Sleeping Beauty - World Literature Library

Author: Kawabata Yasunari
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: The ocean embraces all rivers, and inclusiveness is great. Only by standing on the cultural traditions of one's own country and integrating excellent foreign cultures can a writer achieve brilliance in literature. Kawabata Yasunari achieved his success and gained global recognition precisely on this point. The Chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee for Literature, Andrei Ostling, said in his acceptance speech upon awarding Kawabata Yasunari the Nobel Prize in Literature: "Mr. Kawabata was clearly influenced by European modern realism, but he also clearly demonstrated his faithful adherence to classical Japanese literature, upholding and inheriting the pure traditional literary model of Japan."
In works like Sleeping Beauty and The Arm, while exploring the theme of "the main melody and variations of life" between aesthetic humanism and nihilistic values, Kawabata delved into the depths of human psychology and revealed the hidden darkness of humanity, showcasing the normalcy and abnormality of human emotions, as well as the complexity of how these emotions adapt to the evolution of human nature. Yet, this near-flirtatiousness or even decadence was all woven into the refined and wistful cultural network of Japan. The symbolic meaning of this charm must be felt with the heart, reaching the state of "deep sorrow in the heart."
Kawabata's success in creative practice primarily lies in three forms of integration: the fusion of modern consciousness with traditional cultural spirit, the blending of psychological portrayal with natural description, and the combination of stream-of-consciousness leaps with traditional craftsmanship. Some of Kawabata's novels actively absorbed the humanism and humanitarianism of modern Western thought, reflecting the intellect and sensibility of modern people. At the same time, he employed techniques to delve into the depths of the psyche, integrating the spiritualism of Japan and the East, and paying attention to revealing the psychological qualities of national culture.
Sleeping Beauty explores the theme of "the elderly unaware of their ugliness." Sometimes, it uses a ascetic lens to criticize others for commenting that Kawabata's portrayal of female beauty in some works is "obsessive," while at other times, it employs a hedonistic lens to promote the idea that Kawabata's depiction of female bodies is lyrical—in reality, Kawabata did not depict female bodies, thus criticizing the self-entraping cycle of obsession.
The ocean embraces all rivers, and inclusiveness is great. Only by standing on the cultural traditions of one's own country and integrating excellent foreign cultures can a writer achieve brilliance in literature. Kawabata Yasunari achieved his success and gained global recognition precisely on this point. The Chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee for Literature, Andrei Ostling, said in his acceptance speech upon awarding Kawabata Yasunari the Nobel Prize in Literature: "Mr. Kawabata was clearly influenced by European modern realism, but he also clearly demonstrated his faithful adherence to classical Japanese literature, upholding and inheriting the pure traditional literary model of Japan."
In works like Sleeping Beauty and The Arm, while exploring the theme of "the main melody and variations of life" between aesthetic humanism and nihilistic values, Kawabata delved into the depths of human psychology and revealed the hidden darkness of humanity, showcasing the normalcy and abnormality of human emotions, as well as the complexity of how these emotions adapt to the evolution of human nature. Yet, this near-flirtatiousness or even decadence was all woven into the refined and wistful cultural network of Japan. The symbolic meaning of this charm must be felt with the heart, reaching the state of "deep sorrow in the heart."
Kawabata's success in creative practice primarily lies in three forms of integration: the fusion of modern consciousness with traditional cultural spirit, the blending of psychological portrayal with natural description, and the combination of stream-of-consciousness leaps with traditional craftsmanship. Some of Kawabata's novels actively absorbed the humanism and humanitarianism of modern Western thought, reflecting the intellect and sensibility of modern people. At the same time, he employed techniques to delve into the depths of the psyche, integrating the spiritualism of Japan and the East, and paying attention to revealing the psychological qualities of national culture.
Sleeping Beauty explores the theme of "the elderly unaware of their ugliness." Sometimes, it uses a ascetic lens to criticize others for commenting that Kawabata's portrayal of female beauty in some works is "obsessive," while at other times, it employs a hedonistic lens to promote the idea that Kawabata's depiction of female bodies is lyrical—in reality, Kawabata did not depict female bodies, thus criticizing the self-entraping cycle of obsession.