“Beauty is nature within the human, nature placed under human conditions.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
- He became a representative figure of postwar Japanese literature, and was highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. He pursued his own unique aesthetic with themes of beauty and death, and ultimately committed seppuku at a Self-Defense Forces garrison. His life, which combined literature with action, continues to have a strong influence today.
Japanese
「美とは人間における自然、人間的条件の下に置かれた自然なんだ。」
English
“Beauty is nature within the human, nature placed under human conditions.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima redefines beauty as a concept that is not merely a reflection of pure nature, but as nature shaped or mediated by human conditions. He suggests that beauty is not an abstract or idealized force, but something that is deeply connected to human experience and the human condition. By placing “nature” under “human conditions,” Mishima implies that humanity plays an active role in interpreting, shaping, and ultimately understanding beauty. It is not simply an external or natural phenomenon, but rather something that is filtered through our emotions, perceptions, and cultural constructs.
This perspective on beauty aligns with Mishima’s broader philosophical exploration of the tension between nature and culture, and between the ideal and the real. Mishima often expressed concern about the impacts of human consciousness and civilization on natural elements, suggesting that human interpretation and perception inevitably alter the way beauty is experienced. Beauty, in this sense, is not absolute but is understood through the lens of human subjectivity—through the ways in which we interact with the world around us and the cultural norms that shape our understanding of aesthetic values.
In a modern context, this quote speaks to the constructed nature of beauty in contemporary society. Beauty standards are often shaped by social, cultural, and media influences, which place beauty within human-defined contexts such as fashion, advertising, and social media. Mishima’s words suggest that what we perceive as beautiful is not merely a reflection of natural perfection but is fundamentally a human interpretation of what is considered desirable or aesthetic. In a world that often idolizes external appearances and material beauty, Mishima reminds us that beauty is inextricably linked to human perception, emotion, and subjectivity, and is thus subject to the changing norms and conditions of human existence.
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