SJM1123

[Pen2009]

No. I think the Japanese term for this one would be hade. It's too bright for wabi. I'd never use that one in a Japanese office, at least not one in Kanto.

 

Anything that has gone through a lot of use, withstood that use, but yet also shows some marks of gainful employment can be said to have wabi. Wabi is not something that comes pre-potted in a brand.

 

How about the tamenuri

 

http://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/stamep1.jpghttp://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/stamep2.jpg

I acknowledge their attempt to make this design authentic. But, I find it to be too "made-up" or "artificially made up." If the pen is really cracked in such a way due to decades of use (or un-use), I would understand. But, the designed in such from the get go from a factory is too made up in my opinion.

[Neill78]

The NOS one you can't afford gathering dust in a shop window.

 

Neill

 

[Doug C]

As much as I love my Nakayas, Danitrios and Namiki's, I think that the older short/long Pilots really hit the spot. A pure pen if ever I've seen one.

 

I have a steel Pilot Elite that is in need of refurbishing, but I really wouldn't think of getting rid of it.

 

Even though it is in need of some polishing and tightening of the clip, I can see using it until I can write no more (which is quickly approaching).

 

In fairness, I see that also with some of the initial Nakayas (my Piccolo and Decapod). I have a plain black Piccolo (that has a crummy nib). Once that is corrected, one of my daughters has claimed that as her own.

 

 

 

 

I don't think you can say that about too many of my pens (although I would try and talk them into my Arco Milord)...

Edited July 4, 2009 by Doug C

[ginigin]

I have a bamboo pen handmade by Nagahara (was his personal pen) that evokes wabi-sabi for me. There is a small branch that is still attached and certainly gives character and is a connection between the natural state of the bamboo, the art of writing and the uniqueness of the nib, which is a Cross Concorde. If I can find my camera tomorrow, will post a photo.

[SincerelySpicy]

As much as I love my Nakayas, Danitrios and Namiki's, I think that the older short/long Pilots really hit the spot. A pure pen if ever I've seen one.

 

I have a steel Pilot Elite that is in need of refurbishing, but I really wouldn't think of getting rid of it.

 

Even though it is in need of some polishing and tightening of the clip, I can see using it until I can write no more (which is quickly approaching).

 

In fairness, I see that also with some of the initial Nakayas (my Piccolo and Decapod). I have a plain black Piccolo (that has a crummy nib). Once that is corrected, one of my daughters has claimed that as her own.

 

 

Purity is not a characteristic of wabi-sabi. In fact, it could be considered as contrary to each other. Wabi-sabi has very little to do with formal or visual simplicity rather than the simple and humble nature of things. While certainly ornate pens are not wabi-sabi, neither are minimalistic ones that adhere to purity and simplicity of visual form. Take a look at this tea bowl. Things such as these are said to contain the essence of wabi-sabi:

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Black_Raku_Tea_Bowl.jpg

 

This piece of pottery is wabi because of its form and function, in its simplicity and humbleness in its creation and use. There is no ornament to indicate wealth or status, nor is there the essentially useless requirement of the perfection of form. It is Sabi because it shows its very use and existence over time. The glaze has worn away to a soft matte texture, and the color and texture of the glaze has changed through its repeated contact with tea.

 

The ideas of wabi sabi can essentially be summarized like this:

 

Nothing is permanent. Nothing is finished. Nothing is perfect.

 

 

 

P.S. Oh and uhm....I do realize that there is a lot of contradiction within the nature of wabi-sabi if you think about it thoroughly. However, it tends to be the nature of japanese syncretism....

Edited July 4, 2009 by SJM1123

[SincerelySpicy]

The wabi sabi concept seems interesting; but, it sounds like just looking back to the past nostalgically. Progress is a good thing and for a fountain pen, I look for perfection as I am paying good money for the goods.

 

 

In the ideas of wabi-sabi, imperfection is perfection.

 

on a more serious note:

 

In a sense, yes, it is looking at the past nostalgically, seeing how the object existed and changed until now.

 

Yet, in a sense, it is looking at the future of things--at the transience of all existence.

 

Then again, in a sense, it is looking at the present. Looking at and appreciating an object for how it is now regardless of how it was or will be.

Edited July 4, 2009 by SJM1123

[Nikolaos]

The more i think of this the more i am leaning towards the Susutake as being the best candidate representing the essence of wabi-sabi in a pen. The bamboo material is at least 150 years old, has been naturally smoked and "treated" from the exposure to the elements (sunlight, rain, snow, wind) and the passing of time. Looking at my pen the i can see and feel the passing of time. There are imperfections, grooves a slight curve to its shape (think waterman serenite only natural and with a smaller curve), dark smoked brown on one side where the smoke would color it over the decades and lighter on the other side. It hasn't been treated in any way (apart from being transformed into a pen by Mr. Nagahara). In a sentence, a piece of nature, naturally aging. If Wabi-sabi represents the concept of finding beauty in imperfection and "feeling" in nature then the Susutake is the pen! That's of course the way i see it! Will try to post some photos tomorrow.

 

On a lighter note, Pilot in 2007 did a small LE run of 300 pens made from reclaimed oak whiskey barrels they acquired from a whiskey distillery in Japan. I bought one of these pens and it is at the Dutch customs at the moment awaiting clearance. I am very curious about this used aged material as well. The pen looks gorgeous from the pictures i have seen.

 

But more on that after i receive the pen this coming week

 

Nikolaos

[Phthalo]

For a new pen, I agree with Nikolaos - the Susutake.

 

But, a vintage pen really should be considered. In my own collection of Japanese pens, I think this oversize 1950s Yotubisi eyedropper is the best example:

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/YCompare-01.jpg

 

It's brassed, scuffed and missing an end jewel... but it is lovely. The nib is a Platinum 'pladium' replacement for the original gold nib which would have been removed:

 

http://www.ciar-roisin.net/photos/jp/YNibShota-01.jpg

[sallywally]

No. I think the Japanese term for this one would be hade. It's too bright for wabi. I'd never use that one in a Japanese office, at least not one in Kanto.

 

Anything that has gone through a lot of use, withstood that use, but yet also shows some marks of gainful employment can be said to have wabi. Wabi is not something that comes pre-potted in a brand.

 

How about the tamenuri

 

http://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/stamep1.jpghttp://www.nakaya.org/special/negoro/stamep2.jpg

Wow! That's gorgeous.

[rokurinpapa]

In a word, wabi means not pompous, very simple,but functional,for example common teacup of Bizen(pottery called as art of earth and flame, using no glaze, just the oppsite to Kutani painted by gold, red, green and so on) ,and sabi means beauty of aging ,for example, oxidized silver or pine trees fleeced with moss, I think.

Among my limited pens, Pilot 70th anniversary pen produced 20 years ago is the most suitable, of course, not the best at all.I will post the review of the 70th later.

 

 

 

 

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad123/rokurinpapa/Pen%20Pilot%2070th/P1020276.jpg