Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Volume 2As an interpreter of Japan to the West, Lafcadio Hearn was without parallel in his time. His numerous books about that country were read with a fascination that was a tribute to his keen powers of observation and the vividness of his descriptions. Today, even though Japan has changed greatly from what it was when he wrote about it, his writing is still valid, for it captures the essence of the country - an essence that has actually changed a good deal less than outward appearances might suggest. In a word, the Japanese character and the Japanese tradition are still fundamentally the same as Hearn described. |
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ancient bamboo beautiful become believe Bimbogami blue Buddha Buddhist butsudan called chant character charm Chiburi child Chinese coiffure curious custom cuttlefish dead dokoe dream dwelling Emperor eyes face festival flowers foreign fusuma garden geisha ghosts girl goblin gods guest hair head heard heikegani Hōki honor hototogisu ihai islands Izumo Japa Japan Japanese Japanese garden Jizō kaimyō kamidana Kenchō Kinjurō Kojiki Kyōto Kyūshū lamp laugh legend living look Master Matsue Mionoseki miya never night Nishinoshima Occidental ofuda once paper passed pine pray pretty priest robes sacred Saigo saké samurai seemed seen Setsubun shape shimenawa Shinto shrine signifies smile Souls steamer stone story strange sword tablets teacher temple Tété things thou thought tion tree Urago village voice Western woman wonderful words Yokogi young Yuki-Onna
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Page 492 - of the plants of Japan made by a Japanese lady, which are the most masterly things I have ever seen. Every stem, twig, and leaf is produced by single touches of the brush, the character and perspective of very complicated plants being admirably given, and the articulations of stem and leaves shown in a
Page 445 - of the land; display your personal courage and public spirit for the sake of the country whenever required ; and thus support the Imperial prerogative, which is coexistent with the Heavens and the Earth. " Such conduct on your part will not only strengthen the character of Our good and loyal subjects,
Page 360 - 1 The tree was felled, but, having fallen, it suddenly became so heavy that three hundred men could not move it. Then the child, taking a branch in his little hand, said, " Come," and the tree followed him, gliding along the ground to the court of the temple. Although said to be a
Page 529 - love with an inmate of the Yoshiwara, named Ayaginu, and wished to marry her. When his master bade the vassal choose between his fortune and his passion, the lovers fled secretly to a farmer's house, and there committed suicide together. And the above song was made about them. It is still
Page 630 - Multiplied into ten by being each one divided into "Elder" and "Younger," the Five Elements become the Ten Celestial Stems; and their influences are commingled with those of the Rat, Bull, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Serpent. Horse. Goat, Ape, Cock, Dog, and Boar (the twelve Zodiacal Signs),
Page 661 - wife for the space of two lives; but the relation between master and servant continues for the period of three existences. one. It was a very beautiful weapon, and the merchant saw that it was also very valuable, and lent the money without hesitation. Some weeks later the old man was able to
Page 663 - of Japan. From the modernized upper classes nothing is to be learned. The deeper signification of race differences is being daily more and more illustrated in the effects of the higher education. Instead of creating any community of feeling, it appears only to widen the distance between the Occidental and the Oriental. Some foreign observers
Page 506 - their entrails. Only their entrails. The corpse of him who has been seized by the Kappa may be cast on shore after many days. Unless long battered against the rocks by heavy surf, or nibbled by fishes, it will show no outward wound. But it will be light and hollow — empty like a longdried gourd.
Page 394 - Antique," has shown the religious public institutions among the Greeks and Romans to have been developed from the religion of the hearth. Indeed, the word ujigami. now used to signify a Shinto parish temple, and also its deity, means "family God," and in its present form is a corruption or contraction of
Page 353 - domestica. 2 The most lucky of all dreams, they say in Izumo, is a dream of Fuji, the Sacred Mountain. Next in order of good omen is dreaming of a falcon (taka). The third best subject for a dream is the eggplant (nasubi). To dream of the sun or of the moon is very