Essays in Idleness and Hojoki - Yoshida Kenko, Kamo no Chomei

These two works on life's fleeting pleasures are by Buddhist monks from medieval Japan, but each shows a different worldview. In the short memoir Hôjôki, Chômei recounts his decision to withdraw from worldly affairs and live as a hermit in a tiny hut in the mountains, contemplating the impermanence of human existence. Kenko, however, displays a fascination with more earthy matters in his collection of anecdotes, advice and observations. From ribald stories of drunken monks to aching nostalgia for the fading traditions of the Japanese court, Essays in Idleness is a constantly surprising work that ranges across the spectrum of human experience.

Original Language: Japanese
Translator: Meredith McKinney
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 224