Exotics and Retrospectives
Lafcadio Hearn, born 1850 in Greece, went to Japan when he was 40 years old and became a Japanese citizen only 6 years later. His writings about Japan from the beginning of the Meiji era, when the country was just opening to the West, remain among the most important explanations of Japanese culture.
This book contains in the first part, "Exotics", his observations of and personal insights into Japan. For example, Fuji no Yama tells about him climbing the highest mountain in Japan; and A Question in the Zen Texts, Literature of the Dead, and Of Moon Desire try to explain Buddhist teachings. In the second part, "Retrospectives", Hearn leaves both Japan and his vantage point as impartial observer behind and delves into personal experiences and musings that occurred to him in the numerous countries he visited. The main topic of these very personal pieces is beauty in all its forms. (Summary by Availle)
Genre(s): Essays & Short Works, Philosophy
Language: English
Keyword(s): philosophy (944), essays (190), Japan (88)
| Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play 00 | Foreword | William Gavula |
00:01:39 |
| Play 01 | EXOTICS: I Fuji-No-Yama | William Gavula |
00:48:14 |
| Play 02 | II Insect Musicians | MaryAnn |
00:46:59 |
| Play 03 | III A Question in the Zen Texts | William Gavula |
00:10:53 |
| Play 04 | IV The Literature of the Dead, Part 1 | Availle |
00:42:51 |
| Play 05 | IV The Literature of the Dead, Part 2 | Availle |
00:28:33 |
| Play 06 | V Frogs | Larry Wilson |
00:19:33 |
| Play 07 | VI Of Moon-Desire | Lynne T |
00:12:48 |
| Play 08 | RETROSPECTIVES: VII First Impressions | Isana |
00:14:08 |
| Play 09 | VIII Beauty is Memory | Larry Wilson |
00:11:47 |
| Play 10 | IX Sadness in Beauty | JenMitchell |
00:10:25 |
| Play 11 | X Parfum de Jeunesse | Kristin G. |
00:05:21 |
| Play 12 | XI Azure Psychology | Larry Wilson |
00:14:12 |
| Play 13 | XII A Serenade | Kristin G. |
00:08:53 |
| Play 14 | XIII A Red Sunset | heeheekitty |
00:13:42 |
| Play 15 | XIV Frisson | heeheekitty |
00:12:55 |
| Play 16 | XV Vespertina Cognitio | Availle |
00:20:52 |
| Play 17 | XVI The Eternal Haunter | Kristin G. |
00:08:56 |