Editor’s note: Today we are introducing the first in a recurring series of articles entitled “Tenkara Lifestyles” as written by Dennis Vander Houwen. To learn more about his goals and objectives around these upcoming columns, we encourage you to visit this introduction page for a full explanation of the concept.
Tenkara and Wabi-Sabi
Here in the West, we’re caught up in a game of endless hustle to grab whatever’s grabbable. Our Western society preaches the gospel of grinding hard hours, making that money, and splurging on stuff. It’s like life is more about things than experiences or the people in our lives, and our entire economy is dancing to that tune. Before we know it, as adults, we wake up to realize that life has become all about work, leaving our health and happiness on the back burner. Our society’s a bit out of whack, don’t you think? We’ve got a limited time to live, and we should be living it to the fullest. To do this we really have to make some choices on how we want to live our lives.
As tenkara anglers, maybe we’ve stumbled upon a way to sidestep these pressures by slowing down to the actual speed of life. Our time in nature, away from the grind, makes us realize what we’re missing and gives us the space to ponder on what truly matters. For many of us, the aesthetics of tenkara stand in stark contrast to the pressures of modern culture. It brings me back to myself, making me aware of a different way to see my life and the world. My life focus shifts from acquisition to simplicity and the people in my life.
Rooted in Buddhist philosophy and popularized by the Japanese tea ceremony, we encounter the term “wabi-sabi.” It’s a combination of two philosophies: “Wabi,” recognizing simplicity of form while appreciating imperfections, and “Sabi,” refers to the beauty of aging and sense of profound grace and subtlety. Together, wabi-sabi can be understood in the feeling we get when we look at the beauty of something simple and maybe aged over time. Wabi-sabi encourages us to slow down, observe, and embrace the beauty of impermanence and simplicity. It is difficult to define wabi-sabi with words though. Perhaps because it is as much more about the way we intrinsically feel about something it is that thing we are looking at. An uncontrived placement of things just as they are?
Taking a moment to understand wabi-sabi, we see that tenkara embodies a harmonious relationship with the natural environment. Wabi-sabi encourages finding beauty in the basicness of things. It acknowledges the effects of the passage of time, it values authenticity over perfection, and urges us to embrace the beauty in things considered flawed or incomplete.
Dating back centuries itself, tenkara is the perfect companion to the principles of wabi-sabi. Tenkara takes wabi-sabi beyond objects and embeds it in our fishing experience. With its simplicity, we focus on the essence of the fishing experience, immersing ourselves in the meditative act of fishing and experiencing the direct connection between anglers and fish.
The connection between wabi-sabi and tenkara runs deeper than aesthetics and fishing techniques. Both philosophies share a profound respect for nature, urging individuals to develop a harmonious relationship with the world around them. It can also inform us about ourselves and inspire us to find more wabi-sabi in our lives.
Think about your own life and how busy it is. Do you have anything in your home or environment that reminds you to slow down? Do you slow down to notice these things that may be all around you. Our tenkara lifestyles can find wabi-sabi in them. From how we spend our time to what objects we appreciate and revere. We should make it happen wherever we can. It is profound how much our environments around us affect our sense of wellbeing. Sometimes it can be as easy as removing clutter from a room and replacing it with a simple focal point like an old vase with a few flowers in it. Approach with a minimalist mind and you will have a place that you can look to daily to remind you to appreciate the beauty in life.
In a world obsessed with perfection, these Japanese philosophies offer us a counterbalance, inviting us to find beauty in imperfection, embrace simplicity, and cultivate a profound connection to the ever-changing natural world. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the wisdom of wabi-sabi and the simplicity of tenkara beckon us to slow down, appreciate the present moment, and discover the profound beauty in the simple and imperfect tapestry of life.
Wabi-sabi can become the backbone of our tenkara lifestyles. We can shift our focus from consumption to appreciation, finding more joy in experiences than possessions. Give slowing down a try and I assure you that you will begin to see beauty in so many places.
Dennis Vander Houwen is an early adopter of tenkara, he lives and fishes all over Colorado. For more information on living simply or approaching a richer life with fewer things check out his blog, Tenkara Path, where you can also support his tenkara lifestyle by purchasing one of his amazing, handmade tenkara line spool, fly keepers. Learn more about Tenkara Lifestyles here.
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Great inaugural article, Dennis! I think Thoreau would agree with the way you summarized modern society, and that nature (in this case, tenkara) offers us a respite and a space for introspection into a world “obsessed with perfection” and acquiring, as you say. Also, love the idea of the shift from “consumption to appreciation”. We’re so deeply entrenched in consumerism, that it seems impossible sometimes to feel like we have “enough”. We’re in a constant poverty mentality. But in a sense, tenkara forces us to work with what we have, to go without, and to appreciate what we can do with restricted resources. It gives us a glimpse of freedom from the “endless game of hustle”. Great thoughts. I’m looking forward to the many other parallels you’ll be making in future articles!