"Coincidentia oppositorum" and "hankan gõitso" : aesthetic philosophies in the West and Japan - their similarities as expressed in architecture

Abstract

The concepts "coincidentia oppositorum" and "hankan gõitso" were respectively formulated in the West and the Far East (Japan). The essence of both is that harmony is created when opposites coincide in a structural unity. The creation of a unified harmony of nature, human beings and divinities in works of architecture can be recognised at Delphi, a classical Greek site, and at the Shinto shrines at Ise, Japan. Even though the layout of these sites are vastly different, Delphi and Ise merit comparison in terms of the architectural integration of pairs of opposite forces, which are respectively resolved in terms of the principles of "coincidentia oppositorum" and "hankan gõitso", both relating to the integration of the divine in the physical universe, and both allowing for a symbiosis between human beings and nature.

"Coincidentia oppositorum" en "hankan gõitso": estetiese filosofieë in die Weste en Japan — hulle ekspressiewe ooreenkomste in argitektuur. Die konsepte "coincidentia oppositorum" en "hankan gõitso" is onderskeidelik in die Weste en die Verre Ooste (Japan) geformuleer. Die essensie van beide is dat harmonie geskep word wanneer teenoorgesteldes ’n strukturele eenheid vorm. Die skepping van ’n harmoniese eenheid van die natuur, mense en goddelike wesens in argitektoniese werke kan herken word by Delphi, ’n klassieke Griekse terrein, en die Shinto-heiligdomme by Ise, Japan. Hoewel die uitleg van hierdie terreine heeltemaal verskillend is, kan hulle nietemin vergelyk word in terme van die integrasie van gepaarde teenoorgestelde kragte, wat onderskeidelik vereenselwig word in terme van die beginsels "coincidentia oppositorum" en "hankan gõitso", beginsels wat voorsiening maak vir ’n simbiose tussen mense en die natuur.