The Flowering Spirit is a new translation of Fushikaden, the 15thcentury classic text by Zeami, founder of the No theater. Written sometime between 1400 and 1418, Fushikaden became a secret, sought-after guide to life for Zeamis acting troupe. Not until the latter part of the 19th century did Fushikaden gradually begin to make its way into the hands of the general public. Although Fushikaden is about No drama, Zeami incorporated into his text his philosophical outlook on the art of lifethe wayand how one goes about living according to these principles, providing invaluable teachings on the aesthetics and spiritual culture of Japan. No was the art form of choice for the samurai class; and many of its principles echo those of the martial arts. Zeami brought his wide-ranging education in Zen Buddhism, his knowledge of classical Japanese poetry, and his exposure to the aristocratic lifestyle to his writing of this classic work. In addition to his impeccable translation, William Scott Wilson has contributed several important adjunct pieces to Zeamis classic workan introduction about the history of No drama, copious notes explaining the background of the book, an appendix containing a translation of one of Zeamis greatest plays, Atsumori, and an afterword that connects No drama with the warrior class.
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Book Description
A new and definitive English translation of the classic Japanese work on the art of No theater - and life.
About the Author
Zeami (13631432) was an actor and playwright, described by Donald Keene as the greatest figure in the history of No. William Scott Wilson's first translation, Kodansha's bestselling edition of Hagakure, was published in 1979, the same year he completed a Masters degree in Japanese language and literature at the University of Washington. Hagakure was prominently featured in the Jim Jarmusch film, Ghost Dog. Wilsons other translations include The Book of Five Rings, The Life-Giving Sword, The Unfettered Mind, Taiko and Ideals of the Samurai. He is also the author of The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, a biography of one of Japan's most important cultural icons. In 2005, Wilson was awarded Japan's Foreign Minister Commendation. He lives in Miami, Florida.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Five Star Review,
By Director "Darksoul" (CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of Nō (Hardcover)
This amazing translation of the art of Noh, is printed in Japan. The hardcover book, although not large - has cream paper, clean typesetting and is altogether elegant. Inside is the original Master's son's handbook on artistry. This combined with Stanislavski's "Life in Art" are, in my opinion - the bibles of artistry. M. Tank
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
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Philosophical and Technical Inspiration,
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This review is from: The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of Nō (Hardcover)
One of those books that makes the reader
wonder how he or she could live among the literate and not encounter the benefit of a recommendation. Any type of performance would be well informed by this book - as would any scholar, artist, or anyone else seeking a better understanding about life and the rituals that bring people together.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Book With Keen Insights,
By Thomas Raven (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of Nō (Hardcover)
This book contains a wonderful translation of the original Japanese texts and presents it in an aesthetically pleasing format. Although this volume is slim, it's packed with insights that can be applied to many different pursuits.
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Inside This Book
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Generally, we consider age seven the time to begin this art. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Prince Shbtoku New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
books:
- Zen and Zen Classics: Twenty-Five Essays by R. H. Blyth in Back Matter
- A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms: With Sanskrit and English Equivalents and a Sanskrit-Pali Index by Lewis Hodous in Back Matter
- Zen and Japanese Culture by Daisetz T. Suzuki in Front Matter
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