Yohaku is the sensibility of not placing too much, letting the interval in a space do the work. It runs through alcove display, the host's area, and the composition of utensils, and is a root concept of Japanese art generally.
In practice
Hanging only a scroll, or placing only flowers, and leaving the rest of the alcove empty; placing only the minimum necessary utensils in the host's area. This beauty of subtraction is what is valued as yohaku.
Related concepts
It is closely bound to wabi, sabi, and ma. In practical terms it is the reason a host who owns many fine objects still shows two.
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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