Customer Reviews

Even a Stone Buddha Can Talk

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What does "the ocean does not choose its trash" mean? When might you advise a friend that "beans grow even in the shade"? Have you ever observed that "the more you wear, the colder you feel?" Where might you tell yourself, "nothing if not seven habits"?

This concise collection combines 100 earthy Japanese proverbs with vivid pen and ink drawings that invites readers to speculate on the exact meaning of each poetic phrase. Each proverb also has a pronunciation guide above the proverb, and the equivalent Western expression listed in the back.

Intelligently organized and beautifully displayed, this small collection stands out in my small library of proverbs as a precious find. While some proverbs can easily be guessed giving them a more universal and perhaps practical appeal, I appreciated the number of paradoxical proverbs that made me think.

Proverb addicts, students of Japanese culture, and tourists will find "Even a Stone Buddha Can Talk" a fascinating, fun book. A wonderful gift for friends studying Japanese or planning a trip to Japan.

PS. If you want to know the answers to the questions posed in the first paragraph, I suggest that you buy the book!