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The group "Minimalist Life" on Douban. [Photo/Screenshot of douban.com]
When I joined a new group called "Minimalist Life" in 2012 on Douban, a major Chinese arts and culture portal, there were only few members.
A Tianjin-based Douban user, Oscar, established the group that year and tried to share things about minimalism. Many users were inactive and rarely commented or posted in the group.
Soon I got bored, ditched it and forgot about it. Until recently when I checked the group and discovered that it had undergone a major change. Bigger than what I could have guessed in 2012.
There are now more than 63,000 users and many of them are active, posting their experiences of trying to be a minimalist.
They share their stories of their histories of crazy shopping habits and stocking useless things.
In the 276 pages of postings in the group, there is a distinct increase of the number of postings from 2014.
This change is not a unique phenomenon. In fact, more advices and tips on how to lead a simpler life are being shared on social media, such as WeChat Moment and Weibo.
What's more, stories about some famous minimalists are widely spread on the internet, include about Steve Jobs who always dressed in a black T-shirt.
Many people who try to change their lifestyles claim they were affected by the book, Danshari , written by a Japanese writer Eiko Yamashita.
Introduced in China in 2013, the book tells people how to have a correct attitude towards material things. And more importantly, the author wants to let people break their unhealthy relations with other people that were often embedded in their strong emotional attachment to material things.
However, not many know that minimalism is not a new thing in traditional Chinese culture.
Porcelain from the Song Dynasty. [Photo/artron.net]
Porcelains from the Song Dynasty(960-1279) are perfect embodiment of the minimalism. Very different from the colorful porcelains in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the ones in the Song Dynasty often have pure and simple color and designs, without any excessive patterns and decorations.
A ceramic plate from the Tang Dynasty. [Photo/artron.net]
Moreover, Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty is famous for his calligraphy and paintings that shimmer with the beauty of simplicity.
As more people become aware of the need to save the environment, the application of minimalism in everyday life would efficiently cut down the excess produced today and benefit the environment. That would create a better future for the children tomorrow.
Paintings and calligraphy of a Song emperor, Huizong. [Photo/artron.net]
We may never become true minimalists, andwe may continue to purchase items that we don't really need. And yet, there are lessons from minimalism that can benefit each and every one of us.
Here are two books and one TV drama and one documentary that might givepeople some inspiration about the new lifestyle: two books, a TV drama and a documentary.
Walden . [Photo/amazon.cn]
Books :
Walden ( Life in the Woods ), by Henry David Thoreau
People call the book the "Bible" of the minimalism. I finished the book in three months and was deeply moved by the simple life the author had in the woods. His thinking and contemplation on people's pursuit of materials are very impressive. The book gives readers a glimpse of the essense of life and providesguidance to lead a simple life.
Danshari . [Photo/amazon.cn]
Danshari , by Eiko Yamashita
To avoid buying more paper books and destroying more trees, Ilistened to the book on an audio app. It is nice background accompaniment every time when I do the house cleaning, that helps me throw away things I don't need.
A screenshot from Japanese TV drama There is Nothing in My Home . [Photo/Mtime]
TV drama and documentary
There is Nothing in My Home (2016)
The six-episode Japanese TV drama, which has scored 8.2 out of 10 on Douban, focuses on a woman's transition towards a minimalist. The light and humorous way of storytelling in the series is amusing. I have seen the series twice and gained valuable tips on how to keepmyapartment uncluttered.
DocumentaryMinimalism: A Documentary about the Important Things.[Photo/Mtime]
Minimalism: A Documentary about the Important Things (2016)
The documentary was filmed by two men who intended to findmore meaningful life. As the moviesays, less is more. There could be a life of less material things and more spiritual happiness. The film is available on