1. Impermanence
EALL 211
July 25, 2013

2. Reading quiz
What image does Kamo no Chōmei use to describe the impermanence of life at the beginning of Hōjōki? (river)
How did Tanizaki think a Japanese room should be decorated? (worn, dimly lit, simple)

3. Reading discussion Why did Kamo decide to live in his hut?
How does Tanizaki describe the Japanese aesthetic?
How is the idea of impermanence an outgrowth of our understanding of Japanese culture?

4. Kamo no Chōmei (鴨長明) Lived from 1153-1216 Born into Shintō aristocracy
Passed over upon father’s death; was disinherited
Left court life, built a hut and lived as a recluse
Left Shintō for Buddhism

5. Hōjōki (An Account of My Hut)
“Ceaselessly the river flows, and yet the water is never the same, while in the still pools the shifting foam gathers and is gone, never staying for a moment. Even so is man and his habitation.”

6. Mujō (無常) Outgrowth of Buddhist concept of suffering
Since everything is in constant change, forming attachment causes suffering
Japan finds beauty in impermanence (mono no aware, 物の哀れ)

9. Jun’ichirō Tanizaki Lived from 1886-1965
One of Japan’s most celebrated modern writers
Wrote about juxtaposition of the West and Japan
Famous for works like Naomi, Quicksand, and “In Praise of Shadows”

10. “In Praise of Shadows”
Explores concepts of wabi (侘, understated elegance) and sabi (寂, beauty coming from age)
Contrasts Western aesthetic and Japanese

11. Wabi-sabi

12. Short paper assignment
Should be about three pages long
Can be about any aspect of Japanese culture we’ve discussed so far
Should make connections between different topics we’ve learned about
Should reference our readings from class
Due at the start of Thursday’s class

13. Possible ideas for paper
The Shintō religion reflects the Japanese attitude of isolation from the world.
Japan’s adoption of Buddhism early in its history helped pave the way for its enduring aesthetic value of mujō.