尚しょう古こ主しゅ義ぎ

Meanings

Refers to an artistic or intellectual movement that values ancient or primitive styles, often in contrast to modern or decadent trends. The term can cover both classicism (admiration for classical antiquity) and primitivism (idealization of pre-civilized or early cultures).

彼かれの絵かい画がには尚しょう古こ主しゅ義ぎの影えい響きょうが強つよく見みられる。
His paintings show a strong influence of classicism/primitivism.
尚しょう古こ主しゅ義ぎは、古こ代だいギリシャやローマの芸げい術じゅつを理り想そうとした。
Classicism idealized the art of ancient Greece and Rome.

Kanji

尚esteem, furthermore, still
古old
主lord, chief, master
義righteousness, justice, morality

Related words

古こ典てん主しゅ義ぎ
古典主義 is a more common term for classicism, especially in the context of Western art and literature. 尚古主義 is less frequent and can also imply primitivism or a broader reverence for the ancient.
原げん始し主しゅ義ぎ
原始主義 explicitly means primitivism, focusing on the idealization of primitive or tribal art. 尚古主義 can overlap but is not limited to primitive cultures.

Built from

尚しょう古こ+主しゅ義ぎ

Etymology

Compound of 尚古 (shouko, 'reverence for the ancient') + 主義 (shugi, '-ism'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term likely emerged in modern Japanese to translate Western concepts of classicism and primitivism.