expression, noun
spirit of harmony; Japanese spirit
A phrase evoking traditional Japanese values of harmony, cooperation, and a uniquely Japanese spiritual ethos. Often contrasted with 大和魂 (やまとだましい).
See also: 大和魂
茶道には和の心が大切にされている。
The spirit of harmony is cherished in the tea ceremony.
彼は和の心を重んじる人だ。
He is a person who values the Japanese spirit of harmony.
大和魂 emphasizes a more assertive, sometimes nationalistic, Japanese spirit, while 和の心 focuses on harmony and peaceful cooperation.
A compound of 和 (わ, 'harmony, Japanese') + の (possessive particle) + 心 (こころ, 'heart, spirit'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a long-standing cultural ideal.