JP 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Mottainai, Etiquette In Japan, Impermanence
Document Summary
Once you"ve decided what meal you"re having, we should learn some basic phrases around dining: to eat ( (cid:2162) ) This word combines mono, or thing", with aware, which means sensitivity or sadness, to connote a pathos engendered by a sense of the fleeting nature of life. This gentle sadness accompanied by a sense of the transitory nature of beauty lies at the heart of japanese culture. Accepting this impermanence can lead to a sense of joy in the present moment, however insubstantial it may be, and even a recognition that beauty and intransience are two parts of a whole: itadakimasu. This phrase, which literally means i humbly receive", is said before every meal, and expresses appreciation for all the work that went into the meal that is about to be eaten. It conveys a respect for all living things, but at a more pedestrian level, signals that it is time to eat: natsukashii.
