Kotto: Being Japanese Curios, with Sundry CobwebsJournalist-by-trade Lafcadio Hearn used his wanderer's eye and guileless, graceful style to provide elegant chronicles for an English-speaking world fascinated by the exotic sensibilities of Japan. He set himself apart from others who attempted to translate the life and culture of this island country through his ability to reveal the truth of his subjects artfully-flawlessly exemplifying the Japanese aesthetic through his voice, as well as through his tale. In Kotto, first published in 1902, Hearn placed classical fables next to his own discoveries (of a woman's diary, for example) and reflections on the timeless themes of life, death, and meaning, showcasing the simple beauty and ever-present spirituality that define the Japanese ideology.Bohemian and writer PATRICK LAFCADIO HEARN (1850-1904) was born in Greece, raised in Ireland, and worked as newspaper reporter in the United States before decamping to Japan. He also wrote In Ghostly Japan (1899), and Kwaidan (1904). |
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Common terms and phrases
able answered appear Asakusa ashigaru asked atoms Baku Buddha Buddhist cage called child Chinese Chōchin Chūgorō clerk crabs creature Daimyō dark dead death demon's name doubt dream evil existence eyes face father fear felt festival fire fireflies flies Fugen Bosatsu Futa-fufu gaki ghost girl goblins Goto Goto's Hachiyémon Hatsu Heiké-gani Hotaru kana Hotarubi human hunter husband ikiryō imagined insects Japan Japanese poetry Jitō Kihei kind kittens Kuraki Kwannon Kyō Kyōto Kyūbei Kyūshū light living look Matsuri mokugyo morning mother mother-love Nembutsu never night ninth month O-Kamé O-Katsu o'clock Ōkubo old Japanese Ōsaka pain perhaps person poems priest remain Rokubei Saishō Sekinai Shadow Shinto sickness signifies sister smile spirit story strange suddenly Sumidagawa Tama Tanoshimi tell temple things thought to-day Tōkyō told trees Ujigami voice wife woman wonderful word yashiki Yurei-Daki