"Someone saw an imperfectly matched set of books and said that it was ugly. But the Priest Koyu said, 'Only a person with poor taste would insist on having things match, for it is much better if they do not."
- an excerpt from Tsurezuregusa [Harvest of Leisure] by Yoshida Kenko
The above passage displays individuality of a "romantic, functional" individual that the Muromachi man came to be known by. In my previous entry I briefly discussed monochrome paintings, it is in this medium that functional individuality was cleary shown and appreciated. The Muromachi periods unique view of the individual led to the appearance of many talents, of note the famous monochrome painter, Soami.
Well known for his skill at composing both Chinese and Japanese poems, Saomi also displayed a mastery of the flute (shakuhachi), tea ceremony, interior decorating, art criticism, and particular to this article landscape gardening.
http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/gardens/ginkaku/ginkaku-ji.html
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