What do you think?
Rate this book
墮落論
當國家機器運作失靈，
你我還是循規蹈矩，不去思考，不去質疑，不去挑戰，
鄉愿地想做個「好人」、「善人」，
豈不是相當於默默不抵抗地直接等死──寧為暴民，不為順民。
歷經明治維新與西化榮景凋敝殆盡的敗戰社會，誕生於二十世紀初的坂口安吾與眾人熟知的太宰治同屬於日本戰後文學的「無賴派」。面對當時日本社會亂象，他們致力書寫人性的腐敗墮落，抵抗既定現實。不同的是，坂口安吾的寫作向度更廣，多產而博學，其評論對社會之影響力比諸太宰治有過之而無不及。
我無賴，故我自由。
1946 年，日本宣布戰敗翌年，社會上出現寡婦再嫁、軍人從事黑市交易等保守派眼中的敗德現象，於是有人倡議要恢復戰前的道德秩序。向來語出驚人的無賴派作家代表坂口安吾，在短短半年多期間，連續發表〈墮落論〉、〈天皇小論〉、〈續墮落論〉等文章，挑戰人們不假思索只知盲目接受的傳統武士道，直言痛恨日本人以刻苦耐勞為美德，「不追求變化，不追求進步，總是憧憬讚美過往種種，當進步的精神偶然現身時，卻常會遭受刻苦耐勞的反動精神打壓」，甚至向國民高呼「日本人以及日本本身都應該墮落」。坂口以文字掀起的精神暴動，衝撞封建復辟的氛圍。
坂口相信，實踐無賴與墮落的態度，是一種有自覺的、「政治不正確」的不服從抵抗。國家和輿論所謂的民族大義、公共秩序何等虛妄、甚至粗暴，只有回歸「人」的本體價值，才能讓真正自由民主的精神落實於我們日常生活。《墮落論》所收錄的十篇文章，是穿透所有偽善社會的利器，啟發讀者，在解放的人生中自我培力。
你我還是循規蹈矩，不去思考，不去質疑，不去挑戰，
鄉愿地想做個「好人」、「善人」，
豈不是相當於默默不抵抗地直接等死──寧為暴民，不為順民。
歷經明治維新與西化榮景凋敝殆盡的敗戰社會，誕生於二十世紀初的坂口安吾與眾人熟知的太宰治同屬於日本戰後文學的「無賴派」。面對當時日本社會亂象，他們致力書寫人性的腐敗墮落，抵抗既定現實。不同的是，坂口安吾的寫作向度更廣，多產而博學，其評論對社會之影響力比諸太宰治有過之而無不及。
我無賴，故我自由。
1946 年，日本宣布戰敗翌年，社會上出現寡婦再嫁、軍人從事黑市交易等保守派眼中的敗德現象，於是有人倡議要恢復戰前的道德秩序。向來語出驚人的無賴派作家代表坂口安吾，在短短半年多期間，連續發表〈墮落論〉、〈天皇小論〉、〈續墮落論〉等文章，挑戰人們不假思索只知盲目接受的傳統武士道，直言痛恨日本人以刻苦耐勞為美德，「不追求變化，不追求進步，總是憧憬讚美過往種種，當進步的精神偶然現身時，卻常會遭受刻苦耐勞的反動精神打壓」，甚至向國民高呼「日本人以及日本本身都應該墮落」。坂口以文字掀起的精神暴動，衝撞封建復辟的氛圍。
坂口相信，實踐無賴與墮落的態度，是一種有自覺的、「政治不正確」的不服從抵抗。國家和輿論所謂的民族大義、公共秩序何等虛妄、甚至粗暴，只有回歸「人」的本體價值，才能讓真正自由民主的精神落實於我們日常生活。《墮落論》所收錄的十篇文章，是穿透所有偽善社會的利器，啟發讀者，在解放的人生中自我培力。
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
20 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Ango Sakaguchi
617 books139 followersFrom Niigata, Sakaguchi (坂口安吾) was one of a group of young Japanese writers to rise to prominence in the years immediately following Japan's defeat in World War II. In 1946 he wrote his most famous essay, titled "Darakuron" ("On Decadence"), which examined the role of bushido during the war. It is widely argued that he saw postwar Japan as decadent, yet more truthful than a wartime Japan built on illusions like bushido.
Ango was born in 1906, and was the 12th child of 13. He was born in the middle of a Japan perpetually at war. His father was the president of the Niigata Shinbun (Newspaper), a politician, and a poet.
Ango wanted to be a writer at 16. He moved to Tokyo at 17, after hitting a teacher who caught him truanting. His father died from brain cancer the following year, leaving his family in massive debt. At 20, Ango taught for a year as a substitute teacher following secondary school. He became heavily involved in Buddhism and went to University to study Indian philosophy, graduating at the age of 25. Throughout his career as a student, Ango was very vocal in his opinions.
He wrote various works of literature after graduating, receiving praise from writers such as Makino Shin’ichi. His literary career started around the same time as Japan’s expansion into Manchuria. He met his wife to be, Yada Tsuseko, at 27. His mother died when he was 37, in the middle of World War II. He struggled for recognition as a writer for years before finally finding it with “A Personal View of Japanese Culture” in 1942, and again with “On Decadence” in 1946. That same year, the Emperor formally declared himself a human being, not a god. Ango had a child at 48 with his second wife, Kaji Michio. He died from a brain aneurysm at age 48 in 1955.
Ango was born in 1906, and was the 12th child of 13. He was born in the middle of a Japan perpetually at war. His father was the president of the Niigata Shinbun (Newspaper), a politician, and a poet.
Ango wanted to be a writer at 16. He moved to Tokyo at 17, after hitting a teacher who caught him truanting. His father died from brain cancer the following year, leaving his family in massive debt. At 20, Ango taught for a year as a substitute teacher following secondary school. He became heavily involved in Buddhism and went to University to study Indian philosophy, graduating at the age of 25. Throughout his career as a student, Ango was very vocal in his opinions.
He wrote various works of literature after graduating, receiving praise from writers such as Makino Shin’ichi. His literary career started around the same time as Japan’s expansion into Manchuria. He met his wife to be, Yada Tsuseko, at 27. His mother died when he was 37, in the middle of World War II. He struggled for recognition as a writer for years before finally finding it with “A Personal View of Japanese Culture” in 1942, and again with “On Decadence” in 1946. That same year, the Emperor formally declared himself a human being, not a god. Ango had a child at 48 with his second wife, Kaji Michio. He died from a brain aneurysm at age 48 in 1955.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 4, 2021
"To live, and to fall into decadence - that's the proper process. Is there any path to true human salvation outside of it?"
"Humans can never attain true freedom. The reasons? We live, we're destined to die, and we think."
"What is the attitude that people, humans, should adopt? In a word it is as simple as this: we must honestly acknowledge our desires and dislikes. When we like something, we should come right out and say so. When we love a woman we should let the world know. The conventions of polite society, the taboos on romance, the rules dictating the places of duty and emotion - we should strip ourselves of those fraudulent kimonos and stand with out naked hearts fully exposed."
"Decadence is, in and of itself, always a trifling, undesirable thing, but it does exhibit in an irrefutable manner a great truth about the human condition: each of us is alone. In other words, to be decadent is, always, to stand alone, to be abandoned by others, to be forsaken by parents. To be decadent is to accept a destiny where we have no choice but to stand on our own two feet."
"Humans can never attain true freedom. The reasons? We live, we're destined to die, and we think."
"What is the attitude that people, humans, should adopt? In a word it is as simple as this: we must honestly acknowledge our desires and dislikes. When we like something, we should come right out and say so. When we love a woman we should let the world know. The conventions of polite society, the taboos on romance, the rules dictating the places of duty and emotion - we should strip ourselves of those fraudulent kimonos and stand with out naked hearts fully exposed."
"Decadence is, in and of itself, always a trifling, undesirable thing, but it does exhibit in an irrefutable manner a great truth about the human condition: each of us is alone. In other words, to be decadent is, always, to stand alone, to be abandoned by others, to be forsaken by parents. To be decadent is to accept a destiny where we have no choice but to stand on our own two feet."
May 23, 2018
looks like i have to devote my life to Ango Sakaguchi now!
September 9, 2019
What about the end of the world tomorrow? He still want to eat curry pork ribs and rice.
March 17, 2022
This was the book that motivated me to get my shit together and continue learning Japanese. It is as universal to the human conditions as Man's Search for Meaning.
September 29, 2015
This is one of the best and most underrated political essays I have read. The only problem I noticed is that it will be hard for someone to fully understand its significance and meaning without knowing the context. The essay was written after World War 2 by Ango Sakaguchi to give hope to the Japanese people but many of the things said there are true for all of us, regardless of where we live.
You can find the English translation at nanjousachi.com
You can find the English translation at nanjousachi.com
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews