Yūgen
Yūgen is beauty that works by suggestion — grace and depth held back rather than displayed — and in Noh theatre, a craft standard an actor is judged on.
Full definition of Yūgen →:: COMPARE ::
YūgenvsMono no aware
The short answer
Often swapped, wrongly. Mono no aware is emotional responsiveness to transience — a state in the audience. Yūgen is a quality of restraint and suggestion in the work or the performance — a professional standard an actor is measured against.
Side by side
| Aspect | Yūgen | Mono no aware |
|---|---|---|
| Located in | The performance | The viewer |
| Is | A standard | A response |
| Gradeable | Yes | No |
| Origin | Chinese loan | Japanese |
What each one means
Mono no Aware
Mono no aware is a trained sensitivity to the emotional charge of a thing or moment, felt sharply because it will not last.
Full definition of Mono no Aware →