The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture by Ruth Benedict (PDF)

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“One of the best books ever about Japanese society . . . [A] thoughtful, nuanced study of the Japanese character.”—U.S. News & World Report “A classic book because of its intellectual and stylistic lucidity . . . Benedict was a writer of great humanity and generosity of spirit.”—from the foreword by Ian Buruma Essential reading for anyone interested in Japanese culture, this unsurpassed masterwork opens an intriguing window on Japan. The World War II–era study by the cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict paints an illuminating contrast between the people of Japan and those of the United States. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is a revealing look at how and why our societies differ, making it the perfect introduction to Japanese history and customs. “A classic of Japanese cultural studies . . . With considerable sensitivity, she managed both to stress the differences in Japanese society of which American policy makers needed to be aware and to debunk the stereotype of the Japanese as hopelessly rigid and incapable of change.”—The New York Times “An absorbing account of Japanese culture . . . almost novel-like readability.”—The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology

User’s Reviews

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

⭐This 70-year-old book almost defies categorization, for its stunning discoveries and – perhaps even more – for the cultural understanding it fostered (which carries on to the present day). If the practice of “anthropology” brings to mind picking at dusty ruins, its offshoot “cultural anthropology” might conjure up studying tribal rituals in a native habitat. Remarkably, Ruth Benedict called herself one of this odd breed and her task (begun soon after the empire of Japan was defeated in World War Two) would daunt anyone, regardless of occupational labels: report to the occupying US military how to understand and rehabilitate a defeated nation whose traditions in every walk of life were – by admission on both sides – inexplicably alien to Americans. That Ms. Benedict succeeded represents a remarkable achievement and deserves celebration – and not just among anthropologists.War always imposes strange tasks, from deciphering codes to building unprecedented weapons. But Benedict’s task might top them all for hubris: the thought that the culture, mores and traditions of the Japanese nation could, not only be laid bare, but actually *understood* by foreigners for the purpose of recommending how to reconstruct it after a devastating world war. Add the fact that this was requested by the conquering military and subject to bureaucracy and deadlines and the odds against its success look distressingly high.But Benedict succeeded not only in her primary task but set a gold standard for cultural understanding. In a new foreword to this edition, noted Japan scholar Ian Buruma (author of “Inventing Japan”, among many others) rightly lauds how Benedict seemingly didn’t have a biased bone in her body: she approached Imperial Japan utterly fresh, not seeing it through a Western (or any other cultural tradition) lens. Her job required she not only see the world as the Japanese did at the time, but *how* that worldview led to their empire’s wartime actions and *what* could therefore be done to stop (or at least ameliorate) it – thereby ensuring that it didn’t happen again.To these ends, some of the detail Benedict unearths still has the power to astound – consider:Imperial Japan didn’t attack China, other East Asian countries, or even the United States to conquer land or achieve some other aggressive purpose; rather, its stated wartime aim was to simply “restore its rightful place in the world” (which was seen at the time as insufficiently lofty). Benedict points out the Japanese placed immense stock in the world being in “proper balance” and their view that every nation must “take its proper place in the world”. She notes Japanese envoys – on the very day Pearl Harbor was attacked by Imperial Japan – handed an explicit example of this as a memorandum to American Secretary of State Cordell Hull: “The Japanese government cannot tolerate the perpetuation of the present situation since it runs directly counter to Japan’s fundamental policy to enable each nation to enjoy its proper station in the world.”Other cultural markers are subtler but no less revealing. Whether it’s living one’s life as if in constant emotional – or even physical – debt (*on*, or obligations passively incurred), attempting to ease such debts to authorities (e.g., the emperor, one’s parents), or repaying debts via duties (*giri*) to the world (!) and one’s name (reputation), the mid-century Japanese view of life was, to put it mildly, radically different from anywhere in Europe or America. Benedict is numbingly thorough in explaining how a society – and by extension a government and military – functioning along these lines found its way into a global war.I found very little here to dislike; as noted, Benedict succeeds in her near-impossible task so well it seems unduly argumentative to quibble. About the only perspective I found myself wanting was more comparisons with western societies around the same time (e.g., late ‘40s); this would be especially useful for a reader (like your reviewer) reading this over seven decades later. Admittedly this would have made for a much longer book and would have begged differences between Europe, America and others.No matter. ‘The Chrysanthemum and the Sword’ holds up supremely well and reads as a veritable textbook of cultural research. In a world where misunderstandings across nations can have ever-graver consequences, rehabilitating the humble role of cultural anthropologist might pay some unexpected dividends – providing those taking it on have a reasonable fraction of Ruth Benedict’s insight.

⭐When I started doing some business with the Japanese, I figured this was a logical starting point as it was hailed as a groundbreaking work in its time and a classic that endured until today. Maybe my expectations were set too high, but this book left me flat – frankly the prose was hard to read, it was boring, and there was not much in the way of new insights. And while I’m sure when it was written it illuminated a subject completely unknown to most Americans, by now I think the work comes off as dated and now there are better, more modern takes on the same subject.When I purchased this I had also recently bought “The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture” by Roger Davies, and found that book to be far superior in explaining the history and the concepts underlying Japanese culture, with additional emphasis on modern cultural practices. I’d strongly recommend that alternative to those looking for a good book on this subject.

⭐Thanks Don Draper for this recommendation.I’ve always had an interest in Japan and Japanese culture. Found this book quite educational regardless of how old it really it is. At times the book can get complicated and it is easy to get lost but Japanese culture is not a cut and dry subject. Book really gave me insight into all the different cultural norms of Japan. And with this information in hand one can understand why Japan did not fight the American occupation at the end of WW2 and played a part in how they became such a great post war nation. What is missing is how much of this book holds true in today’s modern Japan. But of course there are other books out there that get into the modern aspects of how Japan is today. But overall, enjoyed this book.

⭐I was not sure what to expect when I started to read this book on Japanese culture written by an American scholar of Ruth Benedict. As a Korean, the culture of my country is closer to that of Japan than the States, and I was not sure whether there is something I can learn from the book. I was plain wrong — I thoroughly learned the value of “outside” opinion. I guess there are points she didn’t get right, but it is her who pointed out many important issues of Japanese culture which people living inside just cannot appreciate. She explained several key concepts which are uniquely Japanese, such as importance of hierarchy (“taking one’s proper station”), debt (on) and repayment (gimu, giri), Also explained are the concept of “giri to one’s name”, and the seemingly paradoxical situation of emphasizing self-discipline and generosity on physical pleasure. What I find particularly helpful are examples, taken from real life in Japan, pertaining to the concept she wants to explain.

⭐This is a classic of mid 20th century sociology when it was still intelligible, but subject to the merits and demerits of the genre and the times — penetrating insights, literary flair, wide-ranging interests, but an inclination towards substantial and possibly unsubstantiated generalisations. However the point of a book like this is to point you in the right direction and to help you think about the issues with which it deals. It was written under rather unusual circumstances: as a primer for the leaders of the US forces occupying Japan (as they did for six years 1945-1951) to help them understand the people they were minding? sorting out? rebuilding? It’s very hard to know what the correct verb might be. The book is written with great care and sympathy; and many of its insights, for me at least, are as prescient today as they were 70 years ago.

⭐This is, perhaps, the best and most concise overview of the development of Japanese culture from the late nineteenth century to the end of the Second World War. Indeed the author, Ruth Benedict, was drafted by the US army to interrogate Japanese POWs and Japanese Americans and, indeed, it may have been her insights which helped guide American post-war policy in Japan.She begins by discussing the aims of her assignment and follows with something on the Japanese behaviour in the Second World War. She asks the fundamental question “What drove the Japanese?”. This question essentially guides the rest of her work. The third chapter talks of “One’s Proper Station”; one of the guiding principles of Japanese society – everyone has their own places. This deals with some Japanese history: the nature of social structure and popular consent vs strife in the Nobility (the Shogun and the Daimyo).She moves on to discuss the Meiji Reforms and their impact on Japanese history in the early 20th century and the run-up to the war. Chapters 5,6,7 and 8 are perhaps the most important chapters in the book and deal with Japanese concepts of “honour”. She discusses the term “honour” within all Japanese contexts and situations and how different the Japanese concept of honour (and its development) is from the Western World and, indeed, the rest of the world. Her discussion of “On” and “Giri” is vital to the understanding of Japanese culture and the is the locomotive of most of their history.Most of the rest of the book deals with the other elements of Japanese culture within the context of “honour”. She deals with child-rearing and matters of love. This part of the book dishes out some of the most interesting aspects of Chinese society and often parts which we do not think of with Japan. When thinking of Japan our reactions might generally be limited to notions of stern samuri, ritual suicide and cute anime and manga. We don’t really imagine that the Japanese allow their children to be completely unruly until a certain age when notions of honour and “face” are instilled in them.The only disappointing section in this otherwise completely fascinating book is the chapter concerning the Japanese after VJ day. Whilst interesting in that it discusses the reasons by such apparent timid surrender as soon as the Emperor commnads, it does not do enough to discuss the cultural reasons behind the massacres (such as the “Rape of Nanjing” in China) and the inherent racism in pre-war Japanese society and how that reflected upon post-war Japan.In short, it is an excellent book and a brilliant primer for anyone interested in Japan.

⭐Fascinating topic and well researched and written.

⭐fine

⭐Somewhat dated now but still an illuminating read

⭐Book arrived new as promised!

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