山月记

乙女の本棚 #2

by Atsushi Nakajima, 徐建雄 (Translator), 中岛敦

(常年入选日本高中国语教材，如梦似幻、亦庄亦谐。)(果麦经典)

Genres: Classics, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Novels, Japanese Literature, Manga

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1942

About the author

Atsushi Nakajima (中島敦, Nakajima Atsushi, 5 May 1909 – 4 December 1942) was a Japanese author known for his unique style and self-introspective themes. His major works include "The Moon Over the Mountain" and "Light, Wind and Dreams".

During his life he wrote about 20 works, including unfinished works, typically inspired by Classical Chinese stories and his own life experiences.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Each of us has an animal nature we must strive to tame.’

The pursuit of greatness can often bring out the worst in us, particularly when we realize that greatness might always remain out of arm's reach. Or, if you happen to be the failed poet in Atsushi Nakajima’s classic Japanese tale The Moon Over the Mountain, it remains out of paws reach. The story concerns Li Zheng, who after a quick rise and great promise, left his government job to pursue poetry, failed to achieve success and then suddenly vanished only to appear years later, cursed to be transforming into a tiger. Now I’ve written some shit poetry in my time, but thankfully the consequences weren't to be turned into a tiger. Though with the rising cost of living, maybe the joke is on me? Anyways, I was thrilled to discover Penguin’s new series, Maiden’s Bookshelf, which will combine early 20th century short stories with contemporary artwork, such as the gorgeous and arresting artwork here from nekosuke. I mean, check it out:


This is a brief story, the title story to one of only two collections Atsushi Nakajima published before he tragically died of asthma at the age of 33. Much of his works draw on classical Chinese stories and myths, reinvigorated with a deeply introspective flair. This story, which is also known by the title The Tiger Poet and often read in classrooms, is drawn from the Tang Dynasty. The story reunites Li Zheng with a former friend, Yuan Can, who has nearly been devoured by a tiger after failing to heed the advice of an innkeeper warning of such a man-eating beast. He hears Li Zheng’s tale and the curse that allows him to return human for waning amounts of time before he will finally be all tiger and rage. He suspects the curse was due to his arrogance, pushing away everyone and withdrawing from society to be a poet, yet so overconfident in his natural abilities he failed to seek assistance to sharpen his skills or put any real effort in:

‘Out of fear that I might turn out not to be a genius, I hesitated to polish the uncut gemstone of my own potential; but, convinced I had a gift, I was not content to remain in the rough.’

I know Ted Lasso told us all to believe in ourselves, but not to the extent that it becomes an arrogance that tears us apart and, in fact, keeps us from our goals. And we also can’t live in constant fear that we will be found out to be an imposture (if you figure out how to do that, please let me know) or fret so much over potentially not being a genius that we never actually create.

He also realizes that his desire to save his poetry is more important to him than even letting his family know what happened to him might also indicate he is an asshole. This is a tale about an artist but you can render it to fit many parts of life and is likely what makes this such a great story for classrooms. Because ‘this arrogant shame was my inner beast: the tiger,’ and if we let our own arrogance get the best of us we too become a beast. And though the fairy tales will have you believe you can kidnap a fair maiden and if she loves you, you get to turn human again I’m going to strongly advise against trying that. Legally, morally, socially, just not a good look.

I love this little hardcover edition and the art is really gorgeous. It feels more in the spirit of the story than actually art depicting the story and often the artwork is apropos of nothing in the text on the page opposite it, but it’s so lovely it hardly matters. And the translation by Asa Yoneda is smooth and highly readable. I look forward to more of these editions and now I really want to read much more Atsushi Nakajima.

3.5/5

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover artwork is lovely, and I like the folklore-based short stories as well as the retelling featuring Chinese historical/fictional figures.

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pre-review: 'The Maiden’s Bookshelf series' and a ton of elegant artwork! What more can I ask for!

I finally got my hands on this book the artwork is so exquisite I am dying!!!

The artwork is endlessly lovely and artful, the custom and the clothing designs are great too, it brings a lot of value to this fable in which a man was brought down and transformed by his own greed, I guess?

I really like fable-style writing, and one that based on Chinese history is nice! ^_^

Review for Dazai Osamu's The Girl Who Becames a Fish

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely gorgeous edition - the pictures may not always line up with the text, but they're so beautiful that it really doesn't matter. The story itself is smoothly translated and the format makes it easy to absorb. If you're a Bungo Stray Dogs fan, this is a must-read, but even if you're not, it's a wonderful story about how art and ego can eat us alive.

[h]

"I think all of us, whether beast or human, were something else once. Maybe we remember at first, but over time we forget, and believe ourselves to have always been the way we are now … But what difference does it make? No doubt I’ll be happier once the human part of me is gone completely, though the man in me dreads that more than anything. Aah, I can’t tell you how terrible and lonely and hopeless it makes me feel, the idea of forgetting I was human! You can’t possibly understand. No one can… I’m alone with this. But before my humanity is lost entirely, I have one request to make of you.”

[nerdy nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

shortest book I've read in my entire life

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teacher: Today we’re going to read Sangetsuki. Pair up with your seatmate and start reading it.
Me: Aye. *reads the first sentence* *sees too many unrecognizable kanji* *asks seatmate how to read the kanji*
Seatmate: Idk.
Me: (Okay, I give up) *skips all unreadable kanjis* *first paragraph ends in seconds* (lol that was wild)


*timeskip*
Teacher: This that this that okay, get it?
Me: (so the main character turns into a tiger wow dats awesome)

*another timeskip*
*re-reads*
Me: Wow. I give this a whooping 5.

[honeyvanitea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very simple but heartbreaking tale about ego, dreams, desires and the blurred lines between behaving as a human and as an animal.
Nakajima’s way of writing is so touching, even in such a short story.

The artworks in this edition were totally captivating, I became distracted from the story from time to time because I just had to stare and appreciate the visuals.
And yes, they aren’t exactly a direct representation of the story, but more like art inspired by the vibes but I actually like it that way.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish to be reincarnated into this book

[Sung-Gi Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

しかし、何故こんな事になったのだろう。分らぬ。全く何事も我々には判わからぬ。理由も分らずに押付けられたものを大人しく受取って、理由も分らずに生きて行くのが、我々生きもののさだめだ。

己は詩によって名を成そうと思いながら、進んで師に就いたり、求めて詩友と交って切磋琢磨せっさたくまに努めたりすることをしなかった。かといって、又、己は俗物の間に伍ごすることも潔いさぎよしとしなかった。共に、我が臆病な自尊心と、尊大な羞恥心との所為せいである。

人生は何事をも為さぬには余りに長いが、何事かを為すには余りに短いなどと口先ばかりの警句を弄しながら、事実は、才能の不足を暴露するかも知れないとの卑怯な危惧と、刻苦を厭う怠惰とが己の凡てだったのだ。

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragically beautiful! Such a moving story of Li Zheng and his self absorption. The art work is gorgeous! Wish Goodreads would let us do halfs- this is a 4.5 for me. Left me wanting more.

[Yoshinobu Yamakawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is about the tragedy of one man, Yi Chang, who has talent and ambition but cannot fit into the framework of society. Although brilliant enough to pass the National Examination, Yi Chang dislikes the constraints of the secular world and seeks fame as a poet. However, his path is fraught with difficulties and he falls into financial hardship. Highly self-respecting and humiliated, Yi Chuan eventually goes mad and turns into a tiger in the mountains.

At the heart of this story is the conflict between human identity and ambition. Yi Chuan vacillates between his ideals and reality, ultimately losing his ego and transforming into an inhuman being. His transformation symbolizes the inner anguish brought on by the pursuit of self-knowledge and social status. Through Li Chuan's psychological fall, the reader is forced to consider the importance of confronting the self before the extreme consequences of dehumanization.

The reunion scene with Yuan Chen also highlights the gap between their former friendship and their current deformity. The scene in which Li Chao speaks to Yuan Chen in his tiger form leaves a deep impression on the reader's mind. His transformation implies not only an outward appearance but also an inner change, conveying his grief at the loss of his human dignity.

My feeling upon reading this work was one of compassion for Li Chuan's fate and horror at the consequences of his choices. His story illustrates the risks posed by the pursuit of self-realization and the difficulty of living outside the confines of a social framework.

The Mountain Moon Chronicles provokes much contemplation because of its profound thematic and psychological depictions. This work offers more than just a story; it has the power to make us think deeply about the inner life of human beings and their relationship to society. Reading this work gave me a new appreciation for the complexity of the human mind and how it relates to society.

[Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Books 1 to 5 in the Maiden's Bookshelf series here.

When in pursuit of what one deems great, the worst in one often comes out upon and after realising that such greatness is out of reach.

Such is the case of Li Zheng who, instead of being the brilliant and promising bureaucrat everyone knew he’d be, sought the greatness of being immortalised as a poet. However, he was met with failure and the worst in him eventually manifested as a curse which turns him into a tiger.

Truly, what a heartbreaking but beautiful exploration of human obsession, arrogance and fear.

[Akansha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a man's arrogance, snobbish nature that transforms him into a tiger. Cursed to become human for a few hours every day but slowly losing his memory, Li Zheng gets to narrate his story to an old friend who was crossing the path and almost got killed by the tiger.

The curse is a depiction of how Li Zheng lived his life, thinking he is above everyone and everything. He wanted to write poems but never worked on his skills. In the end he had to live his life secluded.

[Mark Santi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short read.
Each of us has an animal nature we must strive to tame. Well, this arrogant shame was my inner beast: the tiger.
The pursuit in perfection sometimes may lead us to forget what important the most, we loose the sight we are aiming leaving behind our hearts and sometimes even our sanity.

[繁邦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fear that I am not a precious gem, and thus dare not carve and polish myself with great effort; yet I also half-believe that I am a fine gem, and so I refuse to live an ordinary life, associating with rubble.

[Lonewish · Rating 5 out of 5]

大学的时候看同名短篇在被窝里掉小珍珠，一口气读到《光风梦》死活没读下去。当时觉得这种流水账式长篇很难读，现在总算是读完了。其实还是很流畅的，对于热带殖民地小岛的生活风光描写很美，更可贵的是展示了很多对原住民的尊重和同情，以及作为创作者对自己创作生涯的反思、焦虑和享受。读完后查资料才确认文中的日记是中岛敦的艺术创作而非史实资料（虽然在浪漫又戏剧性的幻觉部分就有点怀疑），中岛敦应该是从体弱多病的史蒂文森上看到了自己的影子，所以才选择借他之口表达了很多自己的想法和感受

[Atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It's said each person is a beast-tamer, with their own nature as the beast. In my case, that haughty shame was the beast—the tiger.”

Despite being a concise and easy read, it’s a beautifully written fable. The illustrations are gorgeous, too.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

[ckm · Rating 3 out of 5]

類似變形記嗰種。
評分唔高唔係作品嘅錯，而係因為我睇得明故事表象，但無睇透個表皮底下的意象。

[Melinda wiegand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful :,)

[Germany349]

补录 悟空 ごくう 悟能 ごのう 悟浄 ごじょう 三蔵法師 さんぞうほうし

[Lula · Rating 4 out of 5]

前面几篇人物小传真的有种陌生又熟悉的感觉，很有意思

[ThymeOperator · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story with impressive illustrations, albeit I didn't feel they quite supported the tale

[Sirena · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's basically yaoi

[September · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was incredible. Thank you for making sense and being beautiful at the same time.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sé cómo estarán las traducciones, pero en japonés tiene una prosa preciosa. Recomiendo.

[燕南 · Rating 4 out of 5]

淋溼我這身皮毛的，並非僅僅是濃重的夜露而已啊。

[Ally Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

[2022.07.13_87]

【7 July 2022/ 博客來 / 205】

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

山月记 中岛敦

当中最有意思的部分，现在重读，觉得是讲故事里的人间禅道（查拉图斯特拉如是说，或者文以载道、禅宗话本？）。改写的李陵苏武、子路孔子、西游记、唐传奇故事，作者的汉学功底极为深厚。以前境界不到，长篇发挥的心理活动、深藏的追问到底在问什么，竟然一点痕迹也看不出来。

根本性的问题是（在我的阅读中）西方表述得更清楚的，所以时常有种怪异的感觉。

可以重读。

印象最清楚的大概是出版社为了卖书而highlight的：“这种自尊心，无疑是一种怯弱的自尊心。我想以诗成名，却又不进而投师访友，相与切磋琢磨。与此同时，又不屑与凡夫俗子为伍。这都是我那怯弱的自尊心和妄自尊大的羞耻心在作怪。我深怕自己本非美玉，故而不敢加以刻苦琢磨，却又半信自己是块美玉，故又不肯庸庸碌碌，与瓦砾为伍。于是我渐渐地脱离凡尘，疏远世人，结果便是一任愤懑与羞恨日益助长内心那怯弱的自尊心。其实，任何人都是驯兽师，而那野兽，无非就是各人的性情而已。于我而言，这种妄自尊大的羞耻心就是野兽，就是猛虎。”，但是这顶多只是现象，或一剂短效鸡汤清醒剂，而非根本。

根本的东西是，悟净思考要不要踏入生活之中，上路冒险。怀疑论是死路一条，相对的在激流中却是没工夫思考的——“懂得神圣之疯狂的人是幸福的。因为他们杀死了自我，从而拯救了自我。不懂得神圣之疯狂的人的一生，是一场灾祸。因为他们既不杀死自我，也不拯救自我，只是慢慢地走向死亡而已。你要懂得，所谓‘爱’，就是一种更高级的理解。所谓‘行’，就是更明确的思考。悟净，你非要将所有的事情全都浸在意识的毒汁之中，你好可怜啊。...你明明知道自己迟早也会掉落谷底的，你明明知道不被卷入漩涡也绝非什么幸福。即便这样你还是恋恋不舍于旁观者的地位吗？愚蠢的悟净啊，你难道不知道，在生之漩涡中喘息的人们，事实上并不如旁观者所以为的那般不幸啊（至少要比持怀疑论的旁观者幸福得多）。”

他把悟空和三藏，等等人都写成了修士。

悟空已经在火焰中淬炼到心意纯粹。

完全地信赖自己，也信赖世界，诚实。不假思索，不多想地肯定着“生”。估计他今后死去的时候，也是毫无知觉地“咕咚”一下子死去的吧。在临死前的一个瞬间，他肯定还在欢蹦乱跳或大展神威吧。干干脆脆，好痛快。

是内在的火焰点燃了外界。自信、广大、专注。借由此抵达无我。

借此通达变化之法：极致迫切、专注地想要变成那一事物。如果失败，就是心力不够。所谓法术修行，就是学习如何将自己的心意聚集成一种纯净无垢、强烈无比的东西。

三藏：脆弱的凡人。和悟空金刚不坏的纯粹力量相对，但也可以成佛：为什么？心。凝望着永恒，以及生生死死中的转瞬即逝的意义，不生怀疑和沮丧。

孔子：平衡的完美。看似平凡到不过是基本常识的一种完成与升华，但是做起来是多么困难。“天之未丧斯文也，匡人其如予何？”决不绝望、决不蔑视现实（是的，这两者只能是一体两面出现的：被绝望压垮的人没有一个不鄙视现实觉得它不配自己动手改造的。）在有限的范围内追求尽善尽美的大智慧。

摆脱"趣味主义"。——"他才华横溢，趣味高雅，知识渊博，是个深不可测的才子。可是，他又做了些什么呢？他什么也没做。如今他住在巴黎，跟二十年前一样，什么都懂，但又什么都不做，仍是一名爱好者而已。这倒不是说他没有出名，而是说他的精神境界毫无提升，依旧停留在原先的那个层��上。"这正是我感觉到的，最迫切的痛苦和需要啊！

因此我想他一定会喜欢惠特曼。

接下来，这一生要如何度过？正观得而净业立成，而你因心相羸劣如今才陷入了三途无量之苦恼。想来，你已不能由观想而得救，只能靠勤勉劳作而自救了。所谓时间，实乃人之作为也。这个世界，整体看来似乎是毫无意义的，但作用于具体之细节，就有了无限之意义。悟净啊，你首先要将自己摆放在一个适当的位置上，然后投身于适当的作为。今后，你要完全抛弃不知天高地厚的‘为什么’。除此之外，你别无获救之道。

他说到了，一种不断温习这种思索的方式，那就是身在旷野。”这洁净无垢而又华美庄严的景象，是远非“惊异”二字所能形容的。“

——在午后的烈日下，我独自行走在阿皮亚的街道上。路面上蒸腾起白色的热浪，耀人双眼。街上空空荡荡的，一眼望到头也看不到一个行人。路的右侧是一大片绿油油的甘蔗田，微风吹过，舒缓起伏，一直延伸到最北边。其尽头，便是深蓝色的太平洋，色彩之浓郁，简直就是熊熊燃烧着的绿色火焰。如同云母屑堆成的白色波涛，层层叠叠，鼓胀成一个巨大的圆弧。蓝焰摇曳着的大海与琉璃色天空的连接处，被掺有金粉的水蒸气熏染着，白雾迷蒙，浑然一色。路的左侧，隔着长有巨大蕨类植物之峡谷，应该就是塔法山的山巅吧，只见它高高地耸立在大片丰饶浓郁的绿色之上，在令人目眩的雾霭中透露出紫罗兰色的山脊棱线。万籁俱寂。除了甘蔗叶的摩擦声，什么都听不到。我看着自己那短短的影子往前走。走了很长很长一段路。突然，奇怪的事情发生了。我在问我自己：你是谁？名字只不过是个符号。你，到底是什么人？在这热带白色道路上投下消瘦衰弱的影子，蹒跚而行的你，是个什么人？这个如水一般来到大地上，不久又将如风一般逝去的你，难道是个无名之辈吗？

（这一段完全让我想起我在波多黎各的岛屿上清晨的行走。人可以靠肉体去体验接近神。）

昨晚我也在阳台上站了许久，任凭狂风以及它夹带的暴雨冲刷我的全身。今天早晨，我又这样顶着狂风站立着。因为我渴望冲撞某种狂暴、凶恶、暴风雨般的东西，想借此来敲碎将自己禁锢其内的硬壳。独自清醒地屹立在这云、水与山岗之间，与那四大严峻意志相抗衡，是多么的痛快啊！我越来越强烈地感受到了伟大的英雄气概。“O! Moments big as years.”“I die, I faint, I fail.”——我呼喊着纷至沓来的无穷无尽的诗句。我的声音被狂风扯得支离破碎，飘散而去。这时，光亮渐次降临到了原野、山岗、大海。一定会发生些什么。一种令人欣喜的预感充满了我的内心：一定会发生些什么，替我清除掉生活里的残渣和杂质。

就这样，我站了有一个小时吧。

没过多久，我眼下的世界就在刹那间变了模样。无色的世界忽然就闪现出了令人目眩的五光十色。原来，在东面突出的岩石背后，在从这儿看不到的地方，太阳升起了。多么神奇的魔术啊！刚才还是灰蒙蒙的世界，一下子就呈现出了番红花色、硫磺色、玫瑰色、丁香色、朱红色、绿松石色、橙色、藏青色、紫罗兰色。况且所有这些颜色全都带着锦缎般的光泽。飘浮着金色花粉的清晨的天空、森林、岩石、山崖、草地、椰子树下的村庄、红色的可可壳堆山等，这是多么的美丽啊！

望着眼下这瞬间闪现的奇迹，我十分畅快地感到，正是在此时此刻，我心中的黑夜正在逃向远方。

我昂然回进了室内。

（洗涤清楚，再造新生。浩浩汤汤，横无际涯。生命本身，不也是朝晖夕阴，气象万千的洋洋大观吗。雄健，勇猛。和万物生灵同构。）

[kadee]

“Soon enough, my humanity will be lost forever, buried under these brutish habits like the foundations of a ruined castle swallowed up by the earth. Then I'll forget who I once was; I'll prowl these parts, feral, and if I see you on this road again I won't know you as a friend, but rend you limb from limb, devour you, and feel nothing.”