Sabi — The Beauty of Experience 寂

Sabi 寂 [pronounced “sah-bee”] is “the beauty and meaning of experience" and is an essential part of understanding beauty when paired with its sister concept, wabi 侘 – simplicity (read more about wabi 侘 here).

Sabi 寂, however, is more than just beauty in the aesthetic sense – it also applies to the intense value of objects and people that have experience. This applies to men and women who have experience in the sense of deep skill and understanding, and also people that have experienced great events, and people who have influenced great events. And it applies to objects – things, buildings, cities, etc. – that have had pivotal roles in events and experiences of significance.

Sabi 寂 is a general concept in Japanese culture, and has been for about a millennia; it has also been a concept in all martial arts for as long as martial arts have existed.

The Beauty of Experience and Maturity

In people, Sabi 寂 finds its highest expression of the beauty of experience. We can see this from different perspectives.

In history, there are men and woman who have had a great impact on history. History isn't just a random collection of trivia or a listing of events that had minimal impact – just because something happened doesn't make it history. History is a record and a story of important things that happened. Important people make important events. History is a story of those men and women. These men and women are, in their own way, admirable (and perhaps we might even say, beautiful) because of their impact and leadership.

On a more prosaic note, we are surrounded by people who have great experience in their chosen fields or have accomplished so much. These people are likely pretty old, or at least quite mature. In their accomplishment and in their skills, they are truly beautiful. (As a side note, it is quite unfortunate that some cultures, especially Western ones, don't place a greater value on the beauty of that maturity and that experience.)

Sabi 寂 can be applied to everything around us, but most especially people. Look at the older men and women in your life, in your workplace, in your school, in the dojo. Yes, perhaps they are wrinkled, have scars, show signs of aging. Yes, perhaps they can’t run as fast, kick as high, or lift heavy loads like they once did.

But they are beautiful, nonetheless, aren’t they? Their experience, the wisdom they have gained, and the skills they have attained… all of those are beautiful things. Don’t see wrinkles: instead see enlightenment. Don’t see scars: instead see brilliant minds honed with skills we ourselves don’t have yet, and which can be shared with us.

Sabi 寂 makes us aware of this beauty and invites us to appreciate it. The old professor of organic chemistry is, in his experience and skill, an amazing individual worthy of appreciation. The welder who worked on building a subway tunnel that carries millions of passengers a year is worthy of much respect.

People must get Sabi 寂 in order to grow and improve – no victories without scars, no wisdom without mistakes. This is an important part of Sabi 寂 – the acknowledgment that perhaps shallow cosmetic imperfection is really not an imperfection, but rather a badge of honor and value.... and beauty.

History Made Real

Look around you. If you're very lucky, you live in one of the great cities of the world – New York, Rome, London, Tokyo, Beijing – you are literally surrounded by history. The achievements of mankind happened steps from where you sit.

But even if you don't live in a city like that, there is history all around you. Perhaps a building or a place, a plaza or a garden. The places around you are places where other men and woman have lived, succeeded, failed, and even died.

These places are all beautiful because of their experience. They are the stages upon which the sweeping play of mankind is performed.

So when you look at an older building, don't see the tarnish. Instead, see the twinkle of history's lights shining through its windows.

We are blessed with so many places of history throughout our world – learn about them, perhaps visit some of them, and honor and revere all of them. They all have incredible stories to tell – and they are all, in their own way, beautiful.

Touching History

Objects have Sabi 寂 as well. The things that were part of, or perhaps just witness to, history have this property of being beautiful.

Of course museums are full of these objects: the rust sword or the tattered uniform, the cracked vase, or the oil painting: they are literally the stuff of which history is composed.

However, don't ignore the more common objects all around you that have Sabi.

Objects get Sabi 寂 not because they age, but because they exist alongside, or with, experiences that we have. An old toaster in our closet is just an old toaster. An old toaster that you used to make Sunday morning breakfast for your loved ones over years and years… is a toaster with Sabi 寂. The scratches on that toaster were made over family breakfasts, over celebrations and happiness, and over challenges and tragedies. That toaster is a part of history – yours.

At the Dojo

Sabi 寂 of course is an important concept in karatedō. We see so many instances of the meaning and the importance of Sabi 寂 as we train at the dojo.

For instance, Sabi 寂 most directly applies to one’s rank belt (the “obi”) – have you ever looked at a really old black belt and seen the frayed threads, the tears, the drooping ends? Perhaps by itself, such a belt is ugly, old, corroded, and tarnished. But think of all the hard work, all the hours of dedication, all the sparring, the push-ups, the focus on kata. Think of all the wisdom and experiences accumulated, all the insights gained, all the enlightenment earned, all while wearing that old black belt. Look around the dojo – there is incredible beauty in those rank belts.

We pay respect to our seniors at the dojo because they have Sabi 寂, in addition to all the other valuable traits they have. That Sabi 寂 is a treasure and is probably the most valued treasure at the dojo, more valuable than anything else there.

Your Sabi 寂

Keep in mind that Sabi 寂, for the holder, is most valuable if it is shared. Sabi 寂 is art, wisdom, and more…. And is prized in the sharing as much as in the “being”.

So while you appreciate the Sabi 寂 all around you, understand you also have some. And that you should strive to acquire as much as you can because, in the doing of that, you will not only improve yourself, you will embody valuable Sabi 寂 for those around you.

Editor's Note: This lecture was first delivered by Sensei at the Goju Karate dojo in San Rafael, California on 23 June 2013, and then once again at the Goju Karate NYC dojo on 24 July 2024.