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Richard Martin definitions, from his article “Wabi-Sabi”:

Wabi symbolizes rustic beauty and quietness. It also denotes simplicity and stillness and can apply to both man-made and natural objects. It can also refer to quirks and anomalies in things, a unique one-of-a-kind flaw, for example, which sometimes occurs during the process of production or creation.

Sabi refers to things whose beauty can come only with age, indicative of natural processes that result in objects that are irregular, unpretentious, and ambiguous. It refers to the patina, such as a very old bronze statue or copper roof turned green. It also incorporates an appreciation of the cycles of life.

Traditional tea bowl. Wabi-Sabi represents Japanese aesthetics and a Japanese world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, roughness or irregularity, simplicity, modesty, intimacy, and appreciation of the integrity of natural objects and processes

“The idea of wabi-sabi speaks of a readiness to accept things as they are. This is contrary to Western ideals that emphasize progress And growth as necessary components to daily living. Wabi-sabi’s fundamental nature is about process, not final product, about decay And aging, not growth. This concept requires the art of “slowness”, a willingness to concentrate on the things that are often Overlooked, the imperfections and the marks recording the passing of time. For me, this is the perfect antidote to the invasive, Slick, saccharine, corporate style of beauty.” - Richard Martin

In today's Japan, the meaning of wabi-sabi is often condensed to "wisdom in natural simplicity." In art books, it is typically defined as "flawed beauty."

In the Japanese tea ceremony, the pottery items used are often rustic and simple-looking, with shapes that are not quite symmetrical, and colors or textures that appear to emphasize an unrefined or simple style.

In fact, it is up to the knowledge and observational ability of the participant to notice the hidden signs of a truly excellent design or glaze.

This wabi-sabi aesthetic is further confirmed by the way the color of glazed items is known to change over time as hot water is repeatedly poured into them, and the fact that tea bowls are often deliberately chipped or nicked at the bottom