In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki is an enjoyably thought-provoking exploration of the importance of shade, darkness, and subtlety in life, art, and culture. Tanizaki was an influential novelist and short story writer in Japan between the first and second world wars, and In Praise of Shadows was written in 1933 as an homage to Japanese aesthetics.
Tanizaki begins by looking at the impact of electric lighting on Japanese life, culture, and architecture. He finds in it a distinct lack of delicacy and nuance, which gives it an inelegant crudeness when compared to the softer real-light of candles and moonlight. In stark contrast to the functionalist lighting of Europe, Tanizaki advocated for the use of traditional paper screens and sliding wooden doors to keep darkness at bay, which appears within his own home as a “space of welcome shadows”. He claims that with electric lighting, “the colour of ordinary walls seem crude in the glaring light of bulbs, and wood floors assume a pallid lifelessness”, whereas when lit by candles, “our walls assume a still more glowing colour, and the wood floors take on an arrogant splendour”.
Tanizaki moves on to examine other objects and materials that benefit from darkness, such as lacquered boxes and bronzes whose unique qualities are only revealed in shadow. To Tanizaki’s delight, not all Japanese culture was lost in this era of rapid Westernization; he rejoices at being able to still “find in the darkness of our old houses a thousand hidden beauties”.
The book also touches on many areas of Japanese culture, such as architecture, calligraphy, ceramics and gardens, that benefit from the magical combination of light and dark. In Tanizaki’s eyes, a graceful curve or subtle line cannot be achieved without darkness. He notes that the lack of complexity, depth, and beauty in modern conventions of lighting and design “eliminates the charm and richness of the indirect, the complex, and the subdued which were characteristic of our old art”.
Tanizaki ends the book with a discussion of the importance of attitude, as well as material objects; he notes that modern living has caused us to lose sight of the importance of embracing darkness and celebrating subtlety. He believes that “we discover the beauty and charm of shadows only when we stop to think of the richness they add to the blandness of our lives, and the solace they offer to tired eyes”.
In Praise of Shadows offers a thought-provoking exploration of the importance of light, shade, and subtlety in Japanese art, culture and life. Tanizaki has witty, engaging, and creative ways of illustrating his points, making this book a delight to read and a rewarding experience. He challenges the reader to look at darkness, obscurity, and nuance in a different light, and celebrates something that all too often has been disregarded or even scorned.
