Zen Buddhism and Japanese culture in Kyoto.
This book offers a fascinating insight into traditional Japan and Zen Buddhism through the eyes of an outsider. It follows the story of Pico Iyer who is trying to learn about Japanese culture and Buddhism by staying in a monastery in Kyoto. Along the way, he meets Sachiko, a thoroughly educated local who introduces him to the intricate world of Japanese literature, tea ceremony, and classical music, while also showing him the larger cultural, and historical landscape of Japan. The book is a witty and heartfelt account of cross-cultural misunderstandings and infatuation, offering a fresh perspective on the country's ancient traditions and its contemporary way of life.
ISBN: 9780679738343
Authors:
Pico Iyer
Publisher: Vintage Departures
Date of Publication: 1992-01-01
Format: Paperback
Goodreads rating: 3.79
(rated by 2305 readers)
Description
When Pico Iyer decided to go to Kyoto and live in a monastery, he did so to learn about Zen Buddhism from the inside, to get to know Kyoto, one of the loveliest old cities in the world, and to find out something about Japanese culture today -- not the world of businessmen and production lines, but the traditional world of changing seasons and the silence of temples, of the images woven through literature, of the lunar Japan that still lives on behind the rising sun of geopolitical power.All this he did. And then he met Sachiko.Vivacious, attractive, thoroughly educated, speaking English enthusiastically if eccentrically, the wife of a Japanese "salaryman" who seldom left the office before 10 P.M., Sachiko was as conversant with tea ceremony and classical Japanese literature as with rock music, Goethe, and Vivaldi. With the lightness of touch that made Video Night in Kathmandu so captivating, Pico Iyer fashions from their relationship a marvelously ironic yet heartfelt book that is at once a portrait of cross-cultural infatuation -- and misunderstanding -- and a delightfully fresh way of seeing both the old Japan and the very new.
Condition guide
Book Condition Guide
Books in Like New Condition
This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Very Good Condition
This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Good Condition
We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Well Read Condition
This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
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Zen Buddhism and Japanese culture in Kyoto.
This book offers a fascinating insight into traditional Japan and Zen Buddhism through the eyes of an outsider. It follows the story of Pico Iyer who is trying to learn about Japanese culture and Buddhism by staying in a monastery in Kyoto. Along the way, he meets Sachiko, a thoroughly educated local who introduces him to the intricate world of Japanese literature, tea ceremony, and classical music, while also showing him the larger cultural, and historical landscape of Japan. The book is a witty and heartfelt account of cross-cultural misunderstandings and infatuation, offering a fresh perspective on the country's ancient traditions and its contemporary way of life.
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