Unfathomable Japan. Japan as seen by Chinese cultural elites.

Author: Li Zhaozhong (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Kenzaburō ōe showed great interest in this book and engaged in in-depth discussions with the author. The concept of the "unseen Japan" presented in this book aligns with ōe's notion of the "ambiguous Japan," though they operate in different contexts and can complement each other. Why did Guo Moruo and Cheng Fangwu, who spent many years in Japan, rarely discuss Japanese culture? Why did Bao Sheisheng and Zhang Ziping mock and ridicule Japan so fiercely? Why were Zhou Zuoren and Xu Zhimo easily captivated by Japan's "humanity and beauty"? This book meticulously examines the explorations of Japanese national character by cultural elites from China who studied in Japan over the past century, such as Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Guo Moruo, and Dai Jitao. Among them, some offered profound insights, while others had significant misinterpretations, reflecting the difficulty of truly understanding Japan. Learning from their experiences and lessons is of great importance for us to better understand Japanese culture and grasp the essence of the Japanese people today.