Abstract
Chogyuˉ Takayama (1871-1902), a philosopher and literary critic, and Muneyoshi
Yanagi (or Soˉ etsu Yanagi, 1889-1961), a philosopher and founder of the Mingei
Movement in Japan, both delineated a concept that connected beauty with our manner
of living. This paper discusses the role of the conception of the “absolute” in the thought
of Takayama and Yanagi, especially within their theory of “aesthetic life.”
Section 1 shows that Yanagi adopted Takayama’s line of thinking throughout his
works, with Yanagi mentioning Takayama’s theory for “aesthetic life.” Section 2 focuses
on Takayama’s short article “On the Aesthetic Life,” pointing out the connection between
the aesthetic and absolute value. Finally, section 3 suggests that, like Takayama, Yanagi
also related the aesthetic to daily life and emphasized the importance of the problem
of the absolute. Additionally, it can be indicated that both referred to the concept of
“nature” as the crossing point between the relative and the absolute. When they referred
to “aesthetic life,” they regarded absolute value as the purpose of our daily lives.
