Essential reading for anyone interested in Japanese culture, this unsurpassed masterwork opens an intriguing window on Japan. Benedict's World War II-era study paints an illuminating contrast between the culture of Japan and that of the United States. The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is a revealing look at how and why our cultures differ, making it the perfect introduction to Japanese history and customs.
This book is a profound and comprehensive presentation of Japanese daily manners and customs, a study and history of human thought discussing Japan's conduct of World War ll. Author Ruth Benedict revealed the intricate views of the Japanese & more with political, religious and economic issues as well as sexual conduct, Geisha, prostitution, and marriage in their daily lives. A classic of cultural anthropology.
Explore a perspective of Japanese culture in 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture' by Ruth Benedict. Drawing upon her meticulous research during World War II for the U.S. Office of War Information, Benedict unravels the intricate tapestry of Japanese customs and traditions. Through an ingenious blend of literary analysis, firsthand accounts, and cultural artifacts, she uncovers the enigmatic contradictions that shape the essence of Japan. Delving into topics such as honor, shame, and the complexities of wartime behavior, Benedict provides a nuanced understanding of Japanese society.
In The Unnamable Archipelago: Wounds of the Postcolonial in Postwar Japanese Literature and Thought, Dennitza Gabrakova discusses how the island imagery in the works by Imafuku Ryūta, Ukai Satoshi, Ōba Minako, Ariyoshi Sawako, Hino Keizō, Ikezawa Natsuki, Shimada Masahiko and Tawada Yōko shapes a critical understanding of Japan on multiple intersections of trauma and sovereignty. The book attempts an engagement with the vocabulary of postcolonial critique, while attending to the complexity of its translation into Japanese.
As Japan enters the 21st century with a new emperor, this title continues to be an indispensable guide through often enigmatic and historical idiosyncrasies of Japanese culture and politics that are often confusing to the outsider. This title includes information on the latest social developments, customs, rituals, business culture, medicine and arts.
In The Japanese Mind, Roger Davies offers Westerners an invaluable key to the unique aspects of Japanese culture. Readers of this book will gain a clear understanding of what makes the Japanese, and their society, tick. Among the topics explored: aimai (ambiguity), amae (dependence upon others' benevolence), amakudari (the nation's descent from heaven), chinmoku (silence in communication), gambari (perseverance), giri (social obligation), haragei (literally, "belly art"; implicit, unspoken communication), kenkyo (the appearance of modesty), sempai-kohai (seniority), wabi-sabi (simplicity and elegance), and zoto (gift giving), as well as discussions of child-rearing, personal space, and the roles of women in Japanese society. It includes discussion topics and questions after each chapter. All in all, this book is an easy-to-use introduction to the distinguishing characteristics of Japanese society; an invaluable resource for anyone--business people, travelers, or students--perfect for course adoption, but also for anyone interested in Japanese culture. Next in this series: Now available separately, Japanese Culture: The Religious and Philosophical Foundations is a fascinating journey through Japan's rich cultural history.
"This book sets out to describe the anxiety and unrest that plague current Japanese society, the rift between the older, more traditional generations and the younger, more cosmopolitan and Westernized generations. Citing current academic studies and surveys, the author debunks seven common stereotypes of Japanese culture: collectivism, consciousness of others, perceptions of self, emotionality, the 'salaryman', education and lifetime employment, marriage." -- BOOK JACKET.
Benedict's work, in fact, anticipated trends in anthropology in the decades to come by projecting a framework of individuals not only shaped by their culture but also using their culture for personal or collective objectives."--BOOK JACKET.
