Hojoki: Visions of a Torn World (Rock Spring Collection of Japanese Literature) by Kamo no Chomei (PDF)

Description

Japan’s capital city of Kyoto was devastated by earthquake, storm, and fire in the late 12th century. Retreating from “this unkind world,” the poet and Buddhist priest Kamo-no-Chomei left the capital for the forested mountains, where he eventually constructed his famous “ten-foot-square” hut. From this solitary vantage point Chomei produced Hojoki, an extraordinary literary work that describes all he has seen of human misery and his new life of simple chores, walks, and acts of kindness. Yet at the end he questions his own sanity and the integrity of his purpose. Has he perhaps grown too attached to his detachment?

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I came across this small gem of a book while browsing Amazon’s Japanese history section. In exquisite prose poetry, a 12th century gentleman turned monk chronicles a series of disasters that befell Kyoto in quick succession, including earthquakes, fire, famine and more. Each time, he rebuilds a smaller house until he ultimately chooses life as a hermit in a tiny, rude hut in the mountains. His stark and plaintive voice reaches us clearly and with great immediacy, remarkable given the divide of many centuries and a very different time and place. SO glad this treasure has been preserved and that this wonderful translation is available today!

⭐The writing, story, and poetry are great! The translation appears to be very good with alternate interpretations where appropriate. Unfortunately, this is a true paperback, unlike many of the Japanese good quality paperbacks I am used to in this genre of literature. Poor paper stock and printing means it will not last! Also, the illustrations, while good and authentic, suffer from the same problem. I will read it again sometime and then put it away and watch for a really good edition. The seller is excellent and sent it earlier than anticipated. I would buy from them again.

⭐Lovely just a tad expensive for such a short translation. If cheaper perhaps more would enjoy it but perhaps they would not cherish it then, who knows?

⭐This short book has survived for nearly 800 years, and it is easy to see why. I cannot recall ever having seen the timeless pathos of the human condition portrayed more vividly, and the translation is fabulous. I also recommend the audio version narrated by Togo Igawa (available on audible.com). It isn’t the best recording in the world, but I think Igawa’s performance is wonderful. The Japan of 8 centuries ago seems like yesterday – or maybe tomorrow.

⭐Bought this expecting spiritual insight of perseverance in the midst of catastrophes but all I found was “woe is me, guess I’ll be a hermit in in mountains” (my paraphrase). The introduction wax eloquent of purpose and humanity, however, I find the author rather clueless as reflected in his own words, “People die and are born – whence they come and where they go I do not know”. Read the whole thing in about 20 minutes. I kept expecting that eureka moment but it never came and when I reached the end all I could say “is that it?”

⭐A little different than what I expected but not terrible. Short transcripts

⭐This is a surpringly relevant meditation on the nature of life. This translation is crisp and delightful. I reccomend Hojoki as something to read slowly on a quiet morning or in the light of a sunset.

⭐The writer, a monk, describes calamities of nature – fire, earthquake – that assaulted the Kyoto area in the 1200s, with palpable sorrow and compassion, and describes his own retreat from society, in touching fashion.

⭐Loved the imagery. It has much to consider and discuss. Would make an interesting discussion piece for a book club or philosophy group

⭐I’ve read the original “Hojoki”(Japanese Edition) more than a thousand times.In my humble opinion, this English edition is the worst work not only of the original essay, but also the worldwide literature.The translator killed every word in the essay instead of making it alive in English.For example, if KJB or Shakespeare or T. S. Eliot, whoever has a magic to create arts in English language, would be translated in the English used by only children, it’d be more understandable than the original, on the other hand it’d also ruined the fabulous flavor of which.Likewise, “Hojoki” is not a column on a Tabloid. Which is an art as well as a poem.To make it easier to understand the meaning of poems, you can’t kill the words. You should use appropriate wordings, like KJB was also translated.We, most of Japanese, respect the Western culture as you might already know.Please do not read this viorentally horrible edition.Thank you.

⭐「方丈記」本文の持つ流れるような美しさを再発見すると共に、序文による翻訳者の解説もまた、日本語が海外の方に方丈記を紹介する時の参考となりました。

⭐Not found.

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