The Chrysanthemum and the Sword -- Patterns of Japanese Culture

Author: [USA] Benedict
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: This book begins with the author's perspective on war (World War II), then moves on to the Meiji Restoration, and further discusses Japanese customs, moral concepts, and even self-training and educating children to learn traditions. The entire book is a mix of narration and commentary, interwoven with the author's anthropological cultural typology theory. How to understand Japanese culture, which is closely related to Chinese civilization yet distinctly different from it, and has brought profound suffering to Chinese civilization, is one of the topics worth Chinese people's attention. The historical shame 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 reason and calmness can give strength. Benedict's work is a masterpiece of an objective and rational observation of 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 was met with widespread acclaim upon 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.