It seems to be our nature in the West, to see things in a literal sense. In the East and many other cultures symbolism is that which denotes a good deal of things in one snapshot.
When we see things or read things or experience things we tend to see that which is the surface, that which is without metaphor or allegory and usually without any symbolic meaning - it is literally raining outside. It is that which is absolute, the exact words of the original, copied exactly, etc. It expresses the essential or genuine character of something.
Symbolism is that which represents something else, an idea or a quality. It has something intrinsic to some natural object, fact or event. It is poetic in nature in providing an image that directly or in most cases, indirectly, provides an indirect suggestion to express some idea, emotion or state of mind. It is that system which presents symbols or symbolic representations. It opens the mind to more that merely the literalism of some exact idea, quality or event, etc.
In what I see from my recent studies of the Asian cultures that provided us the practice and study of the art of the empty hand or any martial system was its conveying of said studies through symbolism, i.e. both images and characters which are in and of themselves symbolic in expressing and communicating.
This type of communications has more depth and results in a person achieving a fluid mind whereby all things are not set in stone but rather a fluid nature changing at every moment. Literalism is a rigid unforgiving method often used in initial training and teachings. It is not understood that it is meant to achieve a more holistic approach to the whole that is the way or Tao.
Literalism is that which opens the gate to symbolic communications required for a more holistic way vs. the dogmatic adherence to a literal way of life. Another lesson to the symbolic meaning in Yin-Yang. It is not just a black and white design but holds a hidden meaning far and beyond the literal view taking us to the other side of that mirror showing us the dualistic monism of life.
Ain't life grand?
... which brings us back to the study of kanji.
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