Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, in “In Praise of Shadows,” extols “Sabi.” In interesting contrast to the West, he writes from a Japanese perspective, saying: “We do not dislike everything that shines, but we do prefer a pensive lustre to a shallow brilliance. We love things that bear the marks of grime, soot, and weather, and we love the colours and the sheen that call to mind the past that made them.” Ancient things not only connect us to the past but also embody an intrinsic beauty.