Beauty and Sorrow · Dandelion

Author: (Japanese) Yasunari Kawabata
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: The main features of this collection are:
⑴ Within the scope of ten volumes, it systematically reflects Yasunari Kawabata's creative tendencies in different periods, such as: certain short stories with a new sensationist inclination from his new sensationist period, as well as Spring Scenery and Hot Spring Inn; and the comprehensive inheritance of Buddhist philosophy, particularly the concept of reincarnation, in Lyrical Meditations, as well as works like Snow Country, The House of the Millionaire, and Koto that emerged from the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. This demonstrates how Kawabata, oscillating between two extreme tendencies, developed a critical impulse and conscious awareness toward both traditional and Western literature, meticulously organized his literary creative thoughts, and ultimately created the beauty of Kawabata's literature and the beauty of Eastern literature.
⑵ It selectively includes a group of works that have never been published in China but hold significant positions in Kawabata's literary world, such as the medium-length novels Asakusa Red Circle, Beauty and Sorrow, Sun and Moon, and Dandelion. These works provide readers with a more comprehensive and broader perspective to glimpse the entirety of Kawabata's literature.
⑶ It strives to cover various literary genres, including short stories, medium-length novels, short stories, essays, and creative. Many of Kawabata's novels were first developed through the fermentation and refinement of his short stories, and it can even be said that his short stories contain the foundational characteristics and all elements of his novel writing, serving as a microcosm of his entire creative output. As one Japanese scholar said, the key to unlocking Kawabata's literature lies in his short stories. This collection is published in the form of a complete short story series to delight readers. The creative Solitary Shadow records the process and experiences of creating each work, and together with the essays I Live in a Beautiful Japan, The Existence and Discovery of Beauty, and The Beauty of Japanese Literature included in the essay collection, they provide another key to unlocking Kawabata's literature.
⑷ It selectively includes some controversial or even highly debated works, such as Sleeping Beauty and One Arm. In the past, some critics have simply condemned these works by listing their surface plots in a one-sided manner. In reality, literature is a composite of culture, and without delving into its deep cultural connotations from multiple perspectives and levels, including its traditional aesthetic consciousness, it is difficult to grasp its essence. As Nagayoshi Hasegawa said, someone with sharp eyes need not finish reading Sleeping Beauty to know that it does not depict ugly old women. Fully introducing these works can provide literary enthusiasts with a foundation to address these issues, enabling them to make scientific analyses and realistic critiques based on the actual works.