Miyabi, wabi and iki as the basic ideals of Japanese aesthetics in historical and cultural contexts

The article is aimed to analyse three crucial for Japanese culture traditional aesthetic ideals: miyabi (Heian period), wabi (Muromachi period) and iki (Edo period). As the chosen ideals are unpopular, they seem to be valuable for at least Russian oriental studies. The context of existence of each ideal is being examined in the article including the impact of historical process and social and political relations on the development of the ideals. Also, the utility and the most vital aspects of the aesthetics are being studied. The comparative analysis concludes in identifying of the special qualities of the ideals. On the ground of the analysis the changes in the relation of Japanese people to beauty become visible. All things considered, the culture of Japan is gradually developing and the view of the beauty is changing; in different periods people admire different things.