Ten Foot Square Hut and Tales of the Heike

by A.L. Sadler

Book by Kamo-Chomei

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Literature, Japanese Literature, Classics, Philosophy, Asia

271 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Full name: Arthur L. Sadler.

Reviews

[Bob Newman]

Two very different works of old Japanese literature

I am not giving any stars to this book because I don't rate myself expert enough to judge it. It is a cultural treasure rather than a novel published for the general public or commercial reasons. There are two separate 12th century tales here, one a very short Buddhist-inspired tale about retiring from the world and one a succession of battles between the two main warring clans of that period, the Heike and the Taira. These works were translated by an Australian scholar back in the 1920s. For his own reasons, he chose to translate them in a kind of semi-feudal English which doesn't flow into your mind so easily today. Perhaps Sir Walter Scott would have approved, but for 21st century readers, it's difficult going. Also, the numbers of place names is enormous, along with the very long names of dozens of characters most of whom make only fleeting appearances. These are the difficulties facing you if you choose to read this book
As a revealing glimpse of Japanese history, culture, and literature, it must be judged very worthy, but it seems to me that very few modern readers, other than scholars or extremely-dedicated lovers of things Japanese will stay the course to the end. I think you should read the review on GR by Smiley for a more positive, erudite look at this book. I recommend it highly for those who accept the caveats I'm writing.

[Smiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

SECOND REVIEW:
These two tales definitely reflect the impermanence of all earthly things as taught and practiced by Buddhism since 2600 years ago. Therefore, mindfulness is the key as assured by this teaching in Thai (I read somewhere) literally translated as follows: Anyone who can follow his/her mind, he/she will not be entrapped by the Mara’s snare.

PREFACE: Since around two weeks ago I’ve enjoyed watching a YouTube series of the NHK Taiga Drama entitled “Yoshitsune” with English subtitles; therefore, we can follow all episodes conveniently and subsequently by visiting the first one at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F_rg.... I hope watching the series should help us better understand the story and enjoy reading the story more. [It's a pity, for some reason, the films are not available in the meantime.]

Reading this two-story paperback including "The Ten Foot Square Hut" by Kamo no Chomei and "Tales of the Heike" (by anonymous writers) translated into English by Professor A. L. Sadler was inspiring, entertaining and action-oriented, more or less, due to its valor themes in which its readers can enjoy reading, following each story unique in each context some 700 years ago as part of medieval Japanese literature, that is, two of the thirteenth-century classics. I first came across the first story as an excerpt in an anthology compiled by Professor Donald Keene, felt impressed by this famous recluse who unimaginably but decisively decided to renounce the world and lived in a remote mountain area. While staying alone in his ‘ten foot square hut,’ he kept himself busy doing things appropriate to the environs there, in other words, devoting his days to “literature and music, walks, and visits” (back cover); this acclaimed genre has long been categorized as “recluse literature” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamo_no_...).

Surprisingly, this essay-like “The Hojoki” is only 20 pages long, a bit disappointing to me. However, I think we have to make do with what he wrote and why he made such a decision, from this excerpt:

So I went on living in this unsympathetic world amid many difficulties for thirty years, and the various rebuffs that I met left me with a poor opinion of this fleeting life. So when I arrived at the age of fifty I abandoned the world and retired, and since I had no wife and child it was by no means difficult to leave it, neither had I any rank or revenue to be a tie to hold me. … (p. 12)

And how did he spend his life at the place called Toyama?

If I get tired of repeating the Invocation to Buddha or feel disinclined to read the Sutras, and go to sleep or sit idly, there is none to rebuke me, no companion to make me feel ashamed. …
In the morning, as I look out at the boats on the Uji River by Okanoya I may steal a phrase from the monk Mansei and compare this fleeting life to the white foam in their wake, and association may lead me to try a few verses myself in his style. Or in the evening, as I listen to the rustling of the maples in the wind the opening lines of the “Lute Maiden” by the great Chinese poet Po-chu-i naturally occur to my mind, … (pp. 14-15)

Therefore, this famous story has revealed how this great recluse pioneering his self-contentment living by means of his Buddhist vows and understanding on impermanence of all things in the world and, presumably, regarding himself as a man having "this fleeting life" as mentioned twice in the two excerpts above. Whenever I read "this fleeting life," I couldn't help being reminded of another concept, that is, "floating world," used as the story theme in literary works by Saikaku (Tuttle, 1956) and as a novel title by Ishiguro (Faber and Faber, 2001). I wondered if these two authors' works have been influenced by such an advanced understanding perceived and practiced hundreds of years before.

As for the second story, “Tales of the Heiki,” its length is about ten times as compared to the first one. Last year I bought Eiji Yoshikawa’s “The Heiki Story” (2011) at Kansai International Airport and wondered how I should read it so I decided to read the Tales first since it’s written since medieval Japan and the Story first published in 1956 as “a modern translation of the classic Japanese tale of love and war” (front cover). I found reading the Story entertaining and action-oriented since there are 20 illustrations to accompany some tales, for instance (Illustrations Page):

The Ho-O or Cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa .. .. frontispiece
The Lay-Priest Chancellor Taira Kiyomori .. .. .. 23
A Shirabyoshi .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27
… (etc.)

Moreover, each episode preceded by its title has portrayed its interesting characters or the ensuing fierce battles between the two clans, that is, the Heiki vs. the Genji in which, while reading, we could help admiring those valorous soldiers. This following excerpt focused on Yoshitsune’s daring decision and Yoshitsura’s cold-blooded encouragement possibly supported by good fortune has revealed how the leaders and their troops accomplished in their god-like descent at Hiyodori Pass:
…
Then Yoshitsune, looking down on the Heike position from the top of the cliff, ordered some horses to be driven down the declivity, and of these, though some missed their footing half-way, and breaking their legs, fell to the bottom and were killed, three saddled horses scrambled down safely and stood, trembling in every lime, before the residence of Etchu Zenji. “If they have riders to guide them,” said Yoshitsune, “the horses will get down without damage, so let us descend, and I will show you the way;” and he rode over the cliff at the head of his thirty retainers, seeing which the whole force of three thousand followed on after him.
…. And the soldiers were recoiling in horror, thinking that their end had come, when Miura-no-Sahara Juro Yoshisura sprang forward and shouted: “In my part we ride down places like this any day to catch a bird; the Miura would make a racecourse of this;” and down he went, followed by all the rest.
So steep was the descent that the stirrups of the hinder man struck against the helmet or armour of the one in front of him, and so dangerous did it look that they averted their eyes as they went down. …, and their daring seemed rather of demons than of men. So they reached the bottom, and as soon as they found themselves safely down they burst forth with a mighty shout, which echoed along the cliffs so that it sounded rather like the battle-cry of ten thousand men than of three.
… (pp. 149-151)

In conclusion, this two-story book is worth reading and spending our time since we can learn how the great recluse lived in such a remote area as well as how those memorable Japanese history-related episodes were written for posterity to know admiringly and wisely be aware of the law of impermanence in the world to which we all belong since ancient times till eternity.

FIRST REVIEW: ?

[Books on Asia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for the Tales of the Heike, so will comment only on that story as that is where my interest lies. This is an abridged version of Sadler's longer tome, which I have yet to read. Having read The Tale of the Heike by Helen Craig McCullough, I definitely prefer a full, more scholarly version with ample footnotes. However, this is a good option for those who don't want to slog through the 700-page (or more) full versions, or for those who don't have much background in Japanese history. I can see where the longer versions could be overwhelming. This book hits all the highlights of the Tale, such as the main Inland Sea battle scenes of Ichi no Tani, Yashima and Dan'no Ura as well as the major land battles. Some of the most memorable events such as Nasu no Yoichi, the child prince Antoku, the austerities of Mongaku at Kumano and Nachi Falls, and the deaths of Kiyomori, Kiso Yoshinaka, Tadanori, and the Empress at Ohara are all included. This could be read as either a re-cap if you want to be reminded of the events, or as an introduction to the story before you delve into one of the longer translations. It's a fairly quick and easy read, but don't expect many footnotes to help you understand the more intricate points of the story.

[Heinrich DuBose-Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the "Ten Foot Square Hut", written about 1200 AD and about 21 pages. Takashi Nagai mentioned thinking of this book in his spiritual journey, a book in tune with Japanese feelings. It is a reminder of the impermanence of life, much like the book of Ecclesiastes.

[Kenniese S. Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book for the Ten Foot Square Hut, a short reflection on home that I enjoyed.

Most of the book is Tales of the Heike, which surprised me. (Anyone interested solely in the The Ten Foot Square Hut might consider ordering Four Huts: Asian Writings on Simple Life. It's a series of four short reflections similar to and including the Ten Foot Square Hut). In the version with the Tales however, turmoil is echoed by the softness of the Ten Foot Square Hut. The two juxtaposed make for an interesting read.

Tales of the Heike is composed of entertaining little stories/episodes/vignettes that strung together serve as historical record. Many names and titles I did not recognize but this didn't diminish the experience. It actually enhanced it. It encouraged me to pay closer attention to the characters, what they represent and their relationships with one another.

Though the Tales are heavily historical, they're also extremely poetic. Tragedies, triumphs and even passing moments are gently wrapped in elegant prose. I was fascinated to learn the ways in which the Japanese infuse art, poetry and music into everything they do; even in the heat of battle, a moment of poetic reflection was always in order. That I can appreciate, especially since these stories are centuries old. I plan to reread the Tales and piece together more of the story.

Until then, it will remain on my shelf as a rewarding and entertaining piece of literature that inspired me in many ways.

[Robert Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons in impermanence and suffering an argument for a stoic simpler and more devoted existence from this classic short Buddhist text and a pinnacle in "recluse literature".

Beautiful short narrative that fully illustrates important lessons from Buddhism :

Mujo / Impermanence
“The current of a flowing river does not cease, and yet the water is not the same water as before. The foam floats on stagnant pools, now vanishing, now forming, never stays the same for long. So, too, it is with the people and dwellings of the world."

Dukkha /
"All in all, life in this world is difficult…"

Many other themes including the connection between man and nature, asceticism, transcendentalism...

[Jonathan-David Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read The Ten Foot Square Hut, which is less than 10% of the overall book.

To paraphrase:

"Everything is impermanent, people in groups larger than one (and maybe two, sometimes) suck, it sucks to be poor and it sucks to be rich, even nature is after you with earthquakes and hurricanes, every government is nonsense, so instead I live in a hand-made hut and weave my clothes out of vines, becoming closer to Buddha."

I liked it! We should all be so lucky as to live in a Ten Foot Square Hut.

[Jonah Dunch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheating cuz I only read Rokujo, not Heike. A haunting meditation on the author's efforts to live at peace in a time of repeat disasters and ubiquitous suffering.

[Gary Crossey · Rating 2 out of 5]

IT was a long time coming to complete this book.
I am not quite sure what I discovered or lost from reading this book.
Maybe equal amounts of each.

[Derek · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a rewarding experience in here, but reaching it may require real work. The Heike Monogatari seems to encompass history, legend, and tall tales, organized as a stream of recollections which may digress abruptly within a recollection itself. One chapter or subsection may include someone who is later introduced as the lead in his or her own anecdote, as though the storyteller is clarifying or expanding upon an interesting topic.

I found it a book to be studied, rather than read linearly. As it progressed, more of my time became consumed in consulting the index to see if a name has appeared before and in what context.

[Gus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Classic literature. Not my thing. But famous and a required read for Japanese majors.

[Shirley Plummer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should probably have given it five stars had it been only the Ten Foot Square Hut which I have read and re-read many times.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might have appreciated this much more if I was knowledgable of 13th century Japaneese culture.

[Mills College Library]

895.6322 K157 2006