moment when I received the artisan's unexpected answer I came
to understand for tho first time the mystery of the asymmetrical
nature of Korean tumery. Because Korean artisans use green
wood, their wares inevitably deform while drying. Therefore,
this asymmetry is but a natural outcome of their state of mind, not
the result of conscious choice. In short, their minds are free
from any attachment to symmetry or asymmetry. The deformity of
their work is the result of nonchalance, freedom from restriction.
This explains why Japanese turnery looks hard and cold in com-
parison with Korean, We are attached to perfection, we want to
make the perfect piece. But what is human perfection after all?
In modern art, as everyone knows, the beauty of deformity is very
often emphasized, insisted upon. But how different is Korean
deformity. The former is produced delibcratcly, the latter
naturally. Korean work is merely the natural result of the artisan's
state of mind, which is free from dualistic man-made rules, He
makes his asymmetrical turnery not because he regards the asym-
metrical form beautiful or the symmetrical ugly but because, as he
works, he is perfectly unaware of such polarities, He is quite free
from conflict between the beautiful and the ugly. Here lies buried
the mystery of the endless beauty of the Korean artisan's work. He
simply makes what he makes, without pretension. It is very
interesting to consider that the aim of the strenuous spiritual
efforts of Zen monks is focused always on grasping “thusness”™
which is not yet separated into right and wrong, good and evil.
The following story recorded in a book by a Zen monk will perhaps
illustrate what I want to make clear, Once there were three people
who took a walk in the country. They chanced to see a man stand-
ing on a hill, One of the three said, “I think he must be up there
looking for stray cattle." “No," the second said, "I believe he is
trying to find a lost friend." But the third said, "No, he is simply
enjoying the summer breeze," Unable to reach agreement, they
climbed the hill and asked the man: "Are you looking for stray
cattle?" "No," he replied. “Are you looking for a friend?" "No,"
again. “Are you enjoying the breeze?" “No,” yet again. “Then
why are you standing here on the hill?" “I am just standing" was
the answer. The Zen monk who recorded this story was interested
in the state of mind of just being or "thusness" which is not yet
confined by any preconception, One who has had the chance to
3.