Legend of the Master

by Atsushi Nakajima, Reiko Seri, Doc Kane

In this classic tale of tortured ambition and the eventual discovery of artistic enlightenment, Nakajima Atsushi brilliantly blends Confucian and Zen Buddhist thought in a well crafted, cinematic story about an archer on a quest to be the greatest of all time. This Japanese literary masterpiece is the first in "Maplopo's "Masters of Story" collection. A unique gathering of Japanese literature translated into English that highlights some of the most wonderfully diverse stories from Japan's most treasured writers. The next release in the "Masters of Story" collection is "Wind, Light, and the Twenty-Year Old Me" from Sakaguchi Ango.

Genres: Classics

37 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2020

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

[febriani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebook ini berisi sebuah cerpen tentang perjalanan Kisho menguasai ilmu memanah. Pada awalnya ia berguru pada Master Hiei. Setelah bertahun-tahun menyerap ilmu dari Master Hiei, timbul rasa serakah hendak melampaui gurunya. Bagaimana Sang Guru mengatasi kecenderungan muridnya tersebut?

Sebagaimana Wish Fullfiled karya Dazai yang sebelumnya kubaca, cerpen ini diterjemahkan oleh pasangan penerjemah di bawah kolektif Maplopo. Kali ini porsi ocehan penerjemahnya tidak sebanyak ebook sebelumnya, karena obrolan penutupnya tidak diikutkan dalam ebook ini.

Buku ini kubaca melalui Kindle Unlimited.

[Lawrence Bricher · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first foray into Atsushi Nakajima. I liked what I read but would appreciate the opportunity to read more, as this was very brief

[Yoshinobu Yamakawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story depicts the ultimate in technique and its transcendence through the story of Kimyo's quest to become a master of archery.

Kimyo learns the secrets of archery after rigorous training under Fie, but his quest does not stop there, and he meets an old master named Amabai in search of more truth. Amabai's display of fuki no yai, or the art of shooting down a bird without firing an arrow, radically changes Kimyo's sense of value, leading him to the point where he forgets even the name of his bow without showing off his skill as a master.

The highlight of this story is when Kimyo meets Amabai and learns how to shoot fuki no yai. It seems to suggest that mastering a skill is not the only path to becoming a master. As I read it, I was moved by Kimyo's inner transformation and the path he eventually reached. His journey may be described as a story of self-realization that goes beyond his apparent success and fame.

Overall, "Master's Biography" goes beyond the superficial story of mastering a skill and asks the reader the importance of inner exploration and self-transcendence.