白い人・黄色い人

by Shūsaku Endō, 遠藤周作

『白い人』は、醜悪な主人公とパリサイ的な神学生との対立を、第二次大戦中のドイツ占領下リヨンでのナチ拷問の場に追いつめ、人間実存の根源に神を求める意志の必然性を見いだそうとした芥川受賞作。『黄色い人』は、友人の許婚者をなんらの良心の呵責も感じずに犯す日本青年と、神父を官憲に売った破戒の白人僧を描いて、汎神論的風土における神の意味を追求する初期作品。

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Japanese Literature

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1955

About the author

Shusaku Endo (遠藤周作), born in Tokyo in 1923, was raised by his mother and an aunt in Kobe where he converted to Roman Catholicism at the age of eleven. At Tokyo's Keio University he majored in French literature, graduating BA in 1949, before furthering his studies in French Catholic literature at the University of Lyon in France between 1950 and 1953. A major theme running through his books, which have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Russian and Swedish, is the failure of Japanese soil to nurture the growth of Christianity. Before his death in 1996, Endo was the recipient of a number of outstanding Japanese literary awards: the Akutagawa Prize, Mainichi Cultural Prize, Shincho Prize, and Tanizaki Prize.
(from the backcover of Volcano).

Reviews

[Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This two-novella paperback is arguably readable if you've known and read as a basis some of his works as one of the Japanese prolific writers before, for example, Silence (Taplinger, 1980), The Samurai (New Directions, 1997), Scandal (Tuttle, 1988), etc. as well as his short stories collected in "Stained Glass Elegies" (New Directions, 1990) and "The Final Martyrs" (Tuttle, 1993), each having 11 stories. The first novella, "White Man," has obviously been written based on his life studying in France at the University of Lyon in the early 195os whereas "Yellow Man" is "in a form of a letter written by a young man, no longer a practicing Catholic, to his former pastor, a French missionary." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%A...)

In "Yellow Man," the young man named Chiba has alternately written to Mr Durant whose diaries we can read in Chapters II, IV and VI, in other words, he's supposed to write his letters to the French pastor in Chapters I, III, V and VII. However, I don't agree with this since the four Chapters by Chiba has normally been written like a novel without a heading like Mr Durand's, that is, DURAND'S DIARY. Incidentally, there is a queer episode between Chiba and Itoko, Saeki's fiance, in terms of their intimate relationship that has gone as far as adultery. I don't know if he's aware of such a sin knowingly committed and known by means of his selfishly inappropriate advance toward that innocent and unwise woman. A reason could be that she has trusted him as Saeki's friend. Their deranged misconduct should be condemned due to his selfishness and her infidelity.

To continue ...

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two novellas written early in Shusaku Endo's career contain the germs of important themes he would flesh out more fully in his later masterworks, "Silence" and "The Samurai." Here the young writer explores apostasy, displacement, ugliness, cowardice, sadism, and sin. His Japanese Catholicism is an incredibly interesting lens in these short works as it is in all his writing. I don't know of any other writer, with the exception of Dostoevsky, who understands the seductive power of sin as much as Shusaku Endo. His characters explore sin and forgiveness, evil and grace; they are like the experiments one's guilt-ridden subconscious in a dark, nearly forgotten dream. As in his other works, he avoids trite answers to metaphysical questions and instead presents his characters' often disturbing actions to the reader for evaluation and meditation. This double novella is a very unsettling read and left me thinking about both stories for days and days afterwards.

[R.R. Tavárez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful. A brief exploration on the human condition. Guilt and the absence thereof. I highly recommend.

[W. Benson Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stellar pair of novellas set during the Second World War that explore the nature and dilemma of faith, punishment, and humanity. The first novella, White Man, won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1955. Set in France during the Second World War, it follows the story of a sadistic Frenchman who has betrays his countryman to fulfill his pleasure in the suffering of others. The second novella, Yellow Man, is set in Japan and examines the lives of three Christians, each with different backgrounds and beliefs. I found this work less predictable and of slightly more depth as the Endo looks at how those born in Japan can struggle with the ideas of Western morality.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am.not sure what to make of the obsession with apostates and race in in these two novellas. Set in Vichy France and in wartime Japan near Kobe, the novellas are not a pleasant read but I felt compelled to follow the tales of the deeply flawed protagonists to the end,

I read a number of novels by ENDO Shusaku in the '80s, but nothing since. Thought I should try again as a Japanese student in my class wants to write a thesis about the theme of Christianity in Endo and other writers.

[Andrew (Drew) Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not transcendent like Silence, but the themes that emerge in the later book (about an earlier time) are present here in these two novellas. The second, which takes place in Japan during the war, is especially suffused with the challenge that Catholicism brings to Japanese culture and especially—vice versa—the challenge that Japanese culture brings to Catholicism. Endo is an important writer, in my opinion, to help us westerners grapple with the westernization of a faith that began in Asia. Is it too far gone to touch on the Asianness of the early faith? Of course not as close to half of my students in biblical languages and biblical studies during a given semester are Asian, but we theologians need to continue to engage with eastern voices in all their diversity. This book is a good place to start.

[Krishna Avendaño · Rating 3 out of 5]

La de Shusaku Endo es una literatura atormentada por la noción del pecado, el demonio de la apostasía y el dilema de la incompatibilidad del alma oriental, y diríase humana, con la fe en Cristo. Sus dos primeras novelas prefiguran las angustias que darán forma a un proyecto narrativo inusitado en las letras japonesas. Se trata de dos ejercicios correctos de escritura, quizá un tanto esquemáticos dada la profundidad del tema que quieren tratar: ¿se puede tener fe y sufrir por ello cuando el mundo y los hombres están devastados y cuando parece que, gracias al progreso material y el triunfo del secularismo, el tiempo de Dios ha terminado? La respuesta que da Endo es amarga. Y es también un ruego: Señor, vuelve a hacer posible la fe en ti.

[Linn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard look at two people involved in war. Yet, that is more the backdrop. The White man wrestles with/describes one man's path to depravity. The other, The Yellow Man describes a young man's wrestle with God and what it means in cultural context. There are those who will find the delving into ones mind of such difficult subjects interesting and enlightening. I found it, especially the first, disturbing. I acknowledge, I don't typically read to be disturbed. I read for enjoyment and to learn. I'm not sure what I learned outweighed my distaste for the description.

[Mr.Kibble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important read about morality and Catholicism in society, told from brilliant prospective. Defiantly on my list of books that everyone should read, potentially in school.

[Ad · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 33th Akutagawa prize was won in 1955 by Shiroi hito (“White Man”) by Endo Shusaku. This novella was published as a set with Kiiroi hito (“Yellow Man”).

White Man is set in France during the German occupation. It is a story of faith, guilt and betrayal within the French Resistance, told through the diary of a young man who collaborates with the Nazi’s by acting as an interpreter for the Gestapo.

Yellow Man was written in the form of a student’s letter to his pastor, a disgraced French missionary. The Japanese student is exhausted by the war and dying from tuberculosis. He realizes the superficiality of his faith in a “white” god.

In these stories, Endo already addressed one of his major themes: the difference between European and Japanese religious sensibilities. Endo had a unique inter-cultural perspective thanks to his first-hand acquaintance with Christian thought in France.

Endo Shusaku (1923-1996) was a rara avis in Japanese letters: a Roman Catholic author who addressed such issues as guilt, betrayal and the anguish of faith. Most of his characters struggle with complex moral dilemmas, and their choices often produce mixed or tragic results.

Also see my website about Japanese literature: https://adblankestijn.blogspot.com/p/...

[Jeffery Guichelaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, recommend only for hardcore Endo fans/missionaries to Japan