Yukio Mishima
Hardcover | Pages: 247 pages Rating: 3.98 | 11129 Users | 760 Reviews
List Based On Books The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
| Title | : | The Temple of the Golden Pavilion |
| Author | : | Yukio Mishima |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 247 pages |
| Published | : | 1995 by Everyman's Library (first published 1956) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Cultural. Japan. Asian Literature. Japanese Literature |
Interpretation As Books The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
In The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, celebrated Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima creates a haunting and vivid portrait of a young man’s obsession with idealized beauty and his destructive quest to possess it fully. Mizoguchi, an ostracized stutterer, develops a childhood fascination with Kyoto’s famous Golden Temple. While an acolyte at the temple, he fixates on the structure’s aesthetic perfection and it becomes the one and only object of his desire. But as Mizoguchi begins to perceive flaws in the temple, he determines that the only true path to beauty lies in an act of horrendous violence. Based on a real incident that occurred in 1950, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion brilliantly portrays the passions and agonies of a young man in postwar Japan, bringing to the subject the erotic imagination and instinct for the dramatic moment that marked Mishima as one of the towering makers of modern fiction. With an introduction by Donald Keene; Translated from the Japanese by Ivan Morris. (Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)Itemize Books During The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
| Original Title: | 金閣寺 |
| ISBN: | 0679433155 (ISBN13: 9780679433156) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Rating Based On Books The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
Ratings: 3.98 From 11129 Users | 760 ReviewsPiece Based On Books The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
This story by Mishima is a beautiful tale about obsession and how it destroys the bearer. It is a fable loosely based on the true story of the burning of the Kinka-kuji temple in Kyoto (I visited it once - it is absolutely sublime!) A must read for entering into the awesome universe of Mishima's writing.In 1950, the 600 year old Kinkakuji was burned down by a novice monk. Mishima creates a fictional account of the person and events leading up to its destruction. The success of this novel depends on how successful Mishima is in convincing the reader of the young acolytes personality, thoughts and motivations.The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto is beautiful, but not captivating. It may be that it is a reconstruction or it may be the thousands of tourists that rob it of its Zenness. Mizoguchi had high
Oh yes, you do so want to read this novel. I would mark the following synopsis as a "spoiler," but all is revealed in the introduction, and the events that inspired the book are about as big a mystery for the Japanese as what happened to the Titanic is to Westerners anyway, so don't go getting all sore with me like I'm maliciously ruining all your fun. We are being multicultural and pretending we already knew about this major historical event before hearing of and reading Mishima's novel. Who's
Pre-review: When the Golden Temple got bombed, perhaps the phoenix statue at the rooftop would be awakened as a real undying phoenix and rose from the flame and the ashes."Peace was kept when death and violence were on display publicly and regularly. So the one thing that should be made public properly is execution." Actually, I read the Taiwanese translation of the story( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...), so the above quotes are not from the English translation.Rating: 3.5 stars.I
I have twice in the past tried to read Mishima, firstly 'Spring Snow' which at the time for what ever reason just couldn't seem to get into it, although will definitely return there in due course. Secondly had a go at 'The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea' but didn't like his nihilistic portrayal of youth. The Temple of the Golden Pavilion was far more accessible and enticing, but still retained a serious and disturbing tone. Based on this evidence, Mishima was somebody that held
To be sure, there are times when the reality of the outer world seems to be waiting for me, folding its arms as it were, while I was struggling to free myself. But the reality that is waiting for me is not a fresh reality. When finally I reach the outer world after all my efforts, all that I find is a reality that has instantly changed colour and gone out of focus- a reality that has lost the freshness that I had considered fitting for myself, and that gives off a half-putrid odour."Mishima is
No comments
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.