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Ishin-denshin

Ishin-denshin (以心伝心) is an idiom[1] commonly used in East Asian cultures, such as in Japan, Korea and China, which denotes a form of interpersonal communication through unspoken mutual understanding.

Meaning

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The four-character compound (yojijukugo) in Japanese, 以心伝心 (lit. "by means of heart, transmitting heart"), is sometimes translated into English as "heart-to-heart communication"[2] in the sense of "immediate communication from one mind to another".[3] It is also sometimes translated as "tacit understanding."[3] Other commonly used translations include "telepathy" and "sympathy".[3] The corresponding compound in Korean is 이심전심 (i-shim-chon-shim).

Although mutual silent understanding is a universal human phenomenon, there is a widespread belief in Japan that such a form of non-verbal communication is a defining characteristic of national culture (in the mindset of nihonjinron[4]).[5] Whereas the Japanese concept of haragei denotes a deliberate form of nonverbal communication, ishin-denshin refers to a passive form of shared understanding. Ishin-denshin has been traditionally perceived by the Japanese as sincere, silent communication via the heart or belly (i.e. symbolically from the inside, uchi), as distinct from overt communication via the face and mouth (the outside, soto), which is seen as being more susceptible to insincerities.[5]

History

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The introduction of this concept to Japan, via China, is related to the traditions of Zen, where the term ishin-denshin refers to direct mind transmission of Buddhist dharma.[5][6] According to Zen tradition, the concept of ishin-denshin can be traced back to the initial dharma transmission between Gautama Buddha and Mahākāśyapa related in the Flower Sermon.[7][8]

The belief that ishin-denshin is essential to interpersonal communication continues to influence aspects of contemporary Japanese culture and ethics,[9] ranging from business practices[10] to end-of-life care.[2][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Maynard, Michael L; Maynard, Senko K; Taki (1993). 101 Japanese Idioms: Understanding Japanese Language and Culture Through Popular Phrases. McGraw Hill Professional. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-8442-8496-5.
  2. ^ a b Nakazato K, Shiozaki M, Hirai K, et al. (2018). "Verbal communication of families with cancer patients at end of life: A questionnaire survey with bereaved family members". Psycho-oncology. 27 (1): 155–162. doi:10.1002/pon.4482. PMID 28635040.
  3. ^ a b c Cheung, King-Kok (1993). Articulate Silences: Hisaye Yamamoto, Maxine Hong Kingston, Joy Kogawa. Cornell University Press. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8014-8147-5. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. ^ Goldfarb, Kathryn E. (2015). "The Japanese Family: Touch, Intimacy and Feeling [book review]". Social Science Japan Journal. 18 (2): 291–294. doi:10.1093/ssjj/jyv023. ISSN 1369-1465.
  5. ^ a b c Davies, Roger J.; Ikeno, Osamu (March 15, 2002). The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture. Tuttle Publishing. pp. 52–54, 105. ISBN 978-0-8048-3295-3.
  6. ^ Baroni, Helen Josephine (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-8239-2240-6.
  7. ^ Shore, Jeff (1998). "The Source of Zen: Who Transmits What?" (PDF). terebess.hu.
  8. ^ Durix, Claude (1991). Cent Clés pour Comprendre le Zen. Le Courrier du Livre. p. 43. ISBN 978-2-7029-0261-5.
  9. ^ Murata, K (2010). "Knowledge Creation and Sharing in Japanese Organisations: A Socio-Cultural Perspective on ba". In Morais da Costa; Jorge Goncalo (eds.). Ethical Issues and Social Dilemmas in Knowledge Management: Organizational Innovation: Organizational Innovation. IGI Global. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-61520-874-6 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Dougherty, Andrew J. (1991). Japan: 2000. Rochester Institute of Technology. p. 17.
  11. ^ Slingsby, Brian T. (2005). "The nature of relative subjectivity: a reflexive mode of thought". The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. 30 (1): 9–25. doi:10.1080/03605310590907039. PMID 15814365.