(austerity)
Koko emphasizes restraint, exclusion, and omission. The goal is to present something that both appears spare and imparts a sense of focus and clarity.
(simplicity)
Kanso dictates that beauty and utility need not be overstated, overly decorative, or fanciful. The overall effect is fresh, clean, and neat. Simple is better! Less is more!
(naturalness)
The goal of shizen is to strike a balance between being "of nature" yet distinct from it -- to be viewed as being without pretense or artifice, while seeming intentional rather than accidental or haphazard.
(subtlety)
The Zen view, simply put, is that you want to evoke the power of suggestion; leave something to the imagination of your viewer.
(imperfection, asymmetry)
The goal of fukinsei is to convey the symmetry of the natural world through clearly asymmetrical and incomplete renderings.
(stillness, tranquility, solitude)
The principle of seijaku emphasizes the fundamental Zen theme of emptiness, which implies an inexhaustible spirit. It is in states of active calm, tranquility, solitude, and quietude that we find the very essence of creative energy.
(break from routine)
Closely related to seijaku is the principle of datsuzoku, which signifies a break from daily routine or habit, a certain freedom from the commonplace.