Iki

Iki was the Rokugani term an aesthetic ideal, an expression of simplicity, sophistication, spontaneity, and originality. It was ephemeral, romantic, straightforward, measured, audacious, smart, and unselfconscious. This concept expressed the belief that true art comes from spontaneous creation; overly-planned, calculated, and deliberate efforts could not encapsulate the human condition or honest expression. Practical-minded samurai, especially those who lived away from cities, criticized Iki-based art as lazy.