Hojoki: Visions of a Torn World (Rock Spring Collection of Japanese Literature) Kindle Edition

by Kamo no Chomei (Author), Michael Hofmann (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

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ISBN-13: 978-1880656228

ISBN-10: 1880656221

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Length: 96 pages
Word Wise: Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled

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Japan's capital city of Kyoto was devastated by earthquake, storm, and fire in the late 12th century. Retreating from "this unkind world," the poet and Buddhist priest Kamo-no-Chomei left the capital for the forested mountains, where he eventually constructed his famous "ten-foot-square" hut. From this solitary vantage point Chomei produced Hojoki, an extraordinary literary work that describes all he has seen of human misery and his new life of simple chores, walks, and acts of kindness. Yet at the end he questions his own sanity and the integrity of his purpose. Has he perhaps grown too attached to his detachment?

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Poet, reporter, social philosopher, monk, Kamo-no-Chomei is one of the great noble and solitary figures in all of Japanese literature, his incomparable Hojoki as relevant today as it was eight hundred years ago. Thanks to Yasuhiko Moriguchi and David Jenkins for this luminous translation and for their brilliant introduction to the ancient masterpiece." -Sam Hamill -- Review

"Presents us with insight anew into the depth, compassion, and wisdom of this exquisite classic." -New Asia Review -- -New Asia Review

Kamo-no-Chomei was tormented by the instability of the material world. All about him, things were falling apart. There was violence and natural catastrophe. The citizens of old Kyoto were in despair. As so Chomei, a Buddhist monk in 13th century Japan, left the city. He built a small hut for himself in the forested mountains. There he led a pastoral,contemplative, Buddhistic life. Still, there were doubts about whether this was the proper Way. This modern-verse translation has a message as timely and profound as anything written about the Los Angeles riots, the Kobe earthquake, or the horrors of modern war. Hojoki will raise questions, inspire discussion, and move readers with its passionate descriptions of the human condition. Hojoki is one of the wonderfully timeless books about the human experience, the meaning of life, and the proper conduct thereof. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Yasuhiko Moriguchi and David Jenkins are writers, teachers, and translators living in Kyoto. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006FIW3E2
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stone Bridge Press (July 1, 1998)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 1998
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 230 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #939,101 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #142 in Japanese Literary Criticism (Books)
- #559 in Japanese Literature
- #1,622 in Two-Hour History Short Reads

Customer Reviews:
31 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		74%
4 star		8%
3 star		5%
2 star		6%
1 star		8%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Barbara C.

History Brought to Life

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016

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I came across this small gem of a book while browsing Amazon's Japanese history section. In exquisite prose poetry, a 12th century gentleman turned monk chronicles a series of disasters that befell Kyoto in quick succession, including earthquakes, fire, famine and more. Each time, he rebuilds a smaller house until he ultimately chooses life as a hermit in a tiny, rude hut in the mountains. His stark and plaintive voice reaches us clearly and with great immediacy, remarkable given the divide of many centuries and a very different time and place. SO glad this treasure has been preserved and that this wonderful translation is available today!

5 people found this helpful

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Little Substance

Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2019

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Bought this expecting spiritual insight of perseverance in the midst of catastrophes but all I found was "woe is me, guess I'll be a hermit in in mountains" (my paraphrase). The introduction wax eloquent of purpose and humanity, however, I find the author rather clueless as reflected in his own words, "People die and are born - whence they come and where they go I do not know". Read the whole thing in about 20 minutes. I kept expecting that eureka moment but it never came and when I reached the end all I could say "is that it?"

One person found this helpful

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DAVID E HALL

Very good read!

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2014

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The writing, story, and poetry are great! The translation appears to be very good with alternate interpretations where appropriate. Unfortunately, this is a true paperback, unlike many of the Japanese good quality paperbacks I am used to in this genre of literature. Poor paper stock and printing means it will not last! Also, the illustrations, while good and authentic, suffer from the same problem. I will read it again sometime and then put it away and watch for a really good edition. The seller is excellent and sent it earlier than anticipated. I would buy from them again.

4 people found this helpful

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Michael Shea

Timeless

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2012

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This short book has survived for nearly 800 years, and it is easy to see why. I cannot recall ever having seen the timeless pathos of the human condition portrayed more vividly, and the translation is fabulous. I also recommend the audio version narrated by Togo Igawa (available on audible.com). It isn't the best recording in the world, but I think Igawa's performance is wonderful. The Japan of 8 centuries ago seems like yesterday - or maybe tomorrow.

8 people found this helpful

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PJ Wally

Lovely just a tad expensive for such a short translation

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2020

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Lovely just a tad expensive for such a short translation. If cheaper perhaps more would enjoy it but perhaps they would not cherish it then, who knows?

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Amazon Customer

A fascinating look at old Japan

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2012

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The writer, a monk, describes calamities of nature - fire, earthquake - that assaulted the Kyoto area in the 1200s, with palpable sorrow and compassion, and describes his own retreat from society, in touching fashion.

4 people found this helpful

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PittGuy

a useful meditation

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2013

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This is a surpringly relevant meditation on the nature of life. This translation is crisp and delightful. I reccomend Hojoki as something to read slowly on a quiet morning or in the light of a sunset.

4 people found this helpful

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Maggie Hess

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2016

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beautiful!

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Margarita Fair

Beautiful, profound in its simplicity

Reviewed in Australia on February 8, 2020

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Loved the imagery. It has much to consider and discuss. Would make an interesting discussion piece for a book club or philosophy group

アマゾンのお客様

The Worst Translation Work I've ever read.

Reviewed in Japan on May 6, 2019

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I've read the original "Hojoki"(Japanese Edition) more than a thousand times.
In my humble opinion, this English edition is the worst work not only of the original essay, but also the worldwide literature.
The translator killed every word in the essay instead of making it alive in English.

For example, if KJB or Shakespeare or T. S. Eliot, whoever has a magic to create arts in English language, would be translated in the English used by only children, it'd be more understandable than the original, on the other hand it'd also ruined the fabulous flavor of which.

Likewise, "Hojoki" is not a column on a Tabloid. Which is an art as well as a poem.
To make it easier to understand the meaning of poems, you can't kill the words. You should use appropriate wordings, like KJB was also translated.

We, most of Japanese, respect the Western culture as you might already know.
Please do not read this viorentally horrible edition.

Thank you.