Lauren’s Reviews > Japanese Death Poems > Status Update

“…a reminder that health purifies a person from the ignorance and just that sully mankind.”

I really need to do some in-depth reading into Buddhism. I know so little.

I low how the Japanese refer to death differently based on the person. Takes some of the stark cruelty away and leaves something comforting to those left behind.

“It is precisely this generous spirit of the Japanese, who without qualms embrace one idea and its opposite at once, that reveals a deeper understanding, an understanding that life and death cannot be formulated in a single idea, because reality is more complex than any logic, and at the same time so much more simple.”

Word of the Day: trenchant
Adj. having a sharp, forceful, and effective quality, especially in thought, speech, or criticism

Word of the Day: elegy
N. A serious poem or song that expresses grief, sorrow, or lamentation

In all honesty, I figured this one with context clues but still wanted to write it down.

It is crazy to me that there exists an anthology of poetry from the eighth (8!!!!) century. A while 13 centuries ago! And the anthology SURVIVED. I wonder if any of those poets knew their verses would survive that long. I know any living memory wouldn’t have my life wouldn’t survive that long. It’s just so mind boggling.

Oh how interesting. In the acknowledgements the translator thanks the Israel Academy of Science and Humanities. I wonder why they were interested in supporting the translations of these worlds? Perhaps there is an established academic relationship between Japan and Israel I’m not aware of.

I tried reading this one back in 2024 during the Academy, but there was just too much going on. I figured I can give it another go now that life has evened out.