The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture

Author: Benedict Schindler Sun Zhi-min Ma Xiao-he Zhu Li-sheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: How to understand Japanese culture, which is closely related to Chinese civilization yet distinct from it, and has brought profound disasters to Chinese civilization, is one of the topics worth Chinese people's attention. The historical humiliation and the gap in the present make many Chinese people more emotional than rational when facing and thinking about Japan. Prejudice is shallow and fragile; only rationality and calmness can give people strength. Benedict Schindler's work is a masterpiece of objectively and rationally observing Japan. In 1944, the author was invited by the U.S. government to write a research report on Japan using scientific methods of cultural anthropology, laying a solid foundation for the successful post-war governance of Japan. In 1946, the author compiled and published the report. The book received widespread acclaim upon its release, perfectly combining profound thoughts with fluent language. It has long been regarded as one of the most insightful works on Japan and is recognized as the best read for understanding Japanese culture.