The Pleasures of Japanese Literature by Donald Keene (PDF)

Description

Perhaps no one is more qualified to write about Japanese culture than Donald Keene, considered the leading interpreter of that nation’s literature to the Western world. The author, editor, or translator of nearly three dozen books of criticism and works of literature, Keene now offers an enjoyable and beautifully written introduction to traditional Japanese culture for the general reader.The book acquaints the reader with Japanese aesthetics, poetry, fiction, and theater, and offers Keene’s appreciations of these topics. Based on lectures given at the New York Public Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the University of California, Los Angeles, the essays -though written by a renowned scholar- presuppose no knowledge of Japanese culture. Keene’s deep learning, in fact, enables him to construct an overview as delightful to read as it is informative.His insights often illuminate aspects of traditional Japanese culture that endure today. One of these is the appreciation of “perishability.” this appreciation os seen in countless little bits of Japanese life: in temples made of wood instead of durable materials; in the preference for objects -such as pottery- that are worn, broken, or used rather than new; and in the national love of the delicate cherry blossom, which normally falls after a brief three days of flowering. Keene quotes the fourteenth-century Buddhist monk Kenko, who wrote that “the most precious thing about life is its uncertainty.”Throughout the volume, Keene demonstrates that the rich artistic and social traditions of Japan can indeed be understood by readers from our culture. This book will enlighten anyone interested in Japanese literature and culture.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review These graceful essays…answer many questions Western readers may have about pre-modern Japanese poetry, fiction, theater and aesthetics…It is an excellent summing up for those familiar with Japanese literature and will entice those with some knowledge to read more. ― New York Times Book Review About the Author Donald Keene, Shincho Professor of Japanese Literature at Columbia University, has written, edited, or translated more than thirty books, many of them published by Columbia University Press. He has received numerous honors in both the United States and Japan, and was recently elected to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

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

⭐Donald Keene, the 90-year-old scholar who has done more than anyone else to introduce Japanese literature to the West, is most widely celebrated for his translations and hefty anthologies of both ancient and modern Japanese literature. It can be argued, however, that the most sublime of his books are the slimmest, like that published in 1988 as “The Pleasures of japanese Literature.”This volumes takes five lectures that Keene presented in the late 1980s, addressing literary issues in three of them and aesthetics and the theater in the two others. While the essays do not focus on such topics as garden design, clothing decoration, cooking traditions, the visual arts, or moviemaking, themes developed by Keene in “The Pleasures of Japanese Literature” are critically important in these domains of japanese culture as well.This book is notable for being accessible to the neophyte while also completely satisfying the expert reader. That Keene has succeeded on this front speaks to his exquisite writing style, avoidance of excessive terminology, appropriate citation of Japanese literary sources, and helpful comparisons to non-Asian cultures.

⭐Very well written. Keene has been a wonderful resource over the years. I enjoy reading a lot of Japanese literature, much of it written pre 1960, so I was interested in learning a few of the aesthetics involved with classic Japanese literature. This book actually helped me understand a bit more about Japanese short stories in particular (such as Akutagawa’s stories) and turn of the 20th century Japanese writers such as Soseki and Ogai.It’s short and to the point, but very well written. For how concise the book is, it contains a lot of information. My one problem was with the seller. They listed the book ‘Good’ but it was a former library copy. Still, $4 used with free shipping… I can’t complain too much. Just be aware that this is an older book, so used copies might be a bit more worn than expected.Highly recommended!

⭐One of Keene’s early works, the reviews with great skill the subtleties and beauty within Japanese literature.

⭐Quite simply one of the most brilliant books I have ever read. From lectures given by this eminent professor. As an introduction to Japanese culture and aesthetics it stands above every other. The language is simple but the ideas are profound. I have read and re-read this book many times over the years, both for its genteel phrasing and muscular teaching dynamic. No ability to speak Japanese is required. The author cherry picks (no pun intended) from the various impressions from living in Japan and the literature understanding conveyed in poetry of various court periods. Interesting to know that the stiff necked barons and princes of the Japanese court were haunted by love stories, ambiguous dreams, and regrets they wove into stirring poems they shared in competitions. This book is didactic only in that it can make one yearn to write as successfully and as inspiring a work.

⭐I think this is a delightful little book. It is intended for a general audience and fairly accessible. I enjoyed learning more about such things as Japanese aesthetics, waka, Lady Murasaki, and kabuki.

⭐A brief but absolutely interesting excursus in the Japanese literature, poetry and theater ( I finally got what the No theater is all about), totally fascinating.Un breve excursus nella letteratura, poesia e teatro giapponese (ho finalmente capito di cosa parla il teatro No), assolutamente affascinante.

⭐Donald Keene is rare in his expertise of Japanese literature. His translations of Japanese classic literature are rare jewels recommended to anyone interested in this genre. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the writings of the Japanese people.

⭐A avoir pour qui s’intéresse à la culture japonaise. C’était pour un cours et le livre a été bien utilisé. Références et textes clairs et précis.

⭐

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